WinAir Airlines
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Airline |
| Founded | 1997 |
| Founder | Richard I. Winwood |
| Defunct | July 6, 1999 |
| Headquarters | Salt Lake City , United States |
Area served | United States |
| Products | Charter passenger air service |
WinAir Airlines operated briefly as a charter passenger carrier within the United States, headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, and founded by Richard I. Winwood. The airline was created in 1997, with its inaugural flight being a Super Bowl charter on January 25, 1998. The swift acquisition of certification was largely due to the expertise of personnel formerly employed at Morris Air, Key Airlines, and Champion Air.
In November 1998, WinAir commenced public scheduled charter services from its base at Long Beach Municipal Airport, connecting to destinations including Las Vegas, Oakland, Sacramento, and Salt Lake City. Although the airline submitted an application to the FAA seeking scheduled passenger service authorization, it had not obtained approval prior to halting operations.
The company ceased functioning on July 6, 1999, primarily as a result of financial strain and maintenance challenges involving leased Boeing 737-400 aircraft sourced from Pegasus Airlines (Turkey) and Garuda Indonesia.
WinAir gained cinematic exposure through its appearance in the 1999 movie For Love of the Game, which premiered two months after the airline had discontinued service.
Destinations
Although WinAir intended to initiate flights to Seattle, these plans were abandoned due to competitive pressures from Southwest Airlines and Delta Air Lines and an inability to secure a passenger guarantee agreement with Boeing.
Fleet
Throughout its operational period, WinAir maintained a fleet comprising 10 aircraft:
- 5 - Boeing 737-200
- 2 - Boeing 737-300
- 3 - Boeing 737-400