Monarch Airlines (1946-1950)
Encyclopedia
Monarch Airlines, based in Denver, Colorado
, started scheduled air service on November 27, 1946 with a flight from Denver to Durango, Colorado
using a Douglas DC-3
. It was formed by F.W. Bonfils of The Denver Post
family and Ray M. Wilson, who operated a Denver flying school. Other services started to Albuquerque
, Salt Lake City
and Grand Junction
.
Monarch pioneered all weather operations in their service area by installing its own navigational system. By 1948 the airline was sharing several functions with Challenger Airlines
such as maintenance and sales at Denver. Then Monarch bought controlling interest in Challenger in December, 1949.
Monarch merged with Arizona Airways
and Challenger Airlines
on June 1, 1950 to form Frontier Airlines
. Monarch's President, Hal S. Darr, became President of the new airline. Ray Wilson became V.P. Operations and Maintenance of the new company and Monarch's Treasurer, C.A. Myhre, became Executive Vice President and later President of Frontier.
Monarch had five DC3s
at the merger: NC64421, NC64422, NC64423, NC64424, and NC66610. They became Frontier Sunliners Arizona, New Mexico, Royal Gorge, Mesa Verde and Utah.
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
, started scheduled air service on November 27, 1946 with a flight from Denver to Durango, Colorado
Durango, Colorado
The City of Durango is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of La Plata County, Colorado, United States. The United States Census Bureau said that the city population was 16,887 in 2010 census.-History:...
using a Douglas DC-3
Douglas DC-3
The Douglas DC-3 is an American fixed-wing propeller-driven aircraft whose speed and range revolutionized air transport in the 1930s and 1940s. Its lasting impact on the airline industry and World War II makes it one of the most significant transport aircraft ever made...
. It was formed by F.W. Bonfils of The Denver Post
The Denver Post
-Ownership:The Post is the flagship newspaper of MediaNews Group Inc., founded in 1983 by William Dean Singleton and Richard Scudder. MediaNews is today one of the nation's largest newspaper chains, publisher of 61 daily newspapers and more than 120 non-daily publications in 13 states. MediaNews...
family and Ray M. Wilson, who operated a Denver flying school. Other services started to Albuquerque
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Albuquerque is the largest city in the state of New Mexico, United States. It is the county seat of Bernalillo County and is situated in the central part of the state, straddling the Rio Grande. The city population was 545,852 as of the 2010 Census and ranks as the 32nd-largest city in the U.S. As...
, Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
and Grand Junction
Grand Junction, Colorado
The City of Grand Junction is the largest city in western Colorado. It is a city with a council–manager government form that is the county seat and the most populous city of Mesa County, Colorado, United States. Grand Junction is situated west-southwest of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver. As...
.
Monarch pioneered all weather operations in their service area by installing its own navigational system. By 1948 the airline was sharing several functions with Challenger Airlines
Challenger Airlines
Challenger Airlines was incorporated in Wyoming, December 31, 1941, by Charles W. Hirsig II, as Summit Airways Inc., a non-scheduled carrier.In 1944, Hirsig filed an application with the Civil Aeronautics Board Docket No. 1091, for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity to engage in air...
such as maintenance and sales at Denver. Then Monarch bought controlling interest in Challenger in December, 1949.
Monarch merged with Arizona Airways
Arizona Airways
Rocky Nelson, an Arizona entrepreneur, formed Arizona Airways in 1942, using Douglas DC-3 aircraft to fly passengers from Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix, to other, nearby destinations, including Prescott Municipal Airport in Prescott, Arizona, Tucson International Airport.Arizona...
and Challenger Airlines
Challenger Airlines
Challenger Airlines was incorporated in Wyoming, December 31, 1941, by Charles W. Hirsig II, as Summit Airways Inc., a non-scheduled carrier.In 1944, Hirsig filed an application with the Civil Aeronautics Board Docket No. 1091, for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity to engage in air...
on June 1, 1950 to form Frontier Airlines
Frontier Airlines (1950-1986)
Frontier Airlines was formed from a merger of Arizona Airways, Challenger Airlines, and Monarch Airlines on June 1, 1950. They established their headquarters at Stapleton Airport in Denver. However, the airline dated itself to November 27, 1946, when Monarch Airlines began service in Colorado,...
. Monarch's President, Hal S. Darr, became President of the new airline. Ray Wilson became V.P. Operations and Maintenance of the new company and Monarch's Treasurer, C.A. Myhre, became Executive Vice President and later President of Frontier.
Monarch had five DC3s
Douglas DC-3
The Douglas DC-3 is an American fixed-wing propeller-driven aircraft whose speed and range revolutionized air transport in the 1930s and 1940s. Its lasting impact on the airline industry and World War II makes it one of the most significant transport aircraft ever made...
at the merger: NC64421, NC64422, NC64423, NC64424, and NC66610. They became Frontier Sunliners Arizona, New Mexico, Royal Gorge, Mesa Verde and Utah.
External links
- Old Frontier Airlines a website about the history of the old Frontier Airlines and its predecessor airlines.