Indigo Airlines was an American airline headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. It was the first business jet airline, founded in 1997 by Matt Andersson, John N. Fenton and Tom Svrcek. Its headquarters were first located in Chicago's Near North Side, and later at Chicago Midway Airport. History It was the first airline to allow individual travelers to reserve and purchase a single seat on a traditional corporate or business jet, which then flew a "scheduled" flight like a traditional airline. Prior to Indigo the only business-jet service available to consumers consisted of jet ownership or charter, both expensive alternatives to regular airline travel. The company was the originator of two new categories of corporate jet air travel service: per seat, high frequency and the public or commercial corporate jet. Indigo priced its service between its first city pair Chicago and New York City close to a so-called unrestricted coach class fare. The venture was backed by the American Express Corporation, which owned approximately 12% of Indigo's capital structure. Former American Express CEO Harvey Golub, now Chairman of Sentient Jet, led the Indigo investment and marketing agreement. Indigo's inventory was marketed and sold through American Express' Travel Related Services group and through its Platinum Card program. Indigo was the first business jet airline to list its seat inventory in the computer reservations systems Sabre and Apollo, using the carrier code "I9". The Indigo project was also supported by management consultants McKinsey & Company, and was advised by corporate identity firm Interbrand (an Omnicom company), public accountants and business advisors Arthur Anderson, public relations firm The Dilenschneider Group and investment bank and financial advisory firm Merrill Lynch & Company. Fleet Indigo's initial fleet consisted of four French-built Dassault Falcon jets, fitted with leather seats, a galley, private bathroom and laptop power outlets. Indigo was headquartered in Chicago, Illinois at Chicago Midway International Airport in the former Ameritech corporate hangar facilities. This was a co-located hangar, office complex, private passenger terminal and maintenance facility. Indigo was a vertically integrated aviation company and owned, employed and controlled its own aircraft fleet, pilots, dispatchers and maintenance services. The company operated as a Federal Aviation Administration FAR Part 135 commercial operator, and was certified by the United States Department of Transportation under Parts 41101 and 380 as a public charter operator. Indigo was the first business jet commercial operator to receive an additional DOT fitness approval and