Pro Air
Encyclopedia
Pro Air was an airline founded by Kevin Stamper in July 1997 to serve the centrally located Detroit City Airport in Detroit, Michigan
. It had its headquarters in the Lower Queen Anne area of Seattle, Washington.
When Pro Air 737's went under C Maintenance Check, Spirit Airlines, Pan Am Clipper Connection, and Casino Express flew their flights for them. A Pan Am 727 collapsed the fence at the end of runway 33 in DET, due to having to "rev" the engines to meet the short runway takeoff length of 5000 ft.
Pro Air required its beginning groups of employees to go "door to door" in the Metro Detroit Area and pass out flyers promoting the airline. The airlines first hub/flight crew base was in Indianapolis. Most employees moved to the Metro Detroit Area when the Detroit City Airport hub was started in 1998.
Pro Air was in direct competition with Northwest Airlines on all of their routes. They originally started with one fare for everybody, but about 18 months afterwards they went to tiered fares with advance purchase requirements. They also had originally served full meals in coach (in addition to first class) but scrapped the program after realizing that the cost of the meal accounted for, on average, 10% of the fare that the customer paid. They were known for their signature "hot meal" service (even on the 35 minute DET-MDW route) in First Class along with premium alcoholic beverage service, and were the only airline to charge a mere $2 for beer and wine in Economy class (mixed drinks were $3).
Pro Air pioneered one of the lowest fares on the DET-LGA-DET route at $59 each way (which has been topped by Spirit Airlines $0.01 fares). Founders Fares were released for those who already flew them as a 'thanks'. GM & Chrysler also had programs to put their travelers on Pro Air on routes they flew at a mere $30 each way fare for employees and family. After slightly more than 3 years in the air Pro Air was grounded by the Federal Aviation Administration
on September 18, 2000 for numerous regulatory violations and its aircraft were quickly repossessed by the lessor.
, Orlando International Airport
, Fort Myers, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Newark, Orlando, Philadelphia, Seattle, Atlanta and Tampa.
, and expanding to three Boeing 737-400
and one 737-300 aircraft. The 737-400 had a configuration of 138 coach and 8 first class, with slightly increased pitch in both classes compared to other major airlines. They had MD-90 airplanes on order, but they shut down before they acquired the first one, but not before it was painted. Just before their demise, GM had been in talks to offer their 3 Saab 2000 aircraft to Pro Air, indicating that they would choose which routes and frequencies the aircraft would fly on, but this never happened due to the shut down.
The planes had special flaps in order to facilitate takeoff from Detroit City Airport on the short runways.
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
. It had its headquarters in the Lower Queen Anne area of Seattle, Washington.
Former Code Data
- IATAInternational Air Transport AssociationThe International Air Transport Association is an international industry trade group of airlines headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, where the International Civil Aviation Organization is also headquartered. The executive offices are at the Geneva Airport in SwitzerlandIATA's mission is to...
Code: XL (P9 was also used) - ICAO Code: PRH
- Callsign: Prohawk
History
Pro Air charged extremely low fares and saw high load factors on most of its flights, but many of its flights were delayed with mechanical and crew problems.When Pro Air 737's went under C Maintenance Check, Spirit Airlines, Pan Am Clipper Connection, and Casino Express flew their flights for them. A Pan Am 727 collapsed the fence at the end of runway 33 in DET, due to having to "rev" the engines to meet the short runway takeoff length of 5000 ft.
Pro Air required its beginning groups of employees to go "door to door" in the Metro Detroit Area and pass out flyers promoting the airline. The airlines first hub/flight crew base was in Indianapolis. Most employees moved to the Metro Detroit Area when the Detroit City Airport hub was started in 1998.
Pro Air was in direct competition with Northwest Airlines on all of their routes. They originally started with one fare for everybody, but about 18 months afterwards they went to tiered fares with advance purchase requirements. They also had originally served full meals in coach (in addition to first class) but scrapped the program after realizing that the cost of the meal accounted for, on average, 10% of the fare that the customer paid. They were known for their signature "hot meal" service (even on the 35 minute DET-MDW route) in First Class along with premium alcoholic beverage service, and were the only airline to charge a mere $2 for beer and wine in Economy class (mixed drinks were $3).
Pro Air pioneered one of the lowest fares on the DET-LGA-DET route at $59 each way (which has been topped by Spirit Airlines $0.01 fares). Founders Fares were released for those who already flew them as a 'thanks'. GM & Chrysler also had programs to put their travelers on Pro Air on routes they flew at a mere $30 each way fare for employees and family. After slightly more than 3 years in the air Pro Air was grounded by the Federal Aviation Administration
Federal Aviation Administration
The Federal Aviation Administration is the national aviation authority of the United States. An agency of the United States Department of Transportation, it has authority to regulate and oversee all aspects of civil aviation in the U.S...
on September 18, 2000 for numerous regulatory violations and its aircraft were quickly repossessed by the lessor.
Services
Pro Air operated services from Detroit City to several destinations including Baltimore-Washington International Airport, Chicago Midway Airport, New York LaGuardia AirportLaGuardia Airport
LaGuardia Airport is an airport located in the northern part of Queens County on Long Island in the City of New York. The airport is located on the waterfront of Flushing Bay and Bowery Bay, and borders the neighborhoods of Astoria, Jackson Heights and East Elmhurst. The airport was originally...
, Orlando International Airport
Orlando International Airport
Orlando International Airport is a major international airport located southeast of the central business district of Orlando. It is the second busiest airport in Florida, after Miami International Airport...
, Fort Myers, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Newark, Orlando, Philadelphia, Seattle, Atlanta and Tampa.
Fleet
It operated a small fleet, starting with two Boeing 737-400sBoeing 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...
, and expanding to three Boeing 737-400
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...
and one 737-300 aircraft. The 737-400 had a configuration of 138 coach and 8 first class, with slightly increased pitch in both classes compared to other major airlines. They had MD-90 airplanes on order, but they shut down before they acquired the first one, but not before it was painted. Just before their demise, GM had been in talks to offer their 3 Saab 2000 aircraft to Pro Air, indicating that they would choose which routes and frequencies the aircraft would fly on, but this never happened due to the shut down.
The planes had special flaps in order to facilitate takeoff from Detroit City Airport on the short runways.
External links
- Pro Air (Archive)
- Pro Air Former Fleet Detail