| Airline: | Florida Express |
| Iata: | ZO |
| Icao: | FLX |
| Callsign: | FLEXAIR |
| Founded: | 24 January 1983 |
| Bases: | Orlando International Airport |
| Fleet Size: | See Fleet below |
| Destinations: | See Destinations below |
| Headquarters: | Orlando, Florida, United States |
| Num Employees: | 385 (1985) |
| Key People: | Gordon Linkon |
Florida Express was an airline headquartered in Orlando, Florida, United States. Orlando International Airport (MCO) served as the airline's hub with a point-to-point linear route system in the eastern U.S. and Florida. Established in 1984, the air carrier operated a small fleet consisting exclusively of British Aircraft Corporation BAC One-Eleven twin jet aircraft and employed approximately 385 employees in 1985.[1] It was incorporated in Delaware on January 24, 1983[2] and received its economic certificate from the Civil Aeronautics Board exactly a year later on January 24, 1984.[3] First flight was January 26, 1984 and it was co-founded and led by Gordon Linkon, a former Midway Airlines president and Frontier Airlines executive.[4] The airline completed an initial public offering on October 16, 1985, raising $13mm.[5] The airline's toll-free phone number was 1-800-FAST-JET.[6]
On October 28, 1987, the second incarnation of Braniff announced its acquisition of Florida Express in a deal worth $20mm (over $50mm in 2024 dollars).[7] After government approvals, the deal closed on April 19, 1988.[8] However, before the deal closed, from January 15, 1988 onward, Florida Express flew for Braniff under the name Braniff Express.[9]
1987-88 World Airline Fleets (copyright 1987) lists the Air Florida fleet as follows:[10]
The 203AE series aircraft were originally delivered to Braniff International Airways,[11] the US trunk carrier that ceased operation in 1982, a separate but related carrier from the Braniff that bought Florida Express.
The following destination information is taken from the January 26, 1984 Florida Express system timetable:[12]
The following destination information is taken from the April 27, 1986 Florida Express system timetable:[13]
Book: Norwood, Tom. Deregulation Knockouts: Round One. 1996 . 86. 9780965399302. Airways International. Sand Point, Idaho.
Web site: 1987 - Ad for Florida Express Airlines. youtube.com. TheClassicSports. video. en. 16 June 2024. 15 May 2014 .