Dann Lewis

St. Croix, United States Virgin Islands: Dann H. Lewis has been named Senior Vice President and General Manager for Virgin Islands Seaplane Shuttle with services between its maintenance headquarters in St. Croix, with services to San Juan Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, St. John, and the British Virgin Islands. According to Lewis, the airline has been in recent discussions with TWA for a code-share designation between all its routes and TWA’s Caribbean hub located in San Juan. Dann Lewis most recently had been president and chief operating officer of Resort Commuter Airlines, a Trans World Express designated carrier operating from multiple locations within California. Prior to that, Dann Lewis had been first Board Chairman of Bahamasair, the national flag carrier of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, Director of Tourism for the United States Virgin Islands, and Director of Tourism for the State of New York, having launched the world acclaimed “I Love New York” campaign.

From: St. Croix Avis, March 1988

TWA has won a presence at lucrative, flight-restricted John Wayne Airport by contracting with a regional airline to bring passengers from Orange County’s airport to Los Angeles International
President of the airline, Dann Lewis, stated that as part of the agreement, Orange County based Resort Commuter Airlines has changes its name and livery to Trans World Express. Lewis said that TWA has similar agreements with other commuter and regional airlines around the country, all operating under the name of Trans World Express. “It’s an extension of the trunk airlines route schedule,” he said.
Other major airlines also have such arrangements: American Airlines has American Eagle, United has United Express, Delta has Delta Connection, to name a few.
Resort Commuter continues to offer tickets to non-TWA affiliated passengers at $49 each way and joint fares with other airlines on connections to long distance flights out of LAX, said Lewis. TWA however, will offer the connections for free out of Orange County on many of its discount fares as well as on more expensive seats in its inventory, he said.
For example, as part of the promotion of the new Orange County service, TWA is offering a round-trip fare to New York for $198 from John Wayne, while the lowest fare available out of LAX alone is $258, Dann Lewis said.
From: Orange County Register, October 30, 1987

Established just two years ago, Southern California based Resort Commuter Airlines has concluded an affiliation agreement with TWA and changed its name and livery to Trans World Express, Dann H. Lewis, president of Resort Commuter announced.

As Trans World Express, the airline will provide greatly improved feeder service to Los Angeles from numerous Southern California cities, including Oxnard and Palm Springs. Dann Lewis said that Resort Commuter carries more than 50 percent of all passengers from Orange County (John Wayne) to Los Angeles International. Lewis went on to say that these arrangements with TWA will allow Resort Commuter to exchange passengers and maintain joint fares with most domestic and international carriers.
As a code-share of TWA, Trans World Express is establishing its own operations center within the TWA area in Terminal Three at LAX. Dann Lewis said that in addition to providing customer service and a ramp base at LAX, TW Express will maintain its high profile at Orange County’s John Wayne Airport.
Mr. Lewis said the airline has applied for permits to construct a mini-terminal north of the existing John Wayne main terminal and adjacent to designated ramp areas for loading regional aircraft. The new facility will accommodate up to three regional carriers.
The association with TWA, Dann Lewis said, will ensure a level of market recognition and penetration far in excess of what an independent commuter carier can command. Publishing its flight schedules unter the “TW” code in airline guides, travel publications and airline computer reservations systems (CRS’s) will enhance its name recognition and marketability.
Before joining Resort Commuter, Dann Lewis, who will continue as president of Trans World Express, was chairman of Bahamasair, the flag carrier of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. He also served as director of tourism for the State of New York and the U. S. Virgin Islands. He participated in the launch of the now famous “I Love New York” campaign and consulted on the current California State tourism marketing blitz.
From: Orange County Register, by Jack Ballard, October 30, 1986