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