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Founded | 1977 | ||||||
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Ceased operations | September 29, 2012 | ||||||
Hubs |
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Focus cities | |||||||
Frequent-flyer program | SkyMiles | ||||||
Airport lounge | Delta Sky Club | ||||||
Alliance | SkyTeam | ||||||
Parent company | Delta Air Lines, Inc. | ||||||
Headquarters |
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport Boone Co, KY, U.S. |
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Key people | Ryan Gumm (former president) |
Comair was a wholly owned subsidiary airline of Delta Air Lines, headquartered on the grounds of Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport in Boone County, Kentucky, United States, west of Erlanger, and south of Cincinnati. Operating under the brand name Delta Connection, Comair operated passenger services to destinations in the USA, Canada, Mexico and the Bahamas. Comair and Delta Air Lines announced on July 27, 2012, that Comair would cease operations on September 29, 2012.
The airline was established in March 1977, and started operations in April 1977. Patrick J. Sowers, Robert T. Tranter, David Mueller and his father Raymond founded the airline in Cincinnati. At the end of its first year of highly profitable operations, two of the company founders, Sowers and Tranter, abruptly resigned the day following the first annual meeting as a "demand for immediate change" after they had uncovered repeated unacceptable and unsafe operational practices by one of the other partners. Comair suffered a fatal crash the year following their departure. Comair began scheduled services to Akron/Canton, Cleveland, and Evansville with two Piper Navajo aircraft. Embraer EMB-110 Bandeirante twin-engine turboprop commuter aircraft were added to Comair's fleet in 1982.
Under its parent Comair Holdings, it became a public company in July 1981 to support the growth and capital requirements to upgrade its fleet. In 1984, Comair became a Delta Connection carrier with Delta Air Lines' establishment of a hub at CVG. That same year, Comair introduced its first international flights from Cincinanti to Toronto. In July 1986 Delta Air Lines acquired 20% of Comair stock. In 1992, Comair moved into Concourse C at CVG, as Delta Air Lines gradually continued to acquire more of the airlines stock. In 1993, Comair was the launch customer for the Canadair Regional Jet, which it would later operate the largest fleet in the world. By 1999, Comair was the largest regional airline in the country worth over 2 billion, transporting 6 million passengers yearly to 83 destinations on 101 aircraft. Delta Air Lines acquired full ownership on October 22, 1999 at a cost of over $2 billion.