Presidential Airways (scheduled)
Encyclopedia
Presidential Airways was an airline with its headquarters on the grounds of Washington Dulles International Airport
in Northern Virginia
. It was founded in 1985 by Harold J. (Hap) Pareti, formerly an officer at Peoplexpress Airlines
, as a low-cost carrier
, with Boeing 737
service from Dulles to Logan International Airport
in Boston, Massachusetts commencing October 10 of that year.
It expanded to a number of destinations, merging with the original Colgan Air
in 1986 and adding the BAe 146
regional jet
and orders for the de Havilland Dash 8-300 turboprop
to its fleet (Only two of the DASH-8-300s were ever received). It was unable to sustain its expansion, however, and became a regional feeder for Continental Airlines
in 1987 and then United Airlines
in 1988. In early 1989, Presidential attempted to capitalize on the "hub fever" then prevalent in the Southeastern United States by trying to raise money from investors in Birmingham, Alabama (BHM) with the stated intent of operating a mini-hub there. Presidential's already shaky financial condition and eventual bankruptcy assured that nothing ever came of it. Burdened with debt from its changes of business plan, Presidential filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
on October 26, 1989. It ended operations on December 5, 1989 and its assets subsequently liquidated. Shortly before that time, employees received a pay cut for two pay periods in an attempt to improve cash flow at the airline.
At one point just before its demise, Presidential ran an odd mix of fleet types: twelve BAe Jetstream 31s and 32s (some of which were contracted), two early model BE-1900s, eight BAe 146 jets and an aging Boeing 737. The 737 primarily did roundtrips between Dulles (IAD) and MacArthur-Islip (ISP) on Long Island, New York. In 1988, the 737 was used as the campaign plane for first Republican Senator Robert Dole and then Massachusetts Governor and Democratic nominee for president, Michael Dukakis. Reporters assigned to Dukakis nicknamed the plane "The Sky Pig" because it was so slow.
Of these the BE-1900s were the first to go being sold to pay bills. There was also an odd mix of paint schemes. Some BAe 146 jets and Jetstream turboprops were painted in the red white and blue Presidential scheme while others were in United's white with rainbow stripe scheme. The planes contracted from Eastern Metro were in an Eastern Airlines scheme (and flown by Eastern Metro pilots).
Washington Dulles International Airport
Washington Dulles International Airport is a public airport in Dulles, Virginia, 26 miles west of downtown Washington, D.C. The airport serves the Baltimore-Washington-Northern Virginia metropolitan area centered on the District of Columbia. It is named after John Foster Dulles, Secretary of...
in Northern Virginia
Northern Virginia
Northern Virginia consists of several counties and independent cities in the Commonwealth of Virginia, in a widespread region generally radiating southerly and westward from Washington, D.C...
. It was founded in 1985 by Harold J. (Hap) Pareti, formerly an officer at Peoplexpress Airlines
Peoplexpress Airlines
People Express Airlines, stylized as PEOPLExpress, also known as People Express Travel, was a U.S. no-frills airline that operated from 1981 to 1987, when it merged into Continental Airlines...
, as a low-cost carrier
Low-cost carrier
A low-cost carrier or low-cost airline is an airline that generally has lower fares and fewer comforts...
, with Boeing 737
Boeing 737
The Boeing 737 is a short- to medium-range, twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner. Originally developed as a shorter, lower-cost twin-engine airliner derived from Boeing's 707 and 727, the 737 has developed into a family of nine passenger models with a capacity of 85 to 215 passengers...
service from Dulles to Logan International Airport
Logan International Airport
General Edward Lawrence Logan International Airport is located in the East Boston neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts . It covers , has six runways, and employs an estimated 16,000 people. It is the 19th busiest airport in the United States.Boston serves as a focus city for JetBlue Airways...
in Boston, Massachusetts commencing October 10 of that year.
It expanded to a number of destinations, merging with the original Colgan Air
Colgan Air
Colgan Air, Inc. is an American certificated regional airline subsidiary of Pinnacle Airlines Corp. The headquarters of Colgan Air are located in Memphis, Tennessee....
in 1986 and adding the BAe 146
BAe 146
The British Aerospace 146 is a medium-sized commercial airliner formerly manufactured in the United Kingdom by British Aerospace, later part of BAE Systems. Production ran from 1983 until 2002. Manufacture of an improved version known as the Avro RJ began in 1992...
regional jet
Regional jet
A Regional jet , is a class of short to medium-range turbofan powered airliners.-History:The term "Regional jet" describes a range of short to medium-haul turbofan powered aircraft, whose use throughout the world expanded after the advent of Airline Deregulation in the United States in...
and orders for the de Havilland Dash 8-300 turboprop
Turboprop
A turboprop engine is a type of turbine engine which drives an aircraft propeller using a reduction gear.The gas turbine is designed specifically for this application, with almost all of its output being used to drive the propeller...
to its fleet (Only two of the DASH-8-300s were ever received). It was unable to sustain its expansion, however, and became a regional feeder for Continental Airlines
Continental Airlines
Continental Airlines was a major American airline now merged with United Airlines. On May 3, 2010, Continental Airlines, Inc. and UAL, Inc. announced a merger via a stock swap, and on October 1, 2010, the merger closed and UAL changed its name to United Continental Holdings, Inc...
in 1987 and then United Airlines
United Airlines
United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees (which includes the entire holding company United Continental...
in 1988. In early 1989, Presidential attempted to capitalize on the "hub fever" then prevalent in the Southeastern United States by trying to raise money from investors in Birmingham, Alabama (BHM) with the stated intent of operating a mini-hub there. Presidential's already shaky financial condition and eventual bankruptcy assured that nothing ever came of it. Burdened with debt from its changes of business plan, Presidential filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
Chapter 11, Title 11, United States Code
Chapter 11 is a chapter of the United States Bankruptcy Code, which permits reorganization under the bankruptcy laws of the United States. Chapter 11 bankruptcy is available to every business, whether organized as a corporation or sole proprietorship, and to individuals, although it is most...
on October 26, 1989. It ended operations on December 5, 1989 and its assets subsequently liquidated. Shortly before that time, employees received a pay cut for two pay periods in an attempt to improve cash flow at the airline.
At one point just before its demise, Presidential ran an odd mix of fleet types: twelve BAe Jetstream 31s and 32s (some of which were contracted), two early model BE-1900s, eight BAe 146 jets and an aging Boeing 737. The 737 primarily did roundtrips between Dulles (IAD) and MacArthur-Islip (ISP) on Long Island, New York. In 1988, the 737 was used as the campaign plane for first Republican Senator Robert Dole and then Massachusetts Governor and Democratic nominee for president, Michael Dukakis. Reporters assigned to Dukakis nicknamed the plane "The Sky Pig" because it was so slow.
Of these the BE-1900s were the first to go being sold to pay bills. There was also an odd mix of paint schemes. Some BAe 146 jets and Jetstream turboprops were painted in the red white and blue Presidential scheme while others were in United's white with rainbow stripe scheme. The planes contracted from Eastern Metro were in an Eastern Airlines scheme (and flown by Eastern Metro pilots).