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| Founded | 2001 | |||
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| Ceased operations | 2004 | |||
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| Fleet size | 5 | |||
| Destinations | 11 | |||
| Headquarters | Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States | |||
Great Plains Airlines was a regional airline headquartered out of Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States.[1] The airline was founded in 2001 a mix of tax credits and government loans totaling $27 million[2] and expanded rapidly, filing with the Air Transportation Stabilization Board for a guarantee of $17 million from a $25 million loan, though this was rejected, as the Board deemed the airlines business plan to be too risky.[1] The airline filed for bankruptcy and ceased operations in 2004 after attempts to secure additional financing and investment were unsuccessful.[2] After it ceased operations, the airlines five aircraft were repossessed by creditors and other property was auctioned.[2]
The airline's foundation was based upon giving Oklahoma non-stop flights to a number of destinations, ultimately to business centers on the east and west coasts.[1]
To assist in starting the airline, the operating certificate was purchased from Ozark Airlines, an airline not related to the original Ozark Airlines, but a small airline operating Dornier 328JETs. The airline also took over operations of Ozark's two aircraft,[3] and later expanded the fleet to five aircraft by the time of the airline's closure.[2]
The airline had several signature items, including Krispy Kreme donuts and Arby's sandwiches served on-board flights.[4]