Grand Canyon Airlines
{{Short description|Sightseeing and charter service air carrier of the United States}}
{{Infobox airline
| airline = Grand Canyon Airlines
| image =
| logo = Grand Canyon Airlines logo.svg
| logo_size =
| fleet_size = 21
| destinations = 4
| IATA = YR
| ICAO = CVU
| callsign = CANYON VIEW
| parent =
| commenced = {{start date and age|1927|10|03}}
| num_employees = 600
| headquarters = Tusayan, Arizona, U.S.
| key_people = {{Unbulleted list
| Charles Bassett
| Mike McComb
| Craig Sanderson }}
| hubs =
| secondary_hubs =
| focus_cities =
| frequent_flyer =
| lounge =
| alliance =
| subsidiaries = {{Unbulleted list
| Papillon Airways
| Grand Canyon Scenic Airlines
}}
| website = {{URL|grandcanyonairlines.com}}
}}
Grand Canyon Airlines is a 14 CFR Part 135 air carrier headquartered on the grounds of Boulder City Municipal Airport in Boulder City, Nevada, United States. It also has bases at Grand Canyon National Park Airport and Page Municipal Airport, both in Arizona.[http://www.grandcanyonairlines.com/gca/show_article.aspx?article_id=83&lang=en-US Our Location] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711122440/http://www.grandcanyonairlines.com/gca/show_article.aspx?article_id=83&lang=en-US |date=2011-07-11 }}." Grand Canyon Airlines. Retrieved on October 3, 2009. It operates sightseeing tours and charter service over and around the Grand Canyon. Its headquarters and main operation center is Grand Canyon National Park Airport and Boulder City Municipal Airport.{{cite news | title= Directory: World Airlines | work= Flight International | page= 87 | date= 2007-04-03}}
History
The airline was started in 1927 as Scenic Airways by J. Parker Van Zandt at Grand Canyon, Arizona with a Stinson SM-1 Detroiter and Ford Trimotor aircraft. On February 23, 1929, the opening day of the Arizona Biltmore Hotel, Scenic Airways dropped a wooden key on the roof of the hotel's ballroom. The key is on display above the fireplace of the Biltmore History Room.{{cite web|url=https://outsidesuburbia.com/art/arizona-biltmore-the-jewel-of-the-desert/|website=outsidesuburbia.com|title=Arizona Biltmore: The Jewel of the Desert • Outside Suburbia Travel|date=28 March 2017 |access-date=2020-12-23}}
Scenic Airways changed its name to Grand Canyon Airlines in 1930, and Grand Canyon Airlines is believed{{according to whom|date=May 2022}} to be the world's oldest air tour company in continuous operations.
Grand Canyon Airlines introduced commercial airline service to Boulder City Airport (predecessor to the contemporary airport) on June 15, 1936.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.bouldercitymagazine.com/past_issues/2005/2005_february/history.html |magazine=Boulder City – The Magazine |title=Boulder City History |first=Dennis |last=McBride |date=February 2005 |accessdate=May 28, 2022 |via=bouldercitymagazine.com}}
Two Grand Canyon Airlines pilots were the first to spot the wreckage left by the 1956 Grand Canyon mid-air collision, between United and TWA aircraft. Pilots Henry and Palin Hudgen had been flying a scheduled service around the area at the time.Blind Trust, by John J. Nance, William Morrow & Co., Inc. (USA), 1986, {{ISBN|0-688-05360-2}}, PP 96-97
On March 29, 2007, Scenic Airlines was sold to Grand Canyon Airlines and was subsequently renamed Grand Canyon Scenic Airlines. The airline continued to operate from the Boulder City airport providing services to Grand Canyon West, Grand Canyon, Page, Arizona, Monument Valley, Utah, and Rainbow Bridge, Utah. At that time, Grand Canyon Scenic Airlines continued to operate sightseeing flight services to the Grand Canyon every day of the year.
On March 19, 2009, Grand Canyon Airlines moved its operations at the Boulder City airport into the company's new Boulder City Aerocenter, a {{convert|30000|sqft|abbr=on}} terminal.{{cite news |first=Benjamin |last= Spillman |title=Happy landings in Boulder City |url=http://www.lvrj.com/business/41554427.html |date=2009-03-20 |access-date=2009-04-28}}
In 2024 GCSA received the "Best of Las Vegas" Gold award for best airline/charter in the city of Las Vegas.{{Cite web |title=Airline/Charter |url=https://www.bestoflasvegas.com/listing/2023/airline-charter |access-date=19 June 2025 |website=www.bestoflasvegas.com}}
Destinations
File:Grand Canyon Airlines N297SA On Approach for Boulder City Airport 5.jpg DHC-6 Twin Otter on approach to Boulder City]]
| class="wikitable"
!City !Airport !IATA Code !Destinations !Notes |
| colspan="5" style="text-align: left;" |{{Flag icon|Arizona}} Arizona |
|---|
| Grand Canyon West
|GCW | rowspan="3" |Boulder City | |
| Grand Canyon South
|Grand Canyon National Park Airport |GCN | |
| Page
|PGA | |
| Phoenix
|Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport |PHX |Safford |
| Safford
|SAD |Phoenix Sky Harbor |
| colspan="5" style="text-align: left;" |{{Flag icon|Nevada}} Nevada |
| rowspan="3" |Boulder City
| rowspan="3" |Boulder City Municipal Airport | rowspan="3" |BLD |Grand Canyon West | |
| Grand Canyon South
| |
| Page
| |
Fleet
File:Grand Canyon Airlines N186GC On Approach for Boulder City Airport 3.jpg on approach to Boulder City Municipal Airport]]
{{As of|May 2020||df=US}} the Grand Canyon Airlines fleet consists of the following aircraft:{{cite web|url=http://www.bestaviation.net/jobs/grand_canyon_airlines/|website=bestaviation.net| date=2009-02-28|access-date=2020-12-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090228072114/http://www.bestaviation.net/jobs/grand_canyon_airlines/ |archive-date=2009-02-28 |title=Grand Canyon Airlines}}
{{clear}}
Accidents and incidents
- On June 18, 1986, Grand Canyon Airlines Flight 6, a de Havilland Canada DHC-6-300 (N76GC) of the airline collided with a Bell 206 JetRanger helicopter operated by Helitech Helicopters. Both aircraft were operating scenic air tour flights over the Grand Canyon when the collision occurred near Crystal Rapids. The collision killed all 25 people on both aircraft.{{cite web |url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19860618-1 |title=N76GC accident description page |access-date=2009-01-22 |work= Aviation-Safety.net}}{{cite web|url=http://www.lostflights.com/Grand-Canyon-Aviation/61886-Grand-Canyon/i-RFkD87z|website=lostflights.com|title=Photo Sharing. Your Photos Look Better Here.|access-date=2020-12-23}}
- On September 27, 1989, Grand Canyon Airlines Flight 5, a de Havilland Canada DHC-6-300 (N75GC) of the airline crashed while performing a go-around at Grand Canyon National Park Airport. Both crew members and eight of 19 passengers died.{{cite web |url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19890927-0 |title=N75GC accident description page |access-date=2009-01-22 |work= Aviation-Safety.net}}{{cite web|url=http://www.lostflights.com/Grand-Canyon-Aviation/92789-Grand-Canyon-Airlines/i-z9MZbGZ|website=lostflights.com|title=Photo Sharing. Your Photos Look Better Here.|access-date=2020-12-23}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category|Grand Canyon Airlines}}
- {{Official website|http://www.grandcanyonairlines.com/}}
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{{Airlines of the United States|state=collapsed}}
Category:Regional Airline Association members
Category:Airlines established in 1927
Category:Companies based in Arizona
Category:Regional airlines of the United States
Category:Airlines based in Arizona