Sun Aire Lines
Sun Aire Lines was a United States commuter airline that operated from 1968 to 1984. Sun Aire served a number of cities in Southern California and Arizona.
Contents
History
Sun Aire Lines was founded as Borrego Springs Airlines in 1968, but soon thereafter changed its name to Sun Aire Lines. Its operations initially focused on services from Borrego Springs, but the airline later moved its headquarters to Palm Springs, California. Sun Aire operated a fleet of Cessna 402 prop aircraft and Swearingen Metro II turboprops during its career. Its primary destinations were Palm Springs, San Diego, Los Angeles, Borrego Springs, Phoenix, Yuma, Santa Barbara and Santa Maria. By 1984, the airline was operating a dozen Metro aircraft. Sun Aire's independent existence ended that year after the company was purchased by SkyWest Airlines. The airline operated its final service on September 28, 1984.
Destinations
According to the route map in the Sun Aire system timetable dated January 23, 1984, the airline was serving the following destinations in Arizona and California:
- Bakersfield, CA (BFL)
- Borrego Springs, CA (BXS)
- Burbank, CA (BUR, now Bob Hope Airport)
- El Centro/Imperial, CA (IPL)
- Los Angeles, CA (LAX)
- Ontario, CA (ONT)
- Palm Springs, CA (PSP)
- Phoenix, AZ (PHX)
- San Diego, CA (SAN)
- Santa Barbara, CA (SBA)
- Santa Maria, CA (SMX)
- Yuma, AZ (YUM)
Aircraft
At the time of its acquisition by SkyWest Airlines, Sun Aire was operating 19-passenger Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner "Metro II" commuter turboprop aircraft. Sun Aire had also previously operated smaller Cessna 402 twin prop aircraft.
References
R. E. G. Davies, Commuter Airlines of the United States. Smithsonian Books, 1995.
