Boutique Air, Inc. is a commuter airline based in San Francisco, California. The airline offers charter services as well as scheduled passenger services subsidized under the Essential Air Service program.
History
The company was founded in 2007 by Shawn Simpson, an early employee of Google. It was originally an aviation technology company before it began acquiring a fleet of aircraft in 2012 through its holding company Targaryen LLC. It operated on-demand charters, pilot training, and air patrol services for government sectors using Cessnas before purchasing Pilatus PC-12 aircraft to operate its passenger charter flights. In 2013, it received commuter air carrier authority from the United States Department of Transportation. Its first scheduled service was operated 2013-2014 between Hawthorne Municipal Airport near Los Angeles and McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas. During that time, the company began submitting proposals to provide scheduled service to rural communities and regions under contract as part of the Essential Air Service program, and began its first flights between Clovis Municipal Airport in New Mexico and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport in July 2014. The carrier has expanded further in New Mexico to include airports in Carlsbad, Los Alamos, Albuquerque, and Silver City. By the end of 2015, it flew 14 scheduled routes with an Essential Air Service airport destination. In 2017, Boutique Air began a new car rental company, named Boutique Car. These services are typically used at locations without other car rental options and is being expanded across their route map. In 2019, the airline added three airplanes to its fleet and spent over $10,000 on marketing in Victoria, Texas leading to a 132% increase in passenger air traffic in that region. In 2020, United Airlines announced that Boutique Air will be a partner airlines for its new United Aviate program. Boutique is the first commuter airline and part 135 operator to have a flow-through program with a legacy carrier.
In 2017, Boutique started a new rental car service called 'Boutique Car'. This service provides ground transportation options for communities that have no other options and compliments Boutique EAS proposals. Seven locations currently utilize this service:
Boutique Air announced a new codeshare agreement with United Airlines on May 23, 2018. Customers can book their entire itinerary under a single reservation for through ticketing and baggage transfer to their final destination. MileagePlus members can earn miles on eligible Boutique Air flights. Since Boutique has a codeshare with United Airlines, passengers with United Club memberships can access the lounge even if they are not flying with United.
In December 2018, Boutique launched a new interline agreement with American Airlines. Similar to the codeshare with United, customers can book all flights under a single reservation for flow through ticketing and baggage transfers to their final destination.
United Aviate
In 2020, United Airlines launched a new flow-through program called United Aviate. The Aviate Experience Build Entry Point, allows for current and recently hired Boutique Air pilots to enter the program. Afterwards, there is an evaluation process that includes employment history, panel interviews, technical skill inventory and a personality and cultural fit inventory. Once accepted into the program, pilots will have access to travel privileges, site tours, development events, coaching, United leadership interaction, and a direct path to United Airlines. When the applicant has earned their ATP rating, they can transition to one of the United Express Aviate partners. The choices includes Air Wisconsin, CommutAir, ExpressJet and Mesa Airlines. Once the minimum service requirements with United Express are met, the applicant will be eligible to transition to a First Officer position with United.
