Western (airline)

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This article is about the modern Western (airline). See Western Airlines for information on an unrelated airline that merged with Delta Air Lines.

Western

IATA XP	ICAO CXP	Callsign RUBY MOUNTAIN
Founded		2006
Hubs		Bellingham International Airport
Fleet size		0
Destinations		4
Company slogan		Still the only way to fly
Headquarters		Bellingham, Washington
Key people		Jerry Welch (President) Curt Tronsdal (Chairman)
Website: http://www.iflywestern.com/

Western (IATA: XP, ICAO: CXP, and Callsign: Ruby Mountain) is an American low-cost airline headquartered in Bellingham, Washington, and operated from a hub at Bellingham International Airport.

1 History
2 Destinations
- 2.1 United States
3 Fleet
4 References
5 External links

[edit] History

On November 16, 2006 Western announced that they would begin flights in January from Bellingham International Airport to four vacation destinations; the fourth announced destination of Reno, Nevada was cancelled before the airline began service. Service began on January 18, 2007, with a flight from Bellingham to Ontario, California. The airline is currently working through the process of gaining FAA approval as a commercial airline. Western operated as a "scheduled charter" service, with aircraft wet leased from Xtra Airways.

As of February 7, 2007, Western has suspended further operations due to outstanding debts to suppliers including Xtra Airways. Xtra Airways will continue to return Western's passengers to their originating airport. Outstanding debits to suppliers including Xtra Airways and the fuel vendor in Bellingham. Xtra Airways officials have stated that flights have had to stop in Seattle, Washington to take on fuel, though a Western spokesperson claims that only one flight has had to stop, and that was due to a higher than expected fuel burn on the flight to Bellingham.^[1]

Western officials traced the problem to difficulties with credit card payments. The company has been running into problems obtaining a merchant identification number, which is needed before banks will deposit money into the airline's account. The airline stated it is working out an arrangement with PayPal, which will allow credit card payments to be processed and sent to the airline without a merchant identification number. The airline expects to resume flights once the problem is resolved.^[2]