20 Facts About Empire Airlines

Empire Airlines is a passenger and cargo airline based in Hayden, Idaho, near Coeur d'Alene.

Empire Airlines was established and started operations in May 1977 in Orofino as a charter company.

On November 1,1980, Empire Airlines purchased West Aire, Inc at Coeur d'Alene and expanded business to include aircraft sales and maintenance.

In 1981 Empire Airlines purchased Executive Aviation in Missoula, Montana and leased Twin Otter aircraft for United States Forest Service smoke jumping contracts.

In December 1983 and January 1984, Empire Airlines was awarded government contracts to transport people and materiel in Grenada, following the conflict.

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In 1988 Empire Airlines signed a FedEx Express contract to fly and maintain Cessna 208 Caravan aircraft out of Portland and Spokane; Seattle was added in September.

In 1989 Empire became a FAR 121 operator after the purchase of Pacific Alaska Airlines and two Fairchild F-27 aircraft.

In 1990, Empire Airlines added more cargo routes and performed its first heavy maintenance check on a Fairchild F-27.

In 1995, Empire Airlines moved corporate offices and ended passenger services, focusing on cargo, maintenance and airline startups.

Empire Airlines began sending technical reps to Conair during heavy maintenance checks on Fokker F27 Friendships.

Empire Airlines entered into a partnership agreement to begin Express Air serving FedEx in Europe.

In 2002, Empire Airlines purchased Reliant Logistics as a wholly owned subsidiary.

In 2004, the first ATR 42 put on Empire Airlines's certificate made the first ATR FedEx Feeder revenue flight.

In 2005, Empire Airlines moved into new hangar and office building, in Hayden, Idaho, adjacent to the Coeur d'Alene airport.

In 2013, Empire Airlines began drone flights under the name "Empire Unmanned", mainly serving agriculture and mining industries in the Western US.

On December 31,2021, Empire Airlines acquired fellow FedEx feeder West Air, expanding its footprint to include all of California.

The name and branding Empire Airlines will be flying for Hawaiian under contract is "'Ohana by Hawaiian".

Hawaiian Empire Airlines suspended all 'Ohana by Hawaiian service on January 14th, 2021.

Empire Airlines operated scheduled passenger flights during the early 1990s in the Pacific Northwest with Fairchild F-27 and Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner "Metro II" turboprop aircraft.

Empire Airlines previously served Seattle as well, Initial scheduled service was between Boise and Coeur d'Alene, ID utilizing Cessna 441 Conquest II turboprop aircraft.