View source for USA3000 Airlines

{{Short description|Defunct airline of the United States (2001–2012)}}
{{Infobox airline
| airline        = USA3000 Airlines
| logo           = USA3000 Airlines logo.svg
| logo_size      = 250
| IATA           = U5
| ICAO           = GWY
| callsign       = GETAWAY
| founded        = {{start date|2001|12|26}}<ref name="about">{{Cite web|url= http://www.usa3000.com/aboutus.htm|title= About Us|access-date= 26 December 2008|publisher= USA3000 Airlines|url-status=dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20021206040027/http://www.usa3000.com/aboutus.htm|archive-date= 6 December 2002}}</ref>
| ceased         = {{end date|2012|01|30}}
| operations     =
| commenced      = 
| secondary_hubs = 
| focus_cities   = 
| frequent_flyer = 
| lounge         = 
| alliance       = 
| subsidiaries   = 
| fleet_size     = 2 (at closure)
| destinations   = 2 (at closure)<ref name="about" />
| parent         = [[Apple Leisure Group|Apple Vacations]]
| company_slogan = 
| headquarters   = [[Newtown Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania|Newtown Township]], [[Pennsylvania]], U.S.
| key_people     = John J. Mullen, (Former [[President (corporate title)|President]], [[Chairman]] & [[Chief executive officer|CEO]])<ref>{{Cite web| url= http://www.eturbonews.com/5762/usa3000-airlines-appoints-president-and-ceo| title= USA3000 Airlines appoints president and CEO|access-date=26 December 2008|publisher= eTurboNews, Inc|date=2008-10-22}}</ref>
| website        = {{URL|www.USA3000.com}}
}}

[[File:USA3000 HQ Newtown Sq Delco.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|Headquarters in Newtown Square, PA]]

'''Brendan Airways, LLC''', doing business as '''USA3000 Airlines''', was an [[airline]] in the [[United States]] headquartered in [[Newtown Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania|Newtown Township]], [[Delaware County, Pennsylvania|Delaware County]], [[Pennsylvania]].<ref>"[http://ows.doleta.gov/dmstree/uipl/uipl2k2/uipl_3002c2a3.html uipl_3002c2a3.html]." [[United States Department of Labor]]. Retrieved on May 26, 2009.</ref><ref>"[http://www.usa3000airlines.com/contact.htm Contact us.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100727212335/http://usa3000airlines.com/contact.htm |date=2010-07-27 }}" USA3000 Airlines. Retrieved on October 1, 2010. "Head Office Mailing Address USA3000 Airlines 335 Bishop Hollow Rd Newtown Square, PA 19073"</ref><ref name="census">{{cite web|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/MapItDrawServlet?geo_id=06000US4204554224&_bucket_id=50&tree_id=420&context=saff&_lang=en&_sse=on |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121017140929/http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/MapItDrawServlet?geo_id=06000US4204554224&_bucket_id=50&tree_id=420&context=saff&_lang=en&_sse=on |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-10-17 |title=Newtown Township, Delaware County, PA |publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]] |access-date=2010-10-01 }}</ref> It operated both scheduled and charter service with a fleet of five [[Airbus A320 family|Airbus A320]] aircraft. The airline's last flight departed on January 30, 2012.

==History==
===Launch & Apple Vacation Charters: 2000–2002===
USA 3000 Airlines began operations with one [[Airbus A320]]. The inaugural flight on December 28, 2001, flew from Philadelphia to Cancun. By early 2002, USA 3000 Airlines exclusively operated charter flights, from Philadelphia, Newark, Hartford and Columbus, with two aircraft. A third aircraft was added to the fleet in 2002 and based at [[Chicago O’Hare International Airport]].<ref name="ohare">{{Cite web| title=2004 Completion Plan Updates| url=http://www.flychicago.com/PDF/DoingBusiness/CompetitionPlan2004.pdf| pages=18–20| publisher=Chicago Airport System| date=24 March 2004| access-date=2011-12-05| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111025132409/http://flychicago.com/PDF/DoingBusiness/CompetitionPlan2004.pdf| archive-date=25 October 2011}}</ref>

===Expansion & Scheduled service: 2003–2007===
In order for USA 3000 to generate additional revenue, the existing charter flights were also offered as scheduled, allowing passengers to book flights without purchasing an Apple Vacation package.

In 2003, additional scheduled service was launched from northeastern U.S. cities to Florida, Bermuda, and throughout the Caribbean. Scheduled domestic destinations eventually included [[Fort Lauderdale]], [[Fort Myers]], [[St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport|St. Petersburg/Clearwater]], [[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]], [[Melbourne, Florida]], and [[Sarasota]]. Northern cities or "Gateway cities" included [[Newark, New Jersey|Newark]], [[Philadelphia]], [[Pittsburgh]], [[Baltimore]], [[Cleveland]], [[Columbus, Ohio|Columbus]], [[Cincinnati]], [[Detroit]], [[O'Hare International Airport|Chicago (O'Hare)]], and [[St. Louis]]. Additionally, USA 3000 offered seasonal service from [[Hartford]], [[Boston]], and [[Milwaukee]].
 
By late 2004, USA 3000 Airlines operated 12 permanent A320 aircraft, plus 2 additional seasonal aircraft leased from [[Thomas Cook Airlines]].

===Cutbacks & Military Charters: 2008–2012===
In early 2008, it was announced that USA 3000 Airlines would be pulling out of [[Newark Liberty Airport]] due to increased competition from discount carriers.

By Summer 2008, USA3000 Airlines began a major reduction of its [[Florida]] service, closing all stations except [[Fort Myers, Florida|Fort Myers]]. USA3000 has cited record-high fuel prices as reason for the service cuts. According to former USA 3000 [[Chief operating officer|COO]] Angus Kinnear, "Florida has some of the lowest domestic air fares in the country and only Fort Myers fetches ticket prices high enough to make money with oil at $125 a barrel." In the same announcement, the airline confirmed the continuation of its remaining scheduled service, with a strong focus on maintaining the more profitable international routes.<ref>{{Cite web|url= http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/airlines/article506215.ece|title= USA 3000 to end service at St. Petersburg-Clearwater airport|access-date= 26 December 2008|author= Huettel, Steve|work= TampaBay.com|publisher= St. Petersburg Times|date= 2008-05-18|url-status=dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120211094553/http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/airlines/article506215.ece|archive-date= 11 February 2012}}</ref> However seasonal service was restored in late 2008 to [[St. Petersburg/Clearwater Airport]] from [[O'Hare International Airport|Chicago (O'Hare)]] due to a decrease in oil prices, reduction in flights by competitors, and a demonstration of customer support.<ref name="StPete">{{Cite press release| url= http://www.fly2pie.com/resource/dynamic/news/984-PressReleaseUSA3000returnsToSt._Pete-ClearwaterIntlAirport.pdf| title= USA3000 Resumes Service to St. Petersburg/Tampa Bay!| access-date= 26 December 2008| date= 23 October 2008| work= Press release, St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport| publisher= Pinellas County| archive-date= 29 September 2011| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110929020335/http://www.fly2pie.com/resource/dynamic/news/984-PressReleaseUSA3000returnsToSt._Pete-ClearwaterIntlAirport.pdf| url-status= dead}}</ref>

In November 2008, Steven Harfst was named CEO.<ref>{{Cite web|url=   http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=7940386|archive-url=   https://web.archive.org/web/20120929002305/http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=7940386|url-status=   dead|archive-date=   September 29, 2012|title=USA 3000 Airlines Inc. Announces Management Changes|access-date=23 October 2008}}</ref>

In January 2009, USA 3000 submitted a Statement of Intent to the [[United States Transportation Command]] (USTRANSCOM) based at [[Scott Air Force Base]] to be certified into the country's [[Civil Reserve Air Fleet]] (CRAF). USA 3000 became a certified CRAF air carrier, and was able to bid on the military's domestic and short-range international charters. USA 3000 also sought “Ad Hoc” charter opportunities to improve aircraft utilization and enhanced their website to improve sales, customer service, and ancillary revenue opportunities.

USA 3000 ended all of its services from [[Detroit]] and [[Milwaukee]] in April 2009.<ref name="freep">{{cite news|url=http://www.freep.com/article/20090204/BUSINESS05/90204126/1018/USA3000+to+suspend+flights+from+Detroit+Metro+Airport |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131220181626/http://www.freep.com/article/20090204/BUSINESS05/90204126/1018/USA3000%2Bto%2Bsuspend%2Bflights%2Bfrom%2BDetroit%2BMetro%2BAirport |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-12-20 |title=USA3000 Suspends DTW Routes in April 2009 |work=Detroit Free Press |date=4 February 2009 }}</ref> citing poor demand and the economic downturn. USA 3000 also ended service from [[Baltimore]] and [[Pittsburgh]] later that summer for the same reasons.<ref name="Balt">{{cite news| title=USA 3000 stopping BWI flights to Florida| url=http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/stories/2008/05/12/daily34.html| author=Ryan Sharrow| work=Baltimore Business Journal| date=15 May 2008| publisher=BizJournals.com| access-date=2011-12-05}}</ref> However, those services were later offered seasonally, with USA3000 restoring service to Detroit in October 2009.

The [[Fort Myers, Florida|Fort Myers]] crew base closed in March 2010. However, flight schedules from [[Southwest Florida International Airport]] were not impacted, according to the USA 3000 CEO.<ref name="2first">{{Cite news| url=http://www.nbc-2.com/Global/story.asp?S=12031784| title=USA 3000 jobs flying out of Lee County| author=Kevin Ozebek| date=23 February 2010| work=WBBH-TV| publisher=2First| access-date=2011-12-05| archive-date=2011-08-07| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807152221/http://www.nbc-2.com/Global/story.asp?S=12031784| url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2011, USA 3000 operated a fleet of 5 [[Airbus A320]] aircraft.

In November 2011, Apple Vacations decided to dissolve USA 3000 Airlines. Apple Vacations subsequently used other carriers such as [[Frontier Airlines]], [[Sun Country Airlines]], [[AirTran Airways]], [[Alaska Airlines]] and [[Aeroméxico]] to transport its customers to the Caribbean and Central America.<ref name="stl">{{cite news| title=USA3000 Airlines to halt operations at Lambert| url=http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/usa-airlines-to-halt-operations-at-lambert/article_4675f276-0af2-11e1-83c0-0019bb30f31a.html| date=9 November 2011| author=Ken Leister| work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch| publisher=Stltoday.com| access-date=2011-12-05}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://bocaratoncityonline.com/2010/06/30/apple-vacations-sun-country-airlines-announce-new-air-service-from-lansing.html |title=Apple Vacations & Sun Country Airlines Announce New Air Service from Lansing &#124; bocaratoncityonline.com |access-date=2013-02-17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111064029/http://bocaratoncityonline.com/2010/06/30/apple-vacations-sun-country-airlines-announce-new-air-service-from-lansing.html |archive-date=2012-11-11 }}</ref>

The airline's last scheduled flight arrived on January 30, 2012. The airline intended to serve all existing charters through May 2012.

As of February 1, 2019 USA3000 still retains their website, not showing much but a basic WordPress page.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.usa3000.com/ |title = USA3000 Airlines {{!}} An American Airline Company}}</ref>

==Destinations==
[[Image:USA 3000.JPG|thumb|right|USA3000 Airbus A320 at [[Pittsburgh International Airport]]]]

The last destinations USA3000 Airlines operated to were, [[Cancún International Airport|Cancún]] and [[Lambert-St. Louis International Airport|St. Louis]].

Destinations terminated prior to closure:
*Aruba – Oranjestad
*Bahamas – Nassau
*Bermuda – Bermuda
*Costa Rica – Liberia
*Dominican Republic – La Romana, Puerto Plata, Punta Cana, Santo Domingo
*Jamaica – Montego Bay
*Mexico – Acapulco, Cozumel, Huatulco, Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo, Puerto Vallarta, San Jose del Cabo
*St. Lucia – Vieux Fort
*United States – Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Buffalo, Charlotte, Chicago (O'Hare), Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus (OH), Detroit, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Hartford, Lansing, Melbourne (FL), Milwaukee, New York City (JFK), Newark, Orlando, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Richmond, Sarasota, St. Petersburg/Clearwater, Washington D.C. (Dulles)

==Fleet==
At the time of closure USA3000 Airlines had 2 aircraft in its fleet consisting of 2 Airbus A320-200s.

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:auto;"
|+ USA3000 Airlines fleet
|-
!Aircraft
!Total
!Orders
!Passengers
!Notes
|-
|[[Airbus A320 family|Airbus A320-200]]  
|2
|0
|168
| All transferred to [[VivaColombia]]
|}

*As of February 2011, USA3000's average fleet age was 8.7 years old.{{cn|date=November 2025}}
*USA3000 Airlines flew a fleet composed solely of Airbus A320 jet aircraft that were configured with 168 seats in a single-class configuration.
*Most planes were new, delivered from [[Airbus]].

===Similarly named airlines===
*[[Canada 3000]]

==See also==
{{Portal|Philadelphia|Companies|Aviation}}
* [[List of defunct airlines of the United States]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{commons category|USA3000 Airlines}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120126002638/http://www.usa3000.com/index.htm USA3000 Airlines]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20220610023404/http://www.ch-aviation.ch/portal/aircraft.php?search=set&airline=U5 USA3000 Airlines Fleet]

{{Navbox Airlines of the United States}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Usa3000 Airlines}}
[[Category:Defunct airlines of the United States]]
[[Category:Airlines established in 2001]]
[[Category:Companies based in Delaware County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Airlines disestablished in 2012]]
[[Category:American companies established in 2001]]