Empire Airlines (1976-1985)

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Empire Airlines was a regional airline serving the Northeastern United States beginning in 1976. In 1985, the airline was purchased by Piedmont Airlines, which itself was later purchased by USAir and whose name now lives on in the US Airways Express network.

Founded by Paul Quackenbush, Empire Airlines began with its hub at the Oneida County Airport serving Utica and Rome, New York. Much of its early growth came by picking up routes abandoned by Allegheny Airlines as they concentrated on service to larger cities. Empire expanded throughout the early 1980's to destinations in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states. For a time, Empire also provided feeder service to Pan Am as "banner carrier" Pan Am Express at John F. Kennedy International Airport. Toward the end of its existence Empire announced plans to phase out its turboprop fleet and become an all-jet regional airline. Coinciding with this was a decision to reduce their presence in Utica and relocate their headquarters and most of their operations to Syracuse Hancock International Airport.

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[edit] Destinations Previously Served

Quebec, Canada Montreal, Montreal-Dorval International Airport

Those airports marked with an asterisk (*) are no longer served by commercial air service.

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[edit] Previous Fleet

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[edit] References