Miami Air International
Miami Air International was a U.S. charter airline serving military, corporate, sports, cruise, tour and other group-travel customers worldwide.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Miami Air International was an American charter airline headquartered in Miami-Dade County, Florida, and based at Miami International Airport. It operated passenger charter flights rather than a conventional scheduled network, supplying aircraft and crews for a broad set of organized travel requirements. Its customer base included cruise companies, professional sports teams, tour operators, incentive groups, Fortune 500 companies, entertainers, political candidates and the United States government. Through the Civil Reserve Air Fleet program, the airline also performed transportation work for the United States Air Force Air Mobility Command, moving military personnel and cargo when contracted. The company was established in August 1990 and began operations in October 1991. Its initial fleet consisted of leased Boeing 727-200 aircraft. George Lyall, whose career included senior work at Eastern Air Lines and Pan Am World Airways, served as chairman, while Ross Fischer, a former People Express and Eastern operations executive, served as president. The founding group also included former airline personnel and specialists in auditing, law and operations. This management background helped the company develop a specialized charter model focused on operational flexibility and group contracts. By 2000, Miami Air had expanded to eight owned Boeing 727 aircraft and reported revenue above $100 million. That year, a consortium led by Eagle Global Logistics acquired a majority interest. The new owners pursued a restructuring that involved converting Boeing 727 aircraft to freighters for a proposed cargo operation based in Austin, Texas, under the Quest International name. Passenger capacity was to be maintained with leased Boeing 737-800 aircraft. The September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, together with the award of a major postal contract to FedEx Express, contributed to a collapse in Boeing 727 lease rates and aircraft values. Eagle Global Logistics discontinued the Quest cargo operation in early 2002, and the freighters were sold. Miami Air's passenger charter business subsequently benefited from strong military demand. By 2005, it had grown to eight Boeing 737-800 aircraft and two passenger Boeing 727 aircraft. TSI Holding Company later acquired the remaining interests from the Eagle Global Logistics consortium and the original shareholders, becoming the airline's sole owner. In its mature form, Miami Air operated as an ad hoc worldwide charter carrier. Its services extended to every continent except Antarctica, and its regular customer categories included military organizations, sports franchises, cruise lines, tour companies and corporate or incentive-travel groups. The Miami Dolphins and Pittsburgh Steelers used the carrier for team charter services during the 2017 season. The airline employed 405 people in March 2007 and used the IATA designator LL after its earlier GL code conflicted with Air Greenland's established use of that identifier. Miami Air filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on March 24, 2020, during the severe disruption to global aviation associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. It stopped operating on May 8, 2020, and returned leased aircraft operated on behalf of TUI fly Belgium to Brussels. On May 11, 2020, the Chapter 11 case was converted into a Chapter 7 liquidation. In a bankruptcy auction later that month, World Atlantic Airlines owner Tomas Romero acquired Miami Air's certificates and trademarks for $3.3 million. The planned successor operation was expected to retain the Miami Air name, use the same aircraft type and employ many key personnel, but the original operating company ceased to exist as an active airline.
History
Miami Air International was founded in August 1990 and commenced flying in October 1991 as a U.S. passenger charter airline. Its founding leadership came largely from established American airline companies. George Lyall, a veteran of Eastern Air Lines and Pan Am World Airways, became chairman, and Ross Fischer, who had held systems and operations roles at People Express and Eastern, became president. The initial operation used Boeing 727-200 aircraft leased from Xerox Credit Corporation. The airline expanded during the 1990s and reached eight owned Boeing 727 aircraft by 2000, when its revenue exceeded $100 million. In that year, Eagle Global Logistics led a consortium that purchased a majority stake. The consortium attempted to build a cargo business by converting Miami Air Boeing 727s into freighters for a proposed Austin, Texas cargo hub operated under the Quest International name. Passenger charter flying was to continue with leased Boeing 737-800 aircraft. The plan was undermined by the September 11 attacks and by FedEx Express receiving a major postal contract. These developments reduced demand for and the value of Boeing 727 freighters, and Eagle Global Logistics ended the Quest operation in early 2002. The passenger airline recovered and expanded, in part because of increased military charter activity. By 2005, the fleet had reached eight Boeing 737-800s and two passenger Boeing 727s. TSI Holding Company subsequently bought out both the Eagle-led consortium and the remaining original shareholders, becoming Miami Air's sole owner. The airline then concentrated on worldwide ad hoc charter flying. It transported military groups through Civil Reserve Air Fleet arrangements and served sports teams, cruise lines, tour operators, incentive groups, corporations, entertainers, political campaigns and government agencies. Its network was global in scope, reaching every continent other than Antarctica. Among the publicly identified sports customers were the Miami Dolphins and Pittsburgh Steelers, which used Miami Air charter services during the 2017 season. Miami Air maintained a fleet centered on Boeing narrow-body aircraft and employed 405 people in March 2007. Its IATA code changed from GL to LL because Air Greenland already used the former designator. The carrier remained a privately held specialist charter operator rather than a listed airline or a scheduled network carrier. The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on March 24, 2020. It ceased operations on May 8, and aircraft leased from TUI fly Belgium were returned to Brussels. On May 11, the case was converted to Chapter 7 liquidation. At a bankruptcy auction later that month, Tomas Romero, the owner of World Atlantic Airlines, purchased Miami Air International's operating certificates and trademarks for $3.3 million. The proposed successor was intended to use the Miami Air identity, the same general aircraft type and many of the former airline's key personnel, but the original Miami Air International operation was liquidated and is classified as defunct.
- 2020
Bankruptcy and operational closure
[1]Miami Air filed for Chapter 11 in March, stopped flying in May, and entered Chapter 7 liquidation.
- 2020
Certificates and trademarks sold
[1]Tomas Romero acquired the airline's certificates and trademarks at a bankruptcy auction for $3.3 million.
- 2019
Flight 293 accident
[1]A Miami Air charter aircraft slid into the St. Johns River after landing at Naval Air Station Jacksonville during a storm. Everyone on board survived.
- 2017
Sports-team charter activity
[1]The Miami Dolphins and Pittsburgh Steelers used Miami Air charter services during the 2017 season.
- 2005
Passenger fleet expands
[1]The airline had grown to eight Boeing 737-800 aircraft and two passenger Boeing 727s, supported in large part by military charter demand.
- 2002
Quest cargo operation discontinued
[1]The Eagle Global Logistics-led group stopped using the converted Boeing 727 freighters, which were subsequently sold.
- 2000
Majority stake acquired by Eagle Global Logistics-led consortium
[1]By this point, Miami Air had grown to eight owned Boeing 727 aircraft and revenue above $100 million. A consortium led by Eagle Global Logistics acquired a majority interest and pursued a cargo conversion program.
- 1991
Commercial operations begin
[1]The airline began operations in October with leased Boeing 727-200 aircraft.
- 1990
Company established
[1]Miami Air International was established in August as a U.S. charter airline.
Products and positioning
A flexible, full-service charter airline specializing in large-group and mission-specific passenger transportation rather than scheduled airline service.
Air charter · 1991
Worldwide passenger charter flights
Miami Air's principal offering was ad hoc passenger charter flying for groups that required dedicated aircraft rather than scheduled airline tickets. Customers included cruise lines, tour operators, corporations, incentive groups, entertainers, political candidates and other organizations. The airline operated internationally and used Boeing narrow-body aircraft suitable for transporting large groups.
Government and military aviation
Military and Civil Reserve Air Fleet transport
Under the Civil Reserve Air Fleet program, Miami Air was contracted by the United States Air Force Air Mobility Command to transport troops and cargo. Military demand became an important contributor to the company's growth, particularly during the 2000s.
Sports travel
Sports-team charters
The airline provided dedicated flights for professional sports organizations. Its publicly identified customers included the Miami Dolphins and Pittsburgh Steelers, which used Miami Air aircraft for charter travel during the 2017 season.
Cargo aviation · 2000
Boeing 727 cargo operation
Following the 2000 majority investment by an Eagle Global Logistics-led consortium, Miami Air's Boeing 727s were converted into freighters for a proposed Austin cargo hub operated under the Quest International name. The cargo plan was discontinued in early 2002, and the aircraft were sold.
Brand decisions
2020
Chapter 11 filing and liquidationOtherBackground
The charter airline filed for bankruptcy protection during the 2020 collapse in global aviation demand.
Action taken
Miami Air filed for Chapter 11 on March 24, ceased operations on May 8, and had its case converted to Chapter 7 on May 11.
Aftermath
The original operating company was liquidated. Aircraft leased from TUI fly Belgium were returned, while the airline's certificates and trademarks were sold at auction.
2020
Sale of certificates and trademarksM&ABackground
Following the Chapter 7 liquidation, Miami Air's aviation certificates and brand assets were offered through a bankruptcy auction.
Action taken
Tomas Romero, owner of World Atlantic Airlines, acquired the certificates and trademarks for $3.3 million.
Aftermath
A proposed successor operation was expected to use the Miami Air name, the same aircraft type and many key employees, although the original company remained defunct.
Bankruptcy-auction purchase price. $3.3 million (2020 bankruptcy auction)
2000
Pursuit of a cargo conversion strategyStrategyBackground
After an Eagle Global Logistics-led consortium acquired a majority stake, the company sought to convert Boeing 727 aircraft into freighters and operate a cargo hub in Austin under the Quest International name.
Action taken
Passenger aircraft were converted or allocated for the cargo plan, while leased Boeing 737-800 aircraft were introduced to support passenger charter operations.
Aftermath
The September 11 attacks and the award of a postal contract to FedEx Express damaged the economics of the program. Eagle Global Logistics ended the cargo operation in early 2002 and the freighters were sold.
Sources1 sources
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