Key Lime Air (KLA) is a regional airline based in Englewood, Colorado. Founded in 1997, the airline has grown from a small charter provider to a regional powerhouse with a fleet of more than 50 aircraft. KLA operates scheduled and charter services throughout the United States and Canada, with hubs in Denver, Chicago, and Las Vegas.

The airline was founded by former United Airlines pilot Darryl Wilkerson in 1997. Wilkerson had grown frustrated with the lack of regional airline options in the Denver area and sought to create a new carrier that would offer more competitive rates and service. He named the airline after the tart citrus fruit favored by Floridians, in homage to his home state.

KLA began operations in 1997 with a single Cessna 402, providing charter services to destinations throughout the Rocky Mountain region. The airline quickly grew, and by 1998 KLA had added four more aircraft and was operating scheduled services between Denver and Rifle, Colorado.

In 2000, KLA acquired its first jet, a Saab 340, and began operating scheduled services to Wyoming and Utah. The following year, the airline added a number of larger aircraft, including two Embraer 145s and two Fairchild Metroliners, and began operating scheduled services to a number of cities in the Midwest.

In 2002, KLA took delivery of its first turboprop aircraft, a Beechcraft 1900, and began operating scheduled services to Florida and the Caribbean. That same year, the airline established its first hub, at Denver International Airport.

In 2005, KLA acquired its first regional jet, an Embraer ERJ-145, and began operating scheduled services to cities throughout the Midwest and East Coast. The airline also began operating charter services to Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.

In 2007, the airline acquired its first jetliner, a Boeing 737-700, and began operating scheduled services to a number of cities in the West, Midwest, and East Coast. The airline also began operating charter services to Hawaii, Alaska, and Canada.

In 2011, KLA expanded its fleet with the addition of a Bombardier Dash 8-300 and began operating scheduled services to the West Coast. In 2013, the airline acquired its second jetliner, a Boeing 737-800, and began operating scheduled services to Hawaii and Alaska.

In 2015, KLA was involved in a fatal crash in Colorado when one of its Cessna 402s crashed during a charter flight, killing all eight people on board. The National Transportation Safety Board determined that the crash was caused by engine failure. The airline was also the subject of a federal investigation in 2020 after a number of its aircraft were found to be operating without proper maintenance.

KLA has continued to grow and evolve over the years, and today it operates a fleet of over 50 aircraft, including turboprop, regional jet, and jetliner aircraft. The airline operates scheduled and charter services to cities throughout the United States, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and Canada.