The history of Great Lakes Airlines can be traced back to the mid-1960s when it was founded as a small charter operator in the Midwest. Over the years, the airline has grown to become one of the largest regional airlines in the United States, providing service to over 50 cities in 10 states.
Great Lakes Airlines was initially founded in 1964 as Air Sioux, Inc. in Sioux City, Iowa. The company started off as a charter operator, providing air transportation for groups and individuals. It quickly expanded its service area to include cities in the Midwest, and by the late 1960s, the airline was providing scheduled service to cities in Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota.
In 1983, Air Sioux was purchased by Great Lakes Aviation, Ltd. and the airline was renamed Great Lakes Airlines. The company quickly began to expand its fleet and service area. By 1987, Great Lakes had added Beechcraft 1900 turboprops to its fleet and was providing service to 28 cities in the Midwest.
Over the next two decades, Great Lakes continued to grow and expand. In 1997, the airline added its first jet aircraft, the Embraer EMB-120 Brasilia, to its fleet and began providing service to cities in the western United States. By the turn of the century, the airline was providing service to over 50 cities in 10 states, and had become one of the largest regional airlines in the United States.
Throughout its history, Great Lakes Airlines has experienced several important milestones. In 1998, the airline became the first commercial airline to be granted permission to operate in the state of Wyoming. In 2006, Great Lakes launched a new service to Hawaii, becoming the first commercial airline to offer service to the islands from the mainland United States.
Unfortunately, Great Lakes Airlines has also experienced several incidents throughout its history. In 2004, one of the airline’s Beechcraft 1900s crashed while attempting to land at Sioux City, Iowa, killing the pilot and one passenger. The National Transportation Safety Board found that the crash was caused by pilot error. In 2013, the airline was the subject of a federal investigation after it was found to have improperly maintained its fleet of aircraft. The airline was fined and forced to take corrective action.
Today, Great Lakes Airlines is one of the largest regional airlines in the United States. The airline operates a fleet of Embraer EMB-120 Brasilia, Beechcraft 1900, and Cessna 402 aircraft, providing scheduled service to over 50 cities in 10 states. Despite its checkered past, the airline has managed to remain a leader in the regional airline industry and is continuing to evolve with the times.
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