Key Airlines
 |
|||||||
|
|||||||
| Commenced operations | December 1968 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ceased operations | May 1993 | ||||||
| Hubs | |||||||
| Headquarters | Sun Valley, Idaho, United States | ||||||
| Key people |
|
||||||
Key Airlines, was founded as Thunderbird Airlines in 1964, but changed its name in 1969. The airline took over Sun Valley Airlines in 1972 and was known as Sun Valley Key Airlines for a few years until reverting to Key Airlines. The airline began as a commuter and charter air carrier in the western United States flying turboprop and prop aircraft. In later years, Key Airlines operated a hub in Savannah, Georgia with scheduled passenger flights operated with mainline jet aircraft to international and domestic destinations.
The airline was originally based in Ogden, Utah, and began scheduled passenger service in 1964. The airline initially served eleven destinations in Idaho as well as Spokane, Washington with de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter turboprop short takeoff and landing (STOL) aircraft. The commuter carrier lasted less than two months and halted operations on January 20, 1969, and its president resigned a week later. The airline later restructured and resumed service.
On February 20, 1972, Sun Valley Airlines suffered a fatal crash near Fairfield, which killed all five on board. Included was the company president, Rolland Smith, who was filling in as pilot of the mid-morning flight of the Beechcraft 65-B 80 Queen Air from Hailey to Boise. The left wing broke off due to a fire in the wheelwell. The fire was attributed to engine maintenance procedures, but the wing separation was due to inadequate fire protection in the design.
That summer, Sun Valley Airlines was acquired by Key Transportation and became "Sun Valley Key Airlines." In 1974, the airline was serving Boise and Sun Valley in Idaho as well as the following destinations in Utah via a small hub in Salt Lake City: Brigham City, Logan, Moab, Ogden, Price and Provo. It was sold to Johns-Mansville Corporation in 1975, and its name was changed back to "Key Airlines" in 1976. The airline's base was Salt Lake City, Utah (SLC) and by this time the aircraft of choice was the Convair 440, although other smaller turboprop and prop aircraft were used as well.
...
Wikipedia