Contour Airlines is an independent regional airline headquartered at Smyrna Airport in Smyrna, Tennessee, United States.
Contour Airlines is set up as a public charter operator for regulatory purposes and does not directly operate aircraft. Contour Airlines charters 30-seat regional jets operated by its parent company, Contour Aviation, then resells seats on those aircraft to the public. The arrangement allows Contour to use pilots who are qualified to operate charter services, who can be either less experienced or older than allowed on commercial passenger flights.
History Contour Airlines was established by its parent company Contour Aviation in 2016. Contour began service on April 5, 2016, completing its inaugural flight from Nashville to Tupelo, Mississippi. On April 1, 2019, Contour retired its Jetstream 31/32 fleet and focused solely on ERJ-135/145 aircraft.
On February 5, 2020, Contour Airlines announced that it would add Indianapolis as a focus city and purchase additional ERJ-135/145 aircraft. The goal was to provide efficient service to markets within driving distance but without direct flights to capture travelers who would rather drive than fly with a layover. The airline planned to serve Nashville, Pittsburgh and St. Louis from Indianapolis beginning June 10, 2020, however, the service had been suspended indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On July 28, 2021, Contour announced its relaunch in Indianapolis, beginning on October 12 and flying to Milwaukee, Nashville, and Pittsburgh. However, Contour quietly dropped Milwaukee and Pittsburgh less than three months later. According to Contour CEO Matt Chaifetz, the Indianapolis to Milwaukee route averaged 40% full and was climbing, but stalled in the winter due to fears over the omicron variant. He said "the timing was just poor" for the new routes but said, "We're still committed to Indianapolis."
In early 2024, regional carrier SkyWest Airlines purchased a 25% ownership stake in Contour Airlines to gain access to its infrastructure, personnel, and operational expertise as it launches its own Part 135 operation, SkyWest Charter. SkyWest also plans to supply Contour with CRJ200 aircraft and partner with the airline to both recruit young pilots and provide opportunities to pilots who would otherwise need to retire due to age.
On October 1, 2024, Contour changed multiple routes to new American Airlines hubs. Altoona used to connect to Philadelphia but now connects to Charlotte. Fort Leonard Wood and Cape Girardeau changed from Nashville to Chicago.
In January 2025, Contour appointed Ben Munson as president. He will report to CEO Matt Chaifetz.
Corporate affairs As of 2024, Contour Airlines employs approximately 800 people across its operations. Matt Chaifetz is the current president and chief executive officer; leading the company since its founding in 2016. Contour currently employs nearly 200 pilots, all reporting to Greg Engel, the Chief Pilot.
Corporate headquarters Contour Airlines' Corporate Headquarters is located at 808 Blue Angel Way, on the grounds of Smyrna Airport (MQY) in Smyrna, Tennessee, a suburb of Nashville. The facility serves as the nerve center for the airline's operations and administrative functions. In addition, it is the home of the Systems Operations Control Center (SOC), the Inflight Services Training Center (IFS), the Reservations Call Center (RES), and various other administrative offices. This centralized location allows for efficient coordination between different departments, supporting Contour Airlines' operations across its network.
Destinations , Contour Airlines operates flights serving the following destinations:
Caribbean
City Airport IATA Code Destinations Notes Dominica Dominica Douglas–Charles Airport DOM Port of Spain (starting October 5, 2026) Saint Thomas San Juan Puerto RicoSan JuanLuis Muñoz Marín International AirportSJUDominica Port of Spain (starts October 5, 2026) St. Maarten Trinidad & TobagoPort of SpainPiarco International Airport POSDominica San Juan St. ThomasService starts October 5, 2026 Sint MaartenSint MaartenPrincess Juliana International AirportSXMSan Juan St. Thomas (starting October 5, 2026) US Virgin IslandsSt. ThomasCyril E. King AirportSTTDominica Port of Spain (starting October 5, 2026) Sint Maarten (starting October 5, 2026)
United States
City Airport IATA Code Destinations Notes Arkansas El Dorado South Arkansas Regional Airport at Goodwin Field ELD Dallas/Fort Worth EAS community Alabama Muscle Shoals Northwest Alabama Regional Airport MSL Charlotte Pensacola (seasonal) AEAS community Arizona Page Page Municipal Airport PGA Denver (seasonal) Las Vegas Phoenix AEAS community Phoenix Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport PHX Moab Page Show Low VernalShow LowShow Low Regional AirportSOWPhoenixAEAS community California Los Angeles Los Angeles International Airport LAX Merced Merced Merced Regional Airport MCE Las Vegas Los Angeles EAS community ColoradoDenverDenver International AirportDENCarlsbad Moab Page (seasonal) Ruidoso Taos Vernal FloridaPensacolaPensacola International AirportPNSCape Girardeau Muscle Shoals Seasonal service Fort Lauderdale Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport FLL Macon Georgia Macon Middle Georgia Regional Airport MCN Baltimore Fort Lauderdale AEAS community Illinois Chicago O'Hare International Airport ORD Burlington Cape Girardeau Kirksville Manistee Marion Owensboro Quincy Marion Veterans Airport of Southern Illinois MWA Chicago/O'Hare EAS community Quincy Quincy Regional Airport UIN Chicago/O'Hare AEAS community Iowa Burlington Southeast Iowa Regional Airport BRL Chicago/O'Hare AEAS community Kentucky Owensboro Owensboro-Daviess County Regional Airport OWB Charlotte Chicago/O'Hare EAS community Maryland Baltimore Baltimore/Washington International Airport BWI Macon Michigan Manistee Manistee County Blacker Airport MBL Chicago/O'Hare AEAS community Mississippi Tupelo Tupelo Regional Airport TUP Nashville Dallas/Fort Worth AEAS community Missouri Cape Girardeau Cape Girardeau Regional Airport CGI Chicago/O'Hare Dallas/Fort Worth Pensacola (seasonal) EAS community Fort Leonard Wood Waynesville-St. Robert Regional Airport TBN Dallas/Fort Worth Nashville Kirksville Kirksville Regional Airport IRK Chicago/O'Hare Dallas/Fort Worth Nevada Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport LAS Merced Page New MexicoAlbuquerqueAlbuquerque International SunportABQCarlsbadCarlsbadCavern City Air TerminalCNMAlbuquerque DenverEAS community Ruidoso Sierra Blanca Regional Airport RUI/SRR Denver TaosTaos Regional AirportTSMDenver New York Plattsburgh Plattsburgh International Airport PBG Washington/Dulles AEAS community North Carolina Charlotte Charlotte Douglas International Airport CLT Altoona Beckley Muscle Shoals Owensboro Parkersburg Williamsport (starting October 19, 2026) Pennsylvania Altoona Altoona–Blair County Airport AOO Charlotte Myrtle Beach (seasonal) AEAS community Williamsport Williamsport Regional Airport IPT Charlotte Service starts October 19, 2026 South Carolina Myrtle Beach Myrtle Beach International Airport MYR Altoona Beckley Seasonal service Tennessee Nashville Nashville International Airport BNA Fort Leonard Wood Tupelo Texas Dallas/Fort Worth Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport DFW Cape Girardeau Fort Leonard Wood Tupelo Utah Moab Canyonlands Regional Airport CNY Denver Phoenix AEAS community Vernal Vernal Regional Airport VEL Denver Phoenix Virginia Washington D.C. Dulles International Airport IAD Plattsburgh West Virginia Beckley Raleigh County Airport BKW Charlotte Myrtle Beach (seasonal) AEAS communityParkersburgMid-Ohio Valley Regional AirportPKBCharlotte
Discontinued destinations
CityAirportIATA CodeDestinationsNotes California Crescent City Del Norte County Airport CEC Oakland Replaced by Advanced Air on March 17, 2024. Oakland Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport OAK Crescent City Santa BarbaraPalm SpringsPalm Springs International AirportPSPSacramento (Seasonal)Ended due to COVID-19 pandemicSacramentoSacramento International AirportSMFPalm Springs (seasonal) Santa BarbaraSan Luis ObispoSan Luis Obispo County Regional AirportSBPLas VegasSanta BarbaraSanta Barbara Municipal AirportSBALas Vegas Oakland SacramentoEnded due to COVID-19 pandemic FloridaDestinDestin–Fort Walton Beach AirportVPSBowling GreenEnded due to low demandTampaTampa International AirportTPACharlotte MaconEnded due to low demand GeorgiaAtlantaHartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International AirportATLBowling GreenEnded due to low demand IndianaIndianapolisIndianapolis International AirportINDMilwaukee Nashville PittsburghEnded due to COVID-19 pandemic KentuckyBowling GreenBowling Green–Warren County Regional AirportBWGAtlanta Destin-Fort WaltonEnded due to low demand Paducah Barkley Regional Airport PAH Charlotte Ended February 23, 2026, replaced by SkyWest Airlines Mississippi Greenville Greenville Mid-Delta Airport GLH Dallas/Fort Worth Nashville Ended September 30, 2025, replaced by Denver Air Connection MissouriSt. LouisSt. Louis Lambert International AirportSTLFort Leonard Wood New YorkOgdensburgOgdensburg International AirportOGSPhiladelphiaReplaced by Breeze Airways on October 1, 2024. Pennsylvania Philadelphia Philadelphia International Airport PHL Altoona Ogdensburg Plattsburgh Ended April 30, 2025. Replaced by Washington/Dulles.PittsburghPittsburgh International AirportPITIndianapolis MilwaukeeEnded due to low demand Virginia Shenandoah Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport SHD Charlotte Ended February 1, 2026, replaced by SkyWest Airlines West Virginia Clarksburg North Central West Virginia Airport CKB Charlotte Ended April 13, 2026, replaced by SkyWest Airlines Lewisburg Greenbrier Valley Airport LWB Charlotte Ended February 8, 2026, replaced by SkyWest Airlines WisconsinMilwaukeeMilwaukee Mitchell International AirportMKEIndianapolis PittsburghEnded due to low demand
Fleet
As of September 2025, Contour uses a variety of regional jets in a 30-seat configuration under the Corporate Flight Management certificate. AircraftInserviceOrdersPassengersBombardier CRJ20010—30Embraer ERJ 13510—30Embraer ERJ 1408—30Embraer ERJ 1453—30Fleet total31—120
Contour Airlines also formerly operated seven British Aerospace Jetstream 31 and four British Aerospace Jetstream 41 aircraft. Services Interline agreement Contour has had an interline agreement with American Airlines since October 2019, allowing passengers to travel via Contour and American under a single itinerary. Bookings can be made through third-party travel agencies, through the American Airlines website, or directly through the Contour Airlines website.
Since April 2024, Contour has had an interline agreement with Alaska Airlines. Passengers who book through Alaska Airlines are eligible to earn miles for Atmos Rewards when flying Contour.
Since October 2024, Contour and United Airlines have had an interline agreement.
In February 2025, Contour and JetBlue signed a new interline agreement that allow customers to book for single itineraries. This agreement allows Contour to access for more than 100 destinations served by JetBlue in the Americas, while extending JetBlue's reach into smaller and underserved regional markets served by Contour.
In-flight experience Passengers traveling with Contour receive free seat selection. All Contour flights feature leather seating, 36 inches of legroom, and complimentary in-flight snack and beverage service.
References
External links Official website