Air 21 (Fresno)(A7) Air21 stared out as an idea by the founder of Wings West Airlines Mark Morrow and David Miller an airline captain in early 1994. Originally to be named MVP Air, the name Air21 was settled on as an airline to bring in the 21st century with the slogan; “Your Low-Cost Airline for the Twenty-First century.” Initial plans were to use leased Douglas DC-9s from a Fresno, California base. Fresno, the fifth largest city in the state, was a logical choice due to lack of regular air service as well as the City of Fresno providing initial subsidies for the start-up carrier. As designed, the new airline was focused on a low fare, ticketless operation with high service. In an effort to secure funding for start-up and subsequent operations, the new airline after receiving its operating certificate in May 1995, filed an Initial Public Offering.
Looking for the right aircraft to fill its needs, the airline signed a lease agreement with USAir for two of the carriers Fokker F-28 twin-jet airplanes. USAir was looking for a potential buyer as the aircraft had been phased out of their fleet plans and Air21 saw a lucrative deal for the planes in which the first two were delivered in October and November 1995. The 65-passenger plane, was painted in an all silver body accented by “winged” blues and golds. Revenue passenger flights were finally started on December 20, 1995, from Fresno to Las Vegas, San Francisco, and Palm Springs. With the arrival of a third Fokker F-28 a month later, Los Angeles was added to route map with non-stop flights to Fresno.
In March 1996, Air21 added another two F-28 airplanes and extended services to Colorado Springs and Grand Junction, Colorado as well as Salt Lake City, Utah. However after a few months, both Colorado Springs and Salt Lake City service was cancelled, but Durango, Colorado was inaugurated on a Las Vegas-Durango-Grand Junction routing.
Chris757
DADGAMETIME author
12 months ago
fokkerjock
DADGAMETIME author
12 months ago
pepegaclap
DADGAMETIME author
12 months ago
chasensfo
DADGAMETIME author
12 months ago