In 1983, Henson Aviation was purchased by Piedmont Airlines and began operating as Henson, The Piedmont Regional Airline. Henson Airways reigned as the primary air service provider in Salisbury until US Airways Express purchased Henson Aviation in 1993. After the merger, the airline was renamed Piedmont and it deemed Salisbury as its primary operating base and quickly grew into a large regional carrier. After opening the base, the airline operated flights to Philadelphia and Washington. A few years later, Piedmont opened a new hub in Charlotte, North Carolina which rapidly grew to become larger than its hub in Washington D.C. The service to Washington was later cancelled and was replaced with service to Charlotte.