note
Conquest was founded by Rafael Rivas and his brother Victor Rivas. It began services in April 1988 flying between Beaumont, Austin, and San Antonio using Beech 1900. Within 18 months its operation expanded to Dallas, Lubbock, McAllen, San Angelo and Tyler. In November 1989, it received authority to provide interstate services, ad well as flights to Monterrey, Mexico.
In 1993, Conquest acquired a 93% interest in Destination Sun Airways, and changed its name to Conquest Sun Airlines. The new airline had plans to operate Boeing 737s flights to Florida. The following year, Conquest Sun was sold to AirTran Corp., which also owned Mesaba Airlines. In mid-1994 it merged with Wico Holding, a distributor of vending machines and arcade games. Wico sold the airline to Air LA in mid-1995. The Conquest operation and name was maintained while Air LA's California operation was shut down. The former Capitol Air St. Paul operation hung on until January 1996.
Conquest filed for bankruptcy on January 23, 1996, but exited bankruptcy in early 1997, albeit in a weakened financial condition. It suspended operations on July 3, 1997 after its insurance lapsed, but resumed briefly later in the month. It was sold to a new company, MidContinent Airlines, which shut the airline down in late July due to weak finances. It had planned to restart operation from a new home in Oklahoma City, but the airline never resumed operations.
founded - demised (age)
October 10 1986 - July 1997 (11)
headquarters
, Beaumont, TX
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base airports
related operators
current /stored fleet (0)
