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The United States hosts a number of regional airlines that operate under the banners of major carriers, such as United Airlines and American Airlines. Many passengers are often unaware that their flights are conducted by different operators than those selling the tickets. These regional airlines typically use liveries similar to their associated major carriers, but there are ways to distinguish between them.
Regional airlines have been part of the aviation landscape since its early days when aircraft had limited range and capacity. The deregulation of American aviation in 1978 allowed for greater expansion and flexibility in route selection, but also led to the creation of the Essential Air Service Program to ensure continued service to smaller towns.
Today, regional carriers like SkyWest Airlines and Envoy Air operate aircraft seating between 50 and 76 passengers on behalf of larger airlines. These planes can fly up to 1,611 miles within the U.S.
