Champion Air

Champion Air is an airline based in Bloomington, Minnesota, USA. It operates general charter services to sports teams, vacation wholesalers and government agencies. Its main base is Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, with hubs at Denver International Airport, Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, McCarran International Airport, Las Vegas and Lambert-St. Louis International Airport^[1].

History

A Champion Air 727 at Denver International Airport.

In 1987, MGM Grand Air (IATA: MG, ICAO: MGM, and Callsign: Grand Air), a charter airline owned by MGM MIRAGE,^[2] with a focus on operating VIP charters with luxurious aircraft, was established, starting operations in September 1987. Operating Douglas DC-8 and Boeing 727 aircraft in lavish configurations, MGM Grand Air operated charter service as well as scheduled service between Los Angeles International Airport and John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York using aircraft with an all first class configuration. By 1994, with business jets being the latest fad for celebrities and business leaders, MGM Grand Air was no longer profitable, and the company sought to sell it off. The buyer was Front Page Tours, a small tour operator based in Edina, Minnesota dedicated to providing airlift to sports teams and their fans to major sporting events. The air operator's certificate was purchased from MGM Grand Air in July 1995. The name was changed to Champion Air and the fleet was standardized on the Boeing 727. In March 1997, Minnesota Twins owner Carl Pohlad and Northwest Airlines acquired the company from Richard Page. The airline relocated to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where it shared facilities and resources with Northwest, and replaced Sun Country Airlines as the leading charter operator for Northwest-owned MLT Vacations. In 2003, five Champion Air executives completed a management buy-out to take control of the airline. The airline continues to operate both VIP and general charters for MLT and other operators. However, as of late this summer, Champion Air management was informed by their largest customer, MLT Vacations, that all lift would pulled from Champion Air through out the 2008 year for undisclosed reasons. This is being dealt as a significant blow to Champion Air as MLT Vacations accounts for roughly 75-80% of all operations. It is also known that the National Basketball Association, NBA, is actively seeking competitors for the upcoming contract maturity with Champion Air. Several companies are rumored to be bidding on the contract, including Northwest Airlines and Miami Air. In light of the upcoming difficulties posed to Champion Air, the management team provided notification to employees that Champion Air is actively seeking new investors to re-invigorate the company financially. The airline is wholly owned by Champion Air Management^[1] and has 737 employees (at January 2005).

Fleet

As of March 2007 the Champion Air fleet includes ^[1] :

• 6 Boeing 727-200 Advanced aircraft equipped with 56 Business Class Seating
• 10 Boeing 727-200 Advanced aircraft equipped with all Coach Class Seating

External links

• Champion Air

References