Empire Air Lines

For the current freight airline, see Empire Airlines. For the defunct passenger airline from the 1970s and 1980s, see Empire Airlines (1974–1986).
Empire Air Lines
Founded1944;
80 years ago (1944)
Ceased operations1952;
72 years ago (1952)
HubsLewiston
Focus cities
HeadquartersLewiston, Idaho, U.S.
Key peopleBert Zimmerly (President)
A Douglas DC-3 operated by Empire Air Lines at Boise, Idaho in 1952.

Empire Air Lines was a United States local service carrier that was founded in July 1944 by Bert Zimmerly at Lewiston, Idaho.[1] The founder had formerly been operating Zimmerly Airlines, a commercial charter service that had been operating since 1943.[1] Empire was inactive until early in 1946, when it purchased the assets of Zimmerly Airlines, including ten Boeing 247 aircraft.[1][2] Starting as an intrastate airline in Idaho, it operated daily round trip service between Coeur d'Alene, Idaho and Pocatello, Idaho with four intermediate stops.[2] The Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) granted temporary permission to the airline to offer interstate feeder lines between Spokane, Washington and locations in Idaho and eastern Oregon.[3][4]

In 1952, the CAB approved the sale of Empire Air Lines to West Coast Airlines for about $500,000 (equivalent to $2,600,000 in 2023).[5]

  1. ^ a b c "Empire Airlines Soon to Start". The Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. 30 July 1946. p. 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ a b "Empire Buys 10 Zimmerly Airline Ships". The Times-News. Twin Falls, Idaho. 1 March 1946 – via newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Empire Airlines of Lewiston Gains Permit to Run Spokane-Boise Feeder Line". Spokane Chronicle. 23 May 1946. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "West Coast Case". Civil Aeronautics Board Reports. 6. Civil Aeronautics Board: 961–1039. July 1944 – May 1946. hdl:2027/osu.32437011657786.
  5. ^ "Empire Airlines Merger With West Coast Okehed". The Idaho Statesman. Boise, Idaho. Associated Press. 28 June 1952 – via Newspapers.com.