note
Founded as Bonanza Air Services by a navy lieutenant Ed Converse, Charlie Keene and June Simon to provide air taxi and charter service in Nevada. In 1946 business was moved to Alamo Field in Las Vegas and company incorporated as Bonanza Air Lines. At this time Cessna T-50s were acquired to provide passenger service. In the same year first large aircraft was acquired a DC-3 to service its military contract. In December 1949 CAB awarded mail route to BAL and permission to move passengers across state lines. In 1959 first Fokker F-27, built by Fairchild in Maryland, was delivered. Next year last DC-3 was retired making BAL the first all-jet powered airline in the US. In December 1965 first pure jet a DC-9 was delivered. In 1966 company relocated to Phoenix Arizona from Las Vegas. In 1968 first international flight was inaugurated from Phoenix to Puerta Vallarta via Tucson, La Paz and Mazatlan. On April 17th 1967 CAB gave approval to the merger with West Coast Airlines and Pacific Airlines forming Air West Airlines with headquarters in San Francisco. Maintenance base for the new carrier was kept at BALs home in Phoenix. Transition was complete by April 1968.
founded - demised (age)
1945 - April 1968 (23)
headquarters
, Phoneix, AZ
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base airports
related operators
current /stored fleet (0)
