Air Bahia
Air Bahia was a United States commuter airline that operated from 1979 to 1980. Air Bahia primarily operated in [[Southern California] and Mexico and also served Las Vegas and Tucson during its existence.
History
The short-lived Air Bahia, based in San Diego, operated its first scheduled service on August 18, 1979. Its operations included service to Los Angeles (LAX), Long Beach (LGB), San Diego via both Lindbergh Field (SAN) and Gillespie Field (SEE), Palm Springs (PSP), Carlsbad via McClellan-Palomar Airport (CLD), El Centro (IPL) and various points in Baja California and elsewhere in Mexico. In 1980, Air Bahia was operating high frequency shuttle service between San Diego Lindbergh Field and Los Angeles (LAX) with twelve round trip flights every weekday and also between San Diego Lindbergh Field and Tijuana, Mexico with thirteen round trip flights every weekday.[1]
The airline operated only a small handful of twin prop commuter aircraft, including the Piper Chieftain, Piper Navajo and the Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander.
Air Bahia operated scheduled international passenger service from Lindbergh Field, McClellan-Palomar Airport and Gillespie Field in San Diego County to a several Mexican destinations and also flew nonstop between Tucson (TUS) and Guaymas, Mexico. Its timetables advertised connecting services to and from jet flights operated by Aeromexico and Mexicana de Aviacion in Mexico.[2] Other routes included nonstop service between Las Vegas (LAS) and both Carlsbad and Long Beach. The aircraft fleet service center was Southern Cal Aircraft Repair at Gillepsie Field. Air Bahia went out of business a year after starting service, on December 14, 1980.
Destinations: 1979-1980
According to Air Bahia route maps from 1979 and 1980, the airline served the following destinations:[3]
Arizona
- Tucson (TUS)
California
- Calexico (CXL)
- Carlsbad via McClellan Palomar Airport (CLD)
- El Centro (IPL)
- Long Beach (LGB)
- Los Angeles (LAX)
- Palm Springs (PSP)
- San Diego via both Lindbergh Field (SAN) and Gillespie Field (SEE)
- Santa Ana (SNA) via Orange County Airport (now John Wayne Airport)
Nevada
- Las Vegas (LAS)
Mexico
- Ensenada (ESE)
- Guaymas (GYM)
- San Felipe (SFH)
- Tijuana (TIJ)
References
- ^ http://www.timetableimages.com, 1980 Air Bahia timetable
- ^ http://www.timetableimages.com, Air Bahia timetables
- ^ http://www.departedflights.com, June 1979, Jan. 1980 & July 1980 Air Bahia route maps
R. E. G. Davies, Commuter Airlines of the United States. Smithsonian Books, 1995.