Founded | 1944 |
---|---|
Ceased operations | 1952 |
Operating bases | Lewiston, Idaho |
Focus cities |
Boise, Idaho Spokane, Washington |
Headquarters | Lewiston, Idaho |
Key people | Bert Zimmerly, President |
Empire Air Lines was a local service carrier that was founded in July 1944 by Bert Zimmerly at Lewiston, Idaho. [1] The founder had formerly been operating Zimmerly Airlines, a commercial charter service that had been operating since 1943. [1] Empire was inactive until early in 1946, when it purchased the assets of Zimmerly Airlines, including ten Boeing 247 aircraft. [1] [2] Starting as an intrastate airline in Idaho, it operated daily round trip service between Coeur d'Alene, Idaho and Pocatello, Idaho with four intermediate stops. [2] The Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) granted temporary permission to the airline to offer interstate feeder lines between Spokane, Washington and locations in Idaho and eastern Oregon. [3] [4]
In 1952, the CAB approved the sale of Empire Air Lines to West Coast Airlines for about $500,000 (equivalent to $2,600,000 in 2023). [5]
Founded | 1944 |
---|---|
Ceased operations | 1952 |
Operating bases | Lewiston, Idaho |
Focus cities |
Boise, Idaho Spokane, Washington |
Headquarters | Lewiston, Idaho |
Key people | Bert Zimmerly, President |
Empire Air Lines was a local service carrier that was founded in July 1944 by Bert Zimmerly at Lewiston, Idaho. [1] The founder had formerly been operating Zimmerly Airlines, a commercial charter service that had been operating since 1943. [1] Empire was inactive until early in 1946, when it purchased the assets of Zimmerly Airlines, including ten Boeing 247 aircraft. [1] [2] Starting as an intrastate airline in Idaho, it operated daily round trip service between Coeur d'Alene, Idaho and Pocatello, Idaho with four intermediate stops. [2] The Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) granted temporary permission to the airline to offer interstate feeder lines between Spokane, Washington and locations in Idaho and eastern Oregon. [3] [4]
In 1952, the CAB approved the sale of Empire Air Lines to West Coast Airlines for about $500,000 (equivalent to $2,600,000 in 2023). [5]