Low-cost commuter line sends its final flights aloft
Monday, Aug. 30, 1999 | 8:53 a.m.
At 9:22 p.m., one flight will head north to Portland, Ore., and another will wing south to San Diego.
After that, all flights will be under the name of American Airlines, which bought the struggling company in February.
By Tuesday, all Reno Air signs at the airport will be gone. Pilots, flight attendants and ticket-takers will be wearing American uniforms.
Reno Air's familiar mountain range logo will be painted over and replaced with American's markings by the end of the year.
The brave startup airline - some said it was more upstart than startup - began July 1, 1992, with a flight to Seattle.
In its best years, 1995 and 1996, Reno Air made $1.8 million and $2 million, respectively - essentially breaking even at a time when carriers enjoyed record profits.
At the height of Reno Air's local service, with about 45 departures a day in 1997, the Airport Authority was preparing to expand its terminal and gates to accommodate the airline's promised growth.
But that was the year that deep problems were evident as the company lost $12.3 million and struggled with parts shortages, unprofitable routes, labor unrest, poor on-time performance and reservations problems.
Chief Executive Robert Reding was ousted in February 1998 and Joe O'Gorman, a bottom-line-minded official who had just retired from United Airlines was brought in to stem losses and save the airline.
He cut hundreds of jobs and replaced longtime executives, dropped money-losing cities, consolidated corporate operations, reduced the fleet and stabilized the balance sheet.
And then he sold the airline.
Krys Bart, executive director of the Airport Authority of Washoe County, said community leaders should have considered financial assistance for Reno Air the way Phoenix rallied for America West Airlines and Minneapolis backed Northwest Airlines during their troubles.
While Bart believes American will do good things for Reno, "I think it's very sad that the community did not do something in a financial matter to assist Reno Air."
Geno Menchetti, chairman of the Airport Authority's board of trustees, said Reno Air's demise is a significant loss to the community.
"I think Reno lost a lot just by having those green-and-white airplanes parked on the ground at airports all over," he said.
archive
- Most Read
- Discussed
- Most E-mailed
- CityCenter hotel welcomes new employees with gala
- Forrest Griffin writes his own ending at UFC 106
- Police arrest 2 more in fatal shooting of Metro officer
- Illness theory gaining ground for gambling addiction
- Rebels wake up Sunday with top RPI
- At CityCenter, it’s not your usual uniforms for workers
- If no title shot, Josh Koscheck wants another fight soon
- Carl Icahn offers $156 million for Fontainebleau, outbids Penn National
- Ex-ACORN official gets probation for voter registration plan
- UFC 106 walk-in music: Griffin changes his tune, secures win over Ortiz
Blogs
Elsewhere
Spike TV confirms Kimbo on TUF Finale
Robin Leach's Las Vegas Celebrity Watch
DWTS Finale: Top three couples perform three dances
High School Sports Scene
How Gorman saved the school district thousands
Politics: Ralston's Flash
GOP consultants Rogich, Ernaut back Democratic AG's re-election (2 Comments)
Audio: Ex-Gov. Bob List accuses Harry Reid of "abuse of power" on health care (1 Comment)
Now and Then
Michael Schumacher takes 7th in go-kart race at Rio
The Kats Report
Monday List: 20 at 20, a quick look at The Mirage on a landmark birthday (1 Comment)
Calendar »
- 24 Tue
- 25 Wed
- 26 Thu
- 27 Fri
- 28 Sat
-
Thanks-Spinning with Z-Trip at Moon
Moon Nightclub | 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
Food Drive at Coyote Ugly
Coyote Ugly | 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
Surfer Blood with ACoSA at Beauty Bar
Beauty Bar | 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
Lipz and the Bunkhouse Blues Band
Bunkhouse Saloon Bar & Grill | 10 p.m.
-
Ladies night at Feelgoods
Feelgoods
-
Canned food drive at Pure
PURE | 10 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
The Sun
Locally owned and independent for more than 50 years.
Technorati












