Bonanza Air Lines

Bonanza Air Lines was a United States local-service, or feeder, airline that built a network linking smaller communities in Nevada, Arizona, California and Utah with regional centers such as Las Vegas, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Reno and Salt Lake City. Its origins lay in Bonanza Air Service, a Las Vegas charter operator established in 1945 by Edmund Converse. The company initially operated a single-engine Cessna and then acquired a former Flying Tiger Line C-47, which was converted for civilian Douglas DC-3 operations. Bonanza began scheduled intrastate service between Las Vegas and Reno on August 5, 1946. The route was significant because Nevada had weak road and rail connections between its two principal population centers. Service initially operated three times a week and expanded to daily frequency by September 1947. Bonanza applied to the Civil Aeronautics Board for a federal local-service certificate in 1947, allowing it to operate beyond Nevada. In 1949 the CAB awarded the airline authority to operate between Reno and Phoenix through intermediate points, including Las Vegas. The carrier began certificated operations on December 19, 1949, after obtaining route rights that had previously been associated with Transcontinental & Western Air. During the 1950s and early 1960s, Bonanza expanded through Arizona, Southern California and Utah. It introduced service between Phoenix and Los Angeles in 1952, with multiple intermediate stops, and developed a route system designed to feed larger markets while maintaining direct links among smaller cities. The airline was credited with improving transportation between northern and southern Nevada and with stimulating traffic on the Las Vegas–Phoenix corridor. Like other federally regulated local-service carriers, it received federal government support; in 1962, approximately $3.2 million of its $11.0 million in operating revenue was categorized as public-service revenue. Bonanza modernized rapidly. Fairchild F-27 turboprops entered the fleet in 1959, and the final scheduled DC-3 flight took place in late 1960. With the retirement of the DC-3, Bonanza became the first all-turbine airline in the United States. Its F-27s served destinations including the Grand Canyon National Park Airport, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Salt Lake City and Tucson. An attempt to purchase BAC One-Eleven aircraft was rejected by the CAB in 1962, after which Bonanza ordered Douglas DC-9 Series 10 aircraft. The first DC-9s arrived in late 1965 and entered service on March 1, 1966. Branded as “Funjets,” they operated on major regional routes including Las Vegas–Reno, Las Vegas–Los Angeles, Reno–Los Angeles and Salt Lake City–Phoenix. The headquarters moved from Las Vegas to Phoenix during 1966. Bonanza briefly extended its reach into international flying, receiving authority to serve Mexico and operating DC-9 service from Phoenix and Tucson. It remained a relatively small regional carrier rather than a nationwide trunk airline. On April 17, 1968, the CAB approved its combination with Pacific Air Lines and West Coast Airlines. The merger became effective on July 1, 1968, creating Air West. Bonanza’s DC-9s and F-27s passed into the new airline’s fleet, ending Bonanza Air Lines as an independent brand. Air West was later acquired by Howard Hughes and renamed Hughes Airwest, establishing a corporate succession that eventually led through Republic Airlines and Northwest Airlines to Delta Air Lines.

Bonanza Air Lines began as Bonanza Air Service, a charter company founded in Las Vegas in 1945 under the leadership of Edmund Converse. Its first aircraft was a single-engine Cessna. In 1946, the company acquired a C-47 from Flying Tiger Line and converted it to civilian Douglas DC-3 configuration. On August 5, 1946, it began scheduled intrastate service between Las Vegas and Reno, initially three times weekly. Frequency rose to daily by September 1947, and the route became one of the airline’s defining services. The carrier sought to move beyond Nevada and become a federally certificated local-service airline. In June 1949, the Civil Aeronautics Board awarded Bonanza authority to operate between Reno and Phoenix through intermediate points, including Las Vegas. The award transferred authority associated with a route previously linked to Transcontinental & Western Air. Bonanza began certificated operations on December 19, 1949. Its service helped connect northern and southern Nevada, which had relatively poor surface transportation links, and also strengthened the Las Vegas–Phoenix corridor. Expansion followed across Arizona, Southern California and Utah. In July 1952, Bonanza inaugurated a Phoenix–Los Angeles route with several intermediate stops. By the late 1950s, its network served a mixture of regional centers and smaller communities. The airline introduced Fairchild F-27 turboprops in 1959 and retired its last scheduled DC-3 in late 1960. This made Bonanza the first all-turbine airline in the United States. F-27 operations reached destinations such as the Grand Canyon National Park Airport, Salt Lake City and Tucson, as well as the carrier’s principal Nevada and Arizona markets. Bonanza operated within the regulated local-service airline system and received federal subsidy support. Its 1962 operating revenue was reported as $11.0 million, including $3.2 million in public-service revenue. The airline unsuccessfully sought authorization to purchase BAC One-Eleven aircraft in 1962. It subsequently ordered Douglas DC-9 Series 10 jets, with deliveries beginning in late 1965. DC-9 passenger service started on March 1, 1966, and the aircraft were marketed as “Funjets.” Jet routes included Las Vegas–Reno, Las Vegas–Los Angeles, Reno–Los Angeles, Salt Lake City–Phoenix and Reno–Las Vegas–Phoenix. The corporate headquarters moved to Phoenix in 1966. The airline acquired authority for international operations shortly before its disappearance as an independent company, including service to Mexico from Phoenix and Tucson. On April 17, 1968, the CAB approved a merger with Pacific Air Lines and West Coast Airlines. The combination became effective on July 1, 1968, forming Air West. Bonanza’s F-27s and DC-9s were absorbed into the new fleet. A DC-9-31 ordered by Bonanza was delivered to Air West after the merger. Air West was later acquired by Howard Hughes and renamed Hughes Airwest in 1970. Republic Airlines acquired Hughes Airwest in 1980, Northwest Airlines acquired Republic in 1986, and Delta Air Lines acquired Northwest in 2010, connecting Bonanza’s corporate lineage to Delta.

• 1968

  Bonanza merges into Air West

  [1]Bonanza Air Linesen.wikipedia.org

  Bonanza combines with Pacific Air Lines and West Coast Airlines on July 1 to form Air West.

• 1966

  DC-9 “Funjet” service begins

  [1]Bonanza Air Linesen.wikipedia.org

  Douglas DC-9 Series 10 aircraft enter scheduled service, and the headquarters moves from Las Vegas to Phoenix.

• 1960

  Bonanza becomes an all-turbine airline

  [1]Bonanza Air Linesen.wikipedia.org

  Following the last scheduled DC-3 flight, Bonanza operates an all-turbine fleet.

• 1959

  Fairchild F-27 turboprops enter service

  [1]Bonanza Air Linesen.wikipedia.org

  The airline begins replacing piston aircraft with F-27 turboprops.

• 1952

  Phoenix–Los Angeles route opens

  [1]Bonanza Air Linesen.wikipedia.org

  Bonanza adds a route between Phoenix and Los Angeles with multiple regional stops.

• 1949

  Federal local-service operations commence

  [1]Bonanza Air Linesen.wikipedia.org

  The CAB grants Bonanza feeder authority linking Reno and Phoenix through Las Vegas and other intermediate points; certificated operations begin in December.

• 1946

  Scheduled Nevada service begins

  [1]Bonanza Air Linesen.wikipedia.org

  Bonanza starts intrastate service between Las Vegas and Reno using a converted Douglas DC-3.

• 1945

  Bonanza Air Service begins charter operations

  [1]Bonanza Air Linesen.wikipedia.org

  Edmund Converse establishes the Las Vegas-based charter operation that became the foundation of Bonanza Air Lines.

A federally supported regional connector focused on linking smaller Western communities with regional hubs and larger metropolitan markets.

• Regional passenger aviation · 1946

  Scheduled local-service passenger flights

  Bonanza’s core offering was scheduled passenger transportation among smaller Western communities and larger regional hubs. Its network centered on Nevada, Arizona, Southern California and Utah, with routes such as Las Vegas–Reno, Reno–Phoenix and Phoenix–Los Angeles. The airline’s role was to provide feeder-style service that connected communities not consistently served by larger trunk carriers.

• Turboprop passenger service · 1959

  Fairchild F-27 service

  Introduced in 1959, the Fairchild F-27 turboprop became the principal aircraft for many of Bonanza’s regional routes. It allowed the airline to operate more efficiently than with DC-3 piston aircraft while retaining the ability to serve smaller airports. F-27 flights reached destinations including the Grand Canyon National Park Airport, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Salt Lake City and Tucson.

• Regional jet passenger service · 1966

  DC-9 “Funjet” service

  Bonanza’s Douglas DC-9 Series 10 jets entered service in March 1966 after the airline’s proposed BAC One-Eleven purchase was rejected. Marketed as “Funjets,” the aircraft served the carrier’s higher-volume regional corridors, including Las Vegas–Reno, Las Vegas–Los Angeles, Reno–Los Angeles and Salt Lake City–Phoenix. The jets transferred to Air West in 1968.

• 1968

  Merger into Air WestM&A

  Background

  Bonanza operated in a regulated local-service market alongside Pacific Air Lines and West Coast Airlines. Combining the three carriers offered a larger Western network and unified fleet.

  Action taken

  With CAB approval on April 17, Bonanza merged with Pacific Air Lines and West Coast Airlines on July 1, creating Air West.

  Aftermath

  Bonanza ceased to exist as an independent airline, while its F-27s and DC-9s continued in Air West service.

  Source

• 1962

  Switch from BAC One-Eleven proposal to Douglas DC-9 orderProduct launch

  Background

  Bonanza sought to introduce jet aircraft as it expanded its regional network, initially ordering three BAC One-Elevens. The Civil Aeronautics Board denied that request, although some other American airlines received permission to acquire the type.

  Action taken

  The airline placed an order for the United States-built Douglas DC-9 Series 10 instead. Deliveries began in late 1965 and scheduled operations started in March 1966.

  Aftermath

  The DC-9s gave Bonanza jet capability on its busiest regional routes and became part of Air West’s fleet after the 1968 merger.

  Source

• 1968

  Bonanza, Pacific Air Lines and West Coast Airlines combine as Air West[1]Bonanza Air Linesen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  The Civil Aeronautics Board approved the three-airline combination on April 17, 1968. The merger took effect on July 1, ending Bonanza’s independent operations.

• 1966

  Bonanza introduces Douglas DC-9 jet service[1]Bonanza Air Linesen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch · Product generation

  After its proposed BAC One-Eleven purchase was rejected by the Civil Aeronautics Board, Bonanza ordered Douglas DC-9 Series 10 aircraft. The jets entered scheduled service on March 1, 1966, under the “Funjet” branding.

• 1964

  Bonanza Air Lines Flight 114 crashes near Las Vegas[1]Bonanza Air Linesen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  On November 15, 1964, Flight 114, operating from Phoenix to Las Vegas with a Fairchild F-27, crashed into a mountain south of Las Vegas in poor weather. All 26 passengers and three crew members died. It was the airline’s only fatal accident.

1. 1Bonanza Air Linesen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Bonanza Airlines Historical Websitebonanzaairlines.com