Kiwi International Air Lines
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| Commenced operations | September 21, 1992 | ||||||
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| Ceased operations | March 24, 1999 | ||||||
| Hubs | Newark International | ||||||
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Hartsfield Atlanta International Miami International |
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| Fleet size | 4 (as of March 1999) | ||||||
| Destinations | 6 (as of March 1999) | ||||||
| Headquarters | Hemisphere Center, Newark, New Jersey  United States
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| Key people | Robert Iverson (chairman 1992-1995), Charles C. Edwards (owner, 1997-1999) | ||||||
Kiwi International Air Lines (IATA: KP, ICAO: KIA, Call sign: Kiwi Air) was a Part 121 American airline that operated from September 21, 1992 to March 24, 1999. It had its headquarters in the Hemisphere Center in Newark, New Jersey.
Kiwi International was founded by a group of Eastern Air Lines pilots led by Robert Iverson in a plan to re-employ former Eastern and Pan Am pilots and managers using their help and capital. In its history, the airline flew 8,000,000 passengers without an incident.
Originally, the intent was to purchase the Pan Am Shuttle. When Iverson presented a Kelso and Company backed $100,000,000 offer to Pan Am, it was rejected in favor of a Delta Air Lines offer. With advice from the FAA it was decided to start a new airline. Under the name Kiwi Acquisition Group, Iverson raised $2,000,000 from pilots at $50,000 apiece with promise of employment as a Captain. The former airline employees had formed a group and called themselves Kiwis because they were no longer flying, just like the flightless kiwi birds. When it came time to name the new airline, it was decided to keep the association name.
Kiwi first flew on September 21, 1992 using two refurbished 727-200s from Lufthansa on routes between Newark and Chicago and Orlando. It offered gourmet meals and expanded legroom of 36 inch pitch. Within one year Kiwi had fifteen planes and 1200 employees doing $116,000,000 in business. During its expansion Kiwi's experienced cockpit and cabin crews earned the airline numerous industry awards including Best Airline in America from Condé Nast Traveler and the first ever "President's Award of Merit" from the Inflight Catering Association for one class in-flight service. Iverson was given a Laureatte Award from Aviation Week and Space Technology and secured a passenger sharing agreement from Richard Branson to feed Kiwi into Virgin flights. Branson promoted the concept and called Kiwi his favorite US airline.
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