NORTH OLMSTED, OH – CommutAir today announced that it has received Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval to add the ERJ 145XR Regional Jet to its operating certificate, a key milestone in the company’s growth plans as it expects to take delivery of forty jets over the next two years.

“The addition of the ERJ145 Jet to our operating certificate is a significant achievement in the history of our company and is the foundation of our growth plans to triple the size of our operations over the next two years,” said Subodh Karnik, President & CEO at CommutAir. “This phase of tremendous growth at CommutAir will usher in fantastic advancement opportunities for all current and future team members.”

“I’m humbled to work with such a talented and dedicated team of professionals. In particular, our flight operations, maintenance and safety leadership teams, who achieved certification under the FAA’s next generation safety and surveillance standards of SMS and SAS,” said Joel T. Raymond, Chief Operating Officer at CommutAir. “I would also like to thank the tremendous support of the FAA’s Albany, NY certificate management team who lent their expertise and guidance to this important project.”

The first ERJ145 is expected to enter commercial service at the beginning of July and CommutAir expects to add two to three new aircraft every month. “Our initial pilot cadre is ready to help train new recruits; our maintenance team and materials programs are in place; and our flight attendants and dispatchers are also jet qualified on the new aircraft – The team is ready for an immediate deployment and rapid spool up,” said Justin Conrad, Vice President and Director of Operations.

The significant growth at CommutAir is leading to unprecedented hiring and advancement opportunities within all functional areas of the Company. In particular, we expect that the addition of forty jets to the fleet will drive an accelerated need for pilot hiring and promotions. To address this, CommutAir has designed what it believes to be an industry leading pay and benefits package including:

1. $15,000 sign-on bonus & rapid position upgrades for qualified applicants

2. Unparalleled Commuter Policy including company paid commuter hotels

3. Top-tier Pay and benefits including vacation, 401K match & health care

4. United Career Path Program – offering qualified pilots a seamless move to United subject to program terms and conditions