Arizona Airways (1993-1996)

Infobox Airline
airline = Arizona Airways


image_size = 150 px
IATA = VZ
ICAO = AZY
callsign = Arizair
founded =
ceased =
hubs = Tucson International Airport
secondary_hubs =
focus_cities =
frequent_flyer =
lounge =
alliance =
subsidiaries =
fleet_size =
destinations = 11
parent =
company_slogan =
headquarters = Tucson, AZ
key_people = Jim Swartz (CEO)
website =

Arizona Airways airline codes|VZ|AZY|Arizair was an airline that was conceived as a regional airline to provide service to cities throughout the Southwestern United States and the Mexican state of Sonora from Texas to California.cite news
last =Herr
first =Jeff
coauthors =
title =Tucson-based airline could add 165 jobs, give financial boost
work =The Arizona Daily Star
pages =
date =1991-12-31
url =
accessdate = ] The airline was in service between 1993 to 1996.

History

Originally announced in late 1991, Arizona Airways envisioned to create 165 jobs and generate $70 million to the local economy. In March 1992, the carrier was given its FAA approval. cite news
last =
first =
coauthors =
title =Arizona Airways clears FAA hurdle
work =The Arizona Daily Star
pages =
date =1992-03-07
url =
accessdate = ] After it was given approval, service was initially to commence in June 1992, with three roundtrips each business day and two each on Saturday and Sunday between Tucson and San Diego. By July 1992, the U.S. Department of Transportation awarded the airline a route from Tucson to Hermosillo.cite news
last =
first =
coauthors =
title =Tucson nets new air lanes to Hermosillo
work =The Arizona Daily Star
pages =
date =1992-07-30
url =
accessdate = ] At the time of this announcement, the airline also stated it was considering flying all of its domestic flights out of Avra Valley Airport in neighboring Marana due to the higher gate fees at Tucson International Airport; however, these plans never materialized. Growth of the airline was rapid in its first year resulting in the carrier offering more flights from Tucson than any other carrier by April 1994.

However by July 1995 the carrier was unable to pay its fees at the airport and sought out an alliance with Minneapolis-based Great Lakes Aviation to generate additional revenue.cite news
last =Ducote
first =Richard
coauthors =
title =Alliance with Great Lakes to enable Arizona Airways to pay debt
work =The Arizona Daily Star
pages =3B
date =1995-06-07
url =
accessdate = ] In August 1995, the deal with Great Lakes became official and the carrier was rebranded as Arizona Airways Express.cite news
last =Christman
first =Bob
coauthors =
title =Arizona Airways has new owners
work =The Arizona Daily Star
pages =4B
date =1995-08-10
url =
accessdate = ]

Fleet

* 6 Saab 340B
* In 1995 the company's fleet included two Beechcraft 1900C and two Beechcraft 1900D aircraft.

Destinations Served

*Arizona
**Bullhead City (Laughlin/Bullhead International Airport)
**Phoenix (Phoenix International Airport)cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title =Arizona Airways
work =
publisher =AirTimes: A Collector's Guide to Airline Timetables
date =
url =http://www.airtimes.com/cgat/usa/misc/a/arizona90/gal/r6gal70.htm
accessdate =2007-09-30 ]
**Tucson (Tucson International Airport) - Primary Hub
*California
**Ontario (Ontario International Airport)
**Orange County (John Wayne Airport)
**San Diego (San Diego International Airport)
*New Mexico
**Albuquerque (Albuquerque International Sunport)
*Texas
**El Paso (El Paso International Airport)cite news
last =Ducote
first =Richard
coauthors =
title =New Ariz. Airways taking flight in market; Has expanded staffing level, air destinations
work =The Arizona Daily Star
pages =8D
date =1994-04-18
url =
accessdate = ]
*Sonora
**Ciudad Obregón (Ciudad Obregón International Airport)cite news
last =Ducote
first =Richard
coauthors =
title =Arizona Airways considering ways to pay off its bills
work =The Arizona Daily Star
pages =3B
date =1995-06-01
url =
accessdate = ]
**Guaymas (General José María Yáñez International Airport)cite news
last =
first =
coauthors =
title =Arizona Airways flying to Guaymas
work =The Arizona Daily Star
pages =3B
date =1994-07-15
url =
accessdate = ]
**Hermosillo (Ignacio L. Pesqueira International Airport)

Rumored Destinations

*Nevada
**Las Vegas (McCarran International Airport)

External links

* [http://www.airtimes.com/cgat/usa/misc/a/arizona90/gal/r6gal70.htm Arizona Airways Timetables] at Airtimes.com

References