Shortest-lived startup that actually flew?

[TOGA]

Trivial question: Out of startup airlines that have actually gotten off the ground, what's been the one that lasted the shortest time?

 

[Sky Jet]

I don't have data or dates but my bet is on Air Train.

Jet

 

[Propsync]

Access Air in Des Moines went from Feb. 1999 to Nov. 1999. Two 737-200. Don't know if it's the shortest, however.

 

[popgoesbubble]

Independence Air ! gotta take this honnor hands down.

Oh wait I have to edit this as not to offend any of the Major guys as Indy was not a Major airline by any means and this post is on the Major airline boards.

 

[Vingus]

Independence Air ! gotta take this honnor hands down.

Oh wait I have to edit this as not to offend any of the Major guys as Indy was not a Major airline by any means and this post is on the Major airline boards.

You also might consider editing the word "honnor" to "honor" while you are at it.

 

[Old School 737]

Legend Airlines?

 

[B-J-J Fighter]

There was a start up out of SLC using 737's that didn't last long. I forgot the name.

 

[propsarebest]

There was a start up out of SLC using 737's that didn't last long. I forgot the name.

Winair


Also, Sierra Expressway, based in MRY,flew j31's.

 

[accinelli]

What is: Pro Air.

 

[Alcatraz]

Pro Air flew for a few months, maybe even a few years. I think they were based in Detroit City (hence their incredible success).

Wasn't there an "Air 1" that flew in the mid 80s for about two weeks? Otherwise, my bet would be on Legend.

 

[Daddy]

Yeah Legend...that's bgot to be the winner...only flew for about a month I think if even that!

 

[Dumb Pilot]

How long was National out of Vegas? Wasn't it short of a year?

 

[skiandsurf]

Anyone remember the "startup" airline that was supposed to cater to smokers. It was started by a UAL Captain, that chartered a plane from United. I think they did one flight. Had 3 or 4 paying passengers and about 30 news reporters.

Not sure of the year, but guessing around 1995.

 

[rayford steele]

Altair

 

[BLUE BAYOU]

Lonestar was a short-lived one too...

 

[skiandsurf]

Anyone remember the "startup" airline that was supposed to cater to smokers. It was started by a UAL Captain, that chartered a plane from United. I think they did one flight. Had 3 or 4 paying passengers and about 30 news reporters.

Not sure of the year, but guessing around 1993.

TRAVEL ADVISORY; Blowing Smoke In the Air

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By ADAM BRYANT
Published: October 10, 1993
Freedom Air, named for the freedom it gives smokers to light up on board, flew its inaugural charter trip Sept. 28 from Chicago to Los Angeles, the first flight in what Freedom's operators hope will be a steady business catering to passengers irked by the smoking ban on domestic flights of less than six hours. Despite advertising and widespread media attention, its trip flight between O'Hare International Airport in Chicago and Los Angeles International Airport attracted fewer than 10 paying passengers.
Ted Hall, a recently retired United Airlines pilot who founded Freedom Air and has smoked since he was 14 years old, said he will try to market the service on busy routes like Chicago-Los Angeles because they offer the greatest pool of potential smokers. The company would give no details on scheduled flights beyond another round-trip flight between Chicago and Los Angeles on Oct. 12.
The airline charged only one fare for its first trips, $201 one-way. Freedom Air also charges a one-time $20 membership fee. Freedom Air said the fee was necessary to offset the cost of mailing and processing a waiver of liablility for second-hand smoke that every first-time passenger on the airline must sign.
Freedom Air, (800) 858-9768, rents the aircraft and flight crew from American Trans Air, an Indianapolis-based carrier. ADAM BRYANT
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[satpak77]

Legend is prob the winner. Lonestar flew for maybe 2 years, relying almost all on government subsidies to provide service to small rural Texas towns to keep them alive. In their last days, they acquired some Dornier 328's.

National out of Vegas flew for like 3+ years. For awhile they were doing some pretty solid business.

I think Legend became operation in Feb of XXX year and ceases ops completely in December of the same year.

 

[RP 04]

How long did Air South stay around?

 

[Itsallsogood]

How about MidAir.
They only made it halfway through their first flight.







joke.

 

[1st Overnite]

Anyone remember JetTrain? MCO-EWR-PIT. I remember them flying for about a summer. Bad service, bad planes, cool logo.

 

[JP4user]

Pride Air

 

[hawkerflyer]

Presidential mk 2 with the A300s out of LGB.

 

[koko nw]

Hooter's Air

 

[SDF2BUF2MCO]

The "new" Ozark which became Great Plains then folded within a year (?).

 

[Eagle-ista]

Laker? I don't think they lasted as long as their commercial buy..

 

[jp1030]

Another vote for Air Train, most of you youngins never heard of them, but all the old Usair guys do.

 

[coogebeachhotel]

Sun Jet

 

[ERfly]

Sun Jet

SunJet was reincarnated as Southeast, if memory serves. They were around for a couple of years.

 

[Northern Lights]

Back in the early 90's a small operation started to fly St. Paul (STP, not MSP) to Midway. I think that they had a Metro. I can't remamber the name, or how long they lasted.

 

[satpak77]

Don't forget Conquest, based out of KAUS, around 1988-1990 time frame. Flew 1900s from Austin to Abilene and San Angelo

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0063289/M/