Big Sky Airlines

Infobox_Airline
airline=Big Sky Airlines
logo=Big_Sky_Airlines_Logo.jpg
logo_size=150
IATA=GQ
ICAO=BSY
callsign=BIG SKY
parent=Big Sky Transportation-MAIR Holdings
founded=1978
ceased=2008
headquarters=Billings, Montana
hubs = Billings Logan International Airport
frequent_flyer=MVP Club
lounge=
fleet_size=10
destinations=10
key_people=Fred deLeeuw, President
website=

Big Sky Airlines was an American regional airline that operated from 1978 to 2008. Headquartered in Billings, Montana, USA, Big Sky was wholly owned by Big Sky Transportation Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of MAIR Holdings.

Big Sky operated scheduled commuter passenger services to 10 cities and maintained a hub at Billings Logan International Airport in Billings, Montana, from which the airline flew more of its non-stop routes than it did from any other airport. The airline was a crucial air link within the state of Montana, served as the primary (and in some cases, only) commercial air carrier to several small airports in the state. The airline also began and ended service to a number of other locations over the years, often operating as a contract carrier under the federal government's Essential Air Service (EAS) program.

History

The airline was established in 1978 and started operations on September 15, 1978, initially operating to a number of small cities in eastern and central Montana formerly served by the original Frontier Airlines. This remained the core of the company's business throughout its history, although the airline also expanded into a number of other geographic areas over the years. Most of the later expansions proved to be short-lived, however.

Big Sky started to take over Aspen Mountain Air's EAS routes in October 1998, following Aspen's bankruptcy. Transfer of services was completed in December 1998.

In late 2002, Big Sky Airlines offered service between Idaho Falls, Idaho and Denver, Colorado but canceled it three months afterward, declaring it unprofitable. [ [http://www.matr.net/article-5335.html Big Sky Airlines cuts Idaho Falls service] , Montana Associated Technology Roundtables, January 4, 2003]

In early 2005, Big Sky announced a few changes to its service, planning the termination of service to North Dakota, and replacing its Metro fleet with Beechcraft 1900Ds which were leased from Mesa Air Group subsidiary Air Midwest.

In July 2006, Big Sky announced that the airline would discontinue service to Great Falls, Montana; Kalispell, Montana; and Spokane, Washington. The airline also announced that one of their Beech 1900D's would be leased to an airline in Florida.

On September 1, 2006, Big Sky discontinued service to Moses Lake, Washington.

On December 21, 2006, a press release announced that Big Sky would become a Delta Connection carrier, using eight Beechcraft 1900D turboprops out of Boston's Logan International Airport. [cite web | url=http://news.delta.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=10498 | title=Delta to Connect Northeast Business Centers with Significant Boston Expansion | accessdate=2006-12-21] The airline's east coast operations ended on January 7, 2008. [cite web | url=http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/071219/20071219006073.html?.v=1 | title= Big Sky Airlines to Cease East Coast Operations | accessdate=2007-12-19]

Closure

On December 20, 2007, Big Sky announced that it would more than likely cease operations within 60 to 90 days. This was due to the loss of the Delta contract, unusually bad weather, disappointing revenue and record-high fuel prices. The remaining Beechcraft 1900D aircraft are be auctioned off and proceeds returned to MAIR holdings stockholders. [ [http://www.atwonline.com/news/story.html?storyID=11223 Big Sky bails on East Coast operations, braces for shutdown] , Air Transport World, December 21, 2007] When this happens, the airline will be disbanded. [http://billingsgazette.net/articles/2008/02/01/news/local/30-stopdate.txt Big Sky stop date still up in the air: Airline continues to fly subsidized routes] , Billings Gazette, February 3, 2008]

In late 2007 Great Lakes Airlines was given USDOT approval to take over EAS service to and from Billings, Montana and seven other Montana cities currently served by Big Sky. [ [http://www.sidneyherald.com/articles/2007/12/30/news/news01.txt Great Lakes prepares for Montana routes] , Sidney Herald, December 30, 2007.] Great Lakes has not announced a start date for its service, however, and Big Sky's EAS cities in Montana are currently without scheduled flight service.

Big Sky's final scheduled flights arrived in Billings on the morning of March 8, 2008; that morning, the three final flights marked the end of the airline by performing a joint flyover of the Billings airport prior to landing. [http://billingsgazette.net/articles/2008/03/09/news/state/26-bigsky_g.txt Big Sky crews land airline's last flights] , Billings Gazette, March 9, 2008]

The airline's website, [http://www.bigskyair.com www.bigskyair.com] , has been deactivated.

Destinations

At the time Big Sky Airlines ceased operations, the airline served the following 10 destinations throughout Montana.

United States

Colorado

*Denver (Denver International Airport)
*Sheridan (Sheridan County Airport)

Idaho

*Boise (Boise Airport)

Montana

*Billings (Billings Logan International Airport) Hub
*Bozeman (Gallatin Field Airport)
*Glasgow (Glasgow Airport)
*Glendive (Dawson Community Airport)
*Great Falls (Great Falls International Airport)
*Havre (Havre City-County Airport)
*Helena (Helena Regional Airport)
*Kalispell (Glacier Park International Airport)
*Lewistown (Lewistown Municipal Airport)
*Miles City (Miles City Municipal Airport)
*Missoula (Missoula International Airport)
*Sidney (Sidney-Richland Municipal Airport)
*Wolf Point (L. M. Clayton Airport)

Washington

*Moses Lake (Grant County International Airport)
*Spokane (Spokane International Airport)

Fleet

As of January 2008, Big Sky Airlines had 10 aircraft in its fleet consisting of: [ [http://bigskyair.com/ Big Sky Airlines Fleet] ]

Codeshare agreements

Big Sky had codeshare agreements with the following airlines. The codeshare agreements allowed the larger carriers to place their airline codes on Big Sky flights, but not vice versa. [ [http://www.bigskyair.com/index.php Big Sky Airlines ] ]
* Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air
* Northwest Airlines
* US Airways

References

External links

* [http://www.mairholdings.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={BD340E8E-08A8-4B56-959D-FD9101E0C192} MAIR Holdings, Inc. Big Sky Transportation Co.]
* [http://www.greatlakesav.com] Great Lakes Aviation Western Regional Airline Replacement
* [http://www.flycapeair.com] Cape Air Eastern Regional Air Replacement