AirNet is an American Part 135 cargo airline based in Franklin County, Ohio, USA, near

Columbus Columbus is a Latinized version of the Italian surname "''Colombo''". It most commonly refers to: * Christopher Columbus (1451-1506), the Italian explorer * Columbus, Ohio, capital of the U.S. state of Ohio Columbus may also refer to: Places ...

. It specializes in delivery of documents and small packages. Banks were once their main client, transporting checks for over 300 of the country's largest banks. With the passing of the Check 21 Act, and the increase in the usage of

electronic banking Online banking, also known as internet banking, web banking or home banking, is an electronic payment system that enables customers of a bank or other financial institution to conduct a range of financial transactions through the financial insti ...

, this has been greatly reduced. AirNet is now focusing on time critical documents and packages, such as those required in the scientific and medical field. The main sort facility is located at Rickenbacker International Airport in Columbus. In September 2008, AirNet announced that they were moving their sort facility to Chicago, reducing the number of aircraft, and redesigning their route network. Their corporate headquarters remains in Columbus.

History

Financial Air Express / PDQ was founded in 1974 by Gerald Mercer in

Pontiac, MI Pontiac ( ') is a city in and the county seat of Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2020 census, the city had a total population of 61,606. A northern suburb of Metro Detroit, Pontiac is about northwest of Detroit. Found ...

. Jet Courier was founded at about the same time by Donald Wright in Cincinnati, OH. Jet Courier changed its name to Wright International Express in January 1985. In July 1988, these two companies merged to become US Check Airlines, headed by Gerald Mercer. US Check acquired Air Continental of

Norwalk, OH Norwalk is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Huron County. The population was 17,012 at the 2010 census. The city is the center of the Norwalk Micropolitan Statistical Area and part of the Cleveland-Akron-Canton Combined ...

a year later to become a dominant player in the cancelled check transportation industry. US Check later acquired Midway Aviation of Dallas, TX, Pacific Air Charter of San Diego, CA, Express Convenience Center of

Southfield, Massachusetts Southfield is a village located at the junction of Norfolk and East Hill Roads within the town of New Marlborough in Berkshire County Berkshire County (pronounced ) is a county on the western edge of the U.S. state of Massachusetts. A ...

and Data Air Courier of Chicago, Illinois. In order to raise additional capital and further grow the company, US Check went public in 1998 to become AirNet Systems. In 2008, AirNet Systems was purchased by Bayside Capital, which had once owned the now defunc
Flight Express
of

Orlando, FL Orlando () is a city in the U.S. state of Florida and is the county seat of Orange County. In Central Florida, it is the center of the Orlando metropolitan area, which had a population of 2,509,831, according to U.S. Census Bureau figures relea ...

. In August 2015 Kalitta Charters acquired AirNet.

Destinations

AirNet's destinations ():

Fleet

The Airnet Express fleet consists of the following aircraft ():

Accident

An AirNet Beechcraft Baron was lost in a crash on 8 January 2022 near Defiance, Missouri, killing the two occupants. The plane had been traveling to Centennial Airport in Colorado.

Gallery

File:N105AN-01.JPG, N105AN a

Cessna 208 Caravan The Cessna 208 Caravan is a utility aircraft produced by Cessna. The project was commenced on November 20, 1981, and the prototype first flew on December 9, 1982. The production model was certified by the Federal Aviation Administration, FAA ...

at Burke Lakefront Airport File:N106AN.jpg, N106AN a Cessna 208 at Burke Lakefront Airport File:N107AN.jpg, N107AN a Cessna 208 Caravan at Burke Lakefront Airport File:Air Net Systems N108AN.jpg,

References

External links

AirNet
{{DEFAULTSORT:Airnet Express Regional Airline Association members Cargo airlines of the United States Airlines established in 1974 Companies based in the Columbus, Ohio metropolitan area Regional airlines of the United States Airlines based in Ohio 1974 establishments in Ohio