note
Mid Pacific began flying on March 15, 1981 connecting Honolulu with the islands of Maui and Kauai. Its flights featured low fares on YS-11 aircraft; service to the Big Island was soon added. In 1982 it had planned to launch flights between Honolulu and Pago Pago using a Boeing 707 wet-leased from Arrow Air, however unforeseen delays resulted in Arrow operating the service on its own. In February 1985 it began mainland flights connecting Burbank and Orange County with Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon, and Orange County with Fresno. Also in 1985 it added Fokker F28s to its inter-island services. In January 1986, the airline was sold to KOA Holdings, which grounded the F28s. Due to heavy losses, the airline suspended operations on January 19, 1988. It resumed cargo operations in October 1989 which included flights for Emery and the US Postal Service using the YS-11s; in 1992 it received approval to operate a BAe 146 in all cargo service which briefly operated between Newark and Bermuda. In April 1994, Mid Pacific's certificate was transferred to Phoenix Leasing, another subsidiary of KOA. Several months later, Phoenix Leasing launched operations as Reno Air Express using Jetstream 31s. Flights linked San Jose with Monterey, Santa Rosa, Eureka, Redding, Klamath Falls, and Chico. Phoenix Leasing also planned to begin flying as Baja Express, using BAe 146s connecting DFW, Las Vegas and Los Angeles with points in Baja California. Losses were already mounting on existing services; Reno Air Express flights were terminated on March 6, 1995 while Mid Pacific Cargo flights ended in early May. It surrendered its FAA certificate on May 19, 1995.
founded - demised (age)
1981 - May 19 1995 (14)
headquarters
, Honolulu, HI
web
base airports
related operators
current /stored fleet (1)
