sentences:  These included US Air and Empire Airlines, both with route networks heavily focused on the New York state and Northeast markets that Brockway served.The 1986 acquisition of Empire Airlines by Piedmont Airlines, and Piedmont's decision to expand the connecting hub complex that Empire had built at Syracuse signaled the closing of Brockway Air's operations as an independent airline.With Piedmont's new presence in the northeast, Brockway Air opted to join the Piedmont Commuter network in the spring of 1986.