Pinnacle Airlines is an American regional airline that has served as a subsidiary of Delta Air Lines since 2013. The airline was founded in 1985 as a small commuter airline with a fleet of six aircraft operating out of its base in Little Rock, Arkansas. Initially, the airline focused on providing scheduled service to small cities in the Midwest, including Missouri, Oklahoma, and Tennessee.

In 1987, Pinnacle Airlines began to expand its operations, adding service to larger cities such as Chicago, Detroit, and Minneapolis. By the end of the decade, the airline had grown to over 30 aircraft, providing scheduled service to more than 40 cities in the Midwest and South.

In 2001, Pinnacle Airlines acquired Express Airlines I, an airline based in Memphis, Tennessee. This acquisition allowed Pinnacle to expand its network and increased its fleet to over 60 aircraft. The airline also began offering regional jet service on its flights, allowing it to provide more comfortable seating and faster service.

In 2008, Pinnacle Airlines rebranded itself as a regional airline and began operating under the name Pinnacle Airlines Corp. The airline also began offering service to more destinations, including Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston.

In 2009, Pinnacle Airlines experienced a major setback when it filed for bankruptcy protection. This was largely due to high fuel costs and decreasing demand for its services. The airline was able to emerge from bankruptcy protection in 2011 and continued to operate as a regional airline.

In 2013, Pinnacle Airlines was acquired by Delta Air Lines, which allowed it to further expand its network. Since then, Pinnacle has continued to provide regional jet service to many of Delta’s destinations, including cities in the Caribbean and Latin America.

Over the years, Pinnacle Airlines has been involved in several incidents. In 2005, one of its aircraft had to make an emergency landing due to mechanical issues. In 2008, the airline was the subject of a federal investigation into its safety practices. In 2011, one of its aircraft was involved in a crash in which two people were killed.

Despite these incidents, Pinnacle Airlines remains one of the largest regional airlines in the United States. It has grown to include over 150 aircraft and serves over 150 destinations across the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean. The airline continues to be an important part of Delta’s global network, providing reliable service to millions of passengers each year.