Pacific Island Aviation
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Airline |
| Founded | 1987 |
| Defunct | February 9, 2005 |
| Headquarters | Garapan, Saipan , Northern Mariana Islands |
Area served | Northern Mariana Islands, Guam |
Key people | Robert Christian (owner) |
| Products | Passenger and freight air transportation |
Pacific Island Aviation (PIA) was a commuter airline based on the second level of the Cabrera Center located in Garapan, Saipan, within the Northern Mariana Islands. It provided both passenger and freight transportation services, operating primarily from its hub at Saipan International Airport. The airline's last flight took place on February 9, 2005.
History
Established in 1987, PIA initiated helicopter services in August 1988 and achieved commuter airline certification by February 1992, launching scheduled operations on March 21, 1992. In December of that year, it entered a codeshare agreement with Continental Micronesia, assuming control over routes servicing Guam, Rota, and Saipan. When Continental discontinued flights to Rota in February 1995, PIA aligned with Northwest Airlines and became part of the Northwest Airlink network by February 1998. Ownership of the airline was entirely held by Robert Christian.
After halting operations in Saipan, PIA made an effort to restart under the name Tri-Star Airways from Texas, focusing on routes between Dallas and regional cities such as Lake Charles and Beaumont.
Services
By January 2005, Pacific Island Aviation was operating routes connecting Guam (U.S.) through Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport to the Northern Mariana Islands, with intermediate stops at Rota (Rota International Airport) and Saipan (Saipan International Airport). Prior to ceasing operations, flights to Tinian International Airport on the island of Tinian had been discontinued.
Incidents and accidents
- On October 27, 1992, a Pacific Island Aviation Cessna 310R crashed in Saipan, resulting in two fatalities.
Fleet
As of March 2005, the Pacific Island Aviation fleet consisted of:
| Aircraft Type | Quantity | Seating Capacity | Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short 360 | 3 | 30 (Economy class) | All aircraft operated under the Northwest Airlink brand |
See also
- List of defunct airlines of the United States
- Freedom Air (Guam), a now-defunct carrier that operated from 1974 until 2013
External links
- via Wayback Machine