note
Formerly Spirit Lake Airways founded in Spencer Iowa by Doug Voss and Ivan Simpson as a flight instruction, charter service, and aircraft maintenance company. In October 1979 name has changed to Great Lakes Airlines to reflect the change in scope of operations. Scheduled flights commenced October 12th between between Spencer and Des Moines Iowa. The airline upgraded to Beech 99 turboprops beginning in June 1983. Its routes initially concentrated on Chicago, and the February 1988 acquisition of Alliance Airlines added six more routes from Chicago. With the acquisition of Beech 1900s, its routes pushed west along the northern plains into Denver. In February 1992 it became a United Express carrier across its entire route system. It also operated as a Midway Connection carrier from Raleigh between October 1995 and July 1997. On January 15, 1996, it merged with Arizona Airways, which had a small operation in Arizona, California, New Mexico and Mexico. In 1998, it took over United Express flying from Mesa Airlines, which was losing its United code-share. In 2002 it ended the "United Express" arrangement, but continued to operate independently, code-sharing with both United and Frontier. Since 1985 Great Lakes has operated subsidized Essential Air Service to serve smaller communities at which airline service would not economically viable. As one of the few airlines still operation 19-seat airplanes after 2000, much of Great Lakes revenue depended on these EAS routes. Recent legislation requiring increased flight time requirements for airline first officers has created a shortage of qualified pilots. By reducing seating capacity of its Beech 1900s to 9 from 19, the airline was able to get around the new regulation, but this has not solved the pilot attrition problem. Its services became more unreliable, and it had to withdraw from some markets. As a result, its route map has shrunk to 22 cities, of which 14 are EAS subsidized.
founded - demised (age)
March 15 1977 - March 28 2018 (41)
headquarters
1022 Airport Parkway, Cheyenne, WY
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base airports
related operators
current /stored fleet (0)
