GoJet Airlines

Big-picture snapshot

GoJet Airlines is a privately held regional airline operating as United Express under a capacity purchase agreement with United Airlines. The airline flies approximately 56 Bombardier CRJ-550 aircraft across 4 domiciles, with approximately 500 active pilots represented by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT). GoJet is headquartered in Bridgeton, Missouri (near St. Louis Lambert International Airport), and is a subsidiary of Trans States Holdings, Inc. Rick Leach, the airline's founder, continues to serve as President.

For interview purposes, the simplest way to frame GoJet is this: it is the launch operator and exclusive operator of the CRJ-550 — Bombardier's innovative 50-seat reconfiguration of the CRJ-700 with first-class seating, extra legroom Economy Plus, and increased overhead bin space. GoJet flies exclusively for United Airlines and offers a stable, single-partner regional career with competitive work rules and a Teamsters contract. The airline celebrated its 20th anniversary in September 2025 and remains one of the healthier independent regional carriers in the current market.

Company history

• 2004: GoJet Airlines incorporated (December 6) as the second airline subsidiary of Trans States Holdings, alongside the now-defunct Trans States Airlines
• 2005: First revenue flight on October 4, from Cincinnati to Chicago O'Hare, replacing departing carrier Atlantic Coast Airlines; initially operated CRJ-700s for United Express
• 2005-2018: Operated CRJ-700 regional jets exclusively for United Express
• 2019: Became the launch operator for the CRJ-550 — a 50-seat reconfiguration of the CRJ-700 featuring first-class seating, extra legroom, and increased overhead bin space; began converting fleet
• 2020: Trans States Airlines (sister carrier) ceased operations; GoJet continued as Trans States Holdings' sole airline subsidiary
• 2025: Celebrated 20th anniversary (September 20, 2025); fleet of 56 CRJ-550s; ~500 pilots; continued stable United Express operations
• 2026: Actively operating and hiring; one of the healthier independent regionals

Business model

GoJet operates exclusively under a capacity purchase agreement with United Airlines:

• United Express: All GoJet flights operate as United Express. United sells tickets, controls scheduling, and bears revenue risk. GoJet provides the aircraft, crew, and operation.
• Independent regional: Unlike wholly owned subsidiaries (Endeavor, PSA, Envoy), GoJet is privately held through Trans States Holdings. This means no guaranteed flow-through to a specific mainline carrier.
• CRJ-550 exclusivity: GoJet is the sole operator of the CRJ-550, a unique aircraft configuration that offers a premium 50-seat experience designed to compete with larger regional jets in scope-limited markets.

The CRJ-550 was designed as a direct response to pilot scope clause limitations that restrict the number of 70+ seat regional jets United can operate. By reconfiguring the 70-seat CRJ-700 into a 50-seat aircraft with premium amenities, United and GoJet created a product that fits within scope limits while offering a superior passenger experience.

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