Piedmont Airlines (PT, Salisbury, MD) has announced it will open a new crew base in Charlotte International, North Carolina, home to parent firm American Airlines’ largest East Coast hub.
In a statement, the Virginia-based capacity provider said the new domicile would open from July 1 with flight and cabin crew joining the more than 1,500 Piedmont ground-handling, line maintenance and leadership team members already based at Charlotte Douglas International Airport.
Piedmont is on track to withdraw its last remaining Dash 8-300s in July following which its fleet will consist entirely of E145s. In tandem with the turboprop's phasing out, Piedmont will also close its crew base in Roanoke Woodrum Regional, Virginia, with affected crew members to have the opportunity to relocate to either Charlotte or Philadelphia International.
“Piedmont has been serving the Charlotte market for decades with (Bombardier Aerospace) Dash 8 turboprop aircraft. As we transition to the Embraer jet in Charlotte and retire the Dash, it makes sense to have our crew members based in the hub,” Steve Keefer, Vice President (Flight Operations), said.
Piedmont Airlines currently operates forty-two ERJ-145s and is expanding its fleet at a rate of two per month.
