Empire Air Lines

Last updated
Empire Air Lines
Founded1944;
81 years ago (1944)
Ceased operations1952;
73 years ago (1952)
Hubs Lewiston
Focus cities
Fleet sizeSee Fleet
Headquarters Lewiston, Idaho, U.S.
FounderBert Zimmerly (President)
A Douglas DC-3 operated by Empire Air Lines at Boise, Idaho in 1952. EmpireDC-3n62376 (4407526719).jpg
A Douglas DC-3 operated by Empire Air Lines at Boise, Idaho in 1952.

Empire Air Lines was a United States local service carrier that was founded in July 1944 by Bert Zimmerly at Lewiston, Idaho. [1] The founder had formerly been operating Zimmerly Airlines, a commercial charter service that had been operating since 1943. [1] Empire was inactive until early in 1946, when it purchased the assets of Zimmerly Airlines, including ten Boeing 247 aircraft. [1] [2] Starting as an intrastate airline in Idaho, it operated daily round trip service between Coeur d'Alene, Idaho and Pocatello, Idaho with four intermediate stops. [2] The Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) granted temporary permission to the airline to offer interstate feeder lines between Spokane, Washington and locations in Idaho and eastern Oregon. [3] [4]

Contents

In 1952, the CAB approved the sale of Empire Air Lines to West Coast Airlines for about $500,000 (equivalent to $2,700,000in 2024). [5]

Fleet

At the time of its merger with West Coast, Empire had a fleet of five DC-3s. [6]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Empire Airlines Soon to Start". The Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. 30 July 1946. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. 1 2 "Empire Buys 10 Zimmerly Airline Ships". The Times-News. Twin Falls, Idaho. 1 March 1946 – via newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ "Empire Airlines of Lewiston Gains Permit to Run Spokane-Boise Feeder Line". Spokane Chronicle. 23 May 1946. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "West Coast Case". Civil Aeronautics Board Reports. 6. Civil Aeronautics Board: 961–1039. July 1944 – May 1946. hdl: 2027/osu.32437011657786 .
  5. ↑ "Empire Airlines Merger With West Coast Okehed". The Idaho Statesman. Boise, Idaho. Associated Press. 28 June 1952 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ Empire's Merger With West Coast Approved Coeur d'Alene Press, 28 June 1952


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