Xtra Airways, currently renamed to Houston Air Holdings, Inc., is an airline based in Houston, Texas, United States, with plans to commence commercial service by the end of 2020. The airline is certified by the United States FAA to conduct domestic and international operations.
History
Casino Express Airlines
Established in 1987 as Casino Express Airlines, the air carrier began operations in 1989 using Boeing 737-200 jetliners flying exclusively for the Red Lion Hotel and Casino in Elko, Nevada. Casino Express operated 737 jet service from Elko Regional Airport nonstop to many cities in the U.S. In 1994, Casino Express was operating scheduled weekend only flights nonstop between Elko and Portland, OR, and Seattle with McDonnell Douglas MD-80 jetliners. Casino Express Airlines also operated one Boeing 737-200 jetliner for new start-up airline Tahoe Air which provided scheduled passenger air service from the South Lake Tahoe Airport nonstop to Los Angeles International Airport in southern California and also nonstop to San Jose International Airport in northern California.
Xtra Airways
Casino Express quickly expanded its customer base to include sports teams, government agencies, foreign dignitaries, press corps, other gaming properties, and other types of public and private charters. It changed its name to Xtra Airways on December 8, 2005, to better reflect its broader focus. The airline moved its headquarters in June 2010 to Boise, Idaho. Xtra Airways changed its livery in 2015 to an executive jet style, displaying flag blue and red stripes consistent with its status as a US-flag air carrier. in September 2016 in the custom Hillary Clinton Presidential campaigncolor scheme In September 2016, it began operating a Boeing 737-800, repainted in a sky-blue and white livery with "Stronger Together" titles, for the Hillary Clinton 2016 presidential campaign. Soon afterward a second aircraft, Boeing 737-400, was also pressed into service for the campaign, painted with a sky-blue cheatline and "Clinton/Kaine" titles.
Houston Air Holdings
The XTRA Airways certificate was acquired by Andrew Levy, former CFO for United Continental Holdings and Co-founder of Allegiant. XTRA had sold most of its fleet to Swift Air but kept one Boeing 737-400 to retain its 121 commercial airline certification. The company announced it is leasing Boeing Co.'s 737–800, given the worldwide grounding of the company's new 737 MAX. In February 2020, Levy announced he had renamed the airline to Houston Air Holdings, Inc. as a temporary name while the permanent name was decided. The airline secured a $125 million raise and has received its first airplane from GE Capital Aviation Services. The airline plans to start charter flights in summer 2020 while beginning first commercial flights later in the year.
Destinations
While airports to be served are still to be announced, the airline plans to focus on secondary, underserved markets that lack sufficient supply in air service. He stated the airline is based in Houston, though which Houston airport has not been announced. The airline is targeting Las Vegas and vacation spots in Florida as destinations.
