Monarch Airlines (1946-1950)

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This article is about Monarch Airlines that was founded in 1946. For the company known as Monarch Airlines from 1967 to 2007, see Monarch Airlines.

Monarch Airlines, based in Denver, Colorado, started scheduled air service on November 27, 1946 with a flight from Denver to Durango, Colorado using a Douglas DC-3. It was formed by F.W. Bonfils of The Denver Post family and Ray M. Wilson, who operated a Denver flying school. Other services started to Albuquerque, Salt Lake City and Grand Junction.

Monarch pioneered all weather operations in their service area by installing its own navigational system. By 1948 the airline was sharing several functions with Challenger Airlines such as maintenance and sales at Denver. Then Monarch bought controlling interest in Challenger in December, 1949.

Monarch merged with Arizona Airways and Challenger Airlines on June 1, 1950 to form Frontier Airlines. Monarch's President, Hal S. Darr, became President of the new airline. Ray Wilson became V.P. Operations and Maintenance of the new company and Monarch's Treasurer, C.A. Myhre, became Executive Vice President and later President of Frontier.

Monarch had five DC3s at the merger: NC64421, NC64422, NC64423, NC64424, and NC66610. They became Frontier Sunliners Arizona, New Mexico, Royal Gorge, Mesa Verde and Utah.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

  • Old Frontier Airlines a website about the history of the old Frontier Airlines and its predecessor airlines.
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