Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 5, 2026

Florida Express

Florida Express was an airline headquartered in Orlando, Florida, United States. Orlando International Airport (MCO) served as the airline's hub with a point-to-point linear route system in the eastern U.S. and Florida. Established in 1984, the air carrier operated a small fleet consisting exclusively of British Aircraft Corporation BAC One-Eleven twin jet aircraft and employed approximately 385 employees in 1985. It was incorporated in Delaware on January 24, 1983 and received its economic certificate from the Civil Aeronautics Board exactly a year later on January 24, 1984. First flight was January 26, 1984 and it was co-founded and led by Gordon Linkon, a former Midway Airlines president and Frontier Airlines executive. The airline completed an initial public offering on October 16, 1985, raising $13mm. The airline's toll-free phone number was 1-800-FAST-JET.

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Florida Express
Florida Express BAC 1-11
IATA ICAO Call sign
ZO1 FLX2 FLEXAIR2
Founded24 January 1983
Commenced operations
26 January 1984 (1984-01-26)
Ceased operations
1988 (1988)
Operating bases
Orlando, Florida
Fleet size19
Destinations14
HeadquartersOrlando, Florida
United States
FounderGordon Linkon (CEO)
Employees385 (1985)

Florida Express was an airline headquartered in Orlando, Florida, United States. Orlando International Airport (MCO) served as the airline's hub with a point-to-point linear route system in the eastern U.S. and Florida. Established in 1984,3 the air carrier operated a small fleet consisting exclusively of British Aircraft Corporation BAC One-Eleven twin jet aircraft and employed approximately 385 employees in 1985.4 It was incorporated in Delaware on January 24, 19835 and received its economic certificate from the Civil Aeronautics Board exactly a year later on January 24, 1984.6 First flight was January 26, 1984 and it was co-founded and led by Gordon Linkon, a former Midway Airlines president and Frontier Airlines executive.7 The airline completed an initial public offering on October 16, 1985, raising $13mm.8 The airline's toll-free phone number was 1-800-FAST-JET.9

On October 28, 1987, the second incarnation of Braniff announced its acquisition of Florida Express in a deal worth $20mm (over $50mm in 2024 dollars).10 After government approvals, the deal closed on April 19, 1988.11 However, before the deal closed, from January 15, 1988 onward, Florida Express flew for Braniff under the name Braniff Express.12

Fleet

1987-88 World Airline Fleets (copyright 1987) lists the Florida Express fleet as follows:1

  • 6 BAC 1-11-201AC
  • 9 BAC 1-11-203AE
  • 3 BAC 1-11-401AK
  • 1 BAC 1-11-414AE

The 203AE series aircraft were originally delivered to Braniff International Airways,13 the US trunk carrier that ceased operation in 1982, a separate but related carrier from the Braniff that bought Florida Express.

Destinations

As of January 1984:14

As of April 1986:15

See also

See also

References

References

  1. Gunter G. Endres (1987). 1987-88 World Airline Fleets. Feltham, Middlesex, UK: Browcom Publishing. p. 170. ISBN 0946141304.
  2. Change 4 to Order 7310.1N, Contractions (Report). Federal Aviation Administration. 20 July 1995. p. 3-1-25. hdl:2027/ufl.31262091395771.
  3. Florida Express, Sunshine Skies, retrieved August 12, 2018
  4. "World Airline Directory." Flight International. March 30, 1985. 78." Retrieved on June 17, 2009.
  5. "Open Corporates record for Delaware incorporation of Florida Express". opencorporates.com. Open Corporates. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  6. "Florida Express, Fitness Investigation". Civil Aeronautics Board Reports. 105: 389–392. November 1983 – January 1984. hdl:2027/osu.32437000534046.
  7. Florida Express From the Ground Up, Orlando Sentinel, July 9, 1984
  8. Florida Express stock stale misses target by $3 million, Orlando Sentinel, October 17, 1985
  9. "1987 - Ad for Florida Express Airlines" (video). youtube.com. TheClassicSports. 15 May 2014. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  10. Braniff, Florida Express announce merger plans, Orlando Sentinel, October 29, 1987
  11. Florida Express no more - It's Braniff from now on, Orlando Sentinel, April 20, 1988
  12. Braniff, Florida Express have a date at the altar, Palm Beach Post, April 18, 1988
  13. Malcolm L. Hill (1999). BAC One-Eleven. Ramsbury, Wiltshire, UK: Crowood Press. p. 187. ISBN 1861262191.
  14. "Florida Express Flight Schedule". timetableimages.com. Florida Express. 26 January 1984. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  15. "Florida Express Jet Schedule". timetableimages.com. Florida Express. 27 April 1986. Retrieved 13 October 2024.

Norwood, Tom (1996). Deregulation Knockouts: Round One. Sand Point, Idaho: Airways International. p. 86. ISBN 9780965399302.

External links