Grand Canyon Airlines

History

The airline was started in 1927 as Scenic Airways by J. Parker Van Zandt at Grand Canyon, Arizona with a Stinson SM-1 Detroiter and Ford Trimotor aircraft. On February 23, 1929, the opening day of the Arizona Biltmore Hotel, Scenic Airways dropped a wooden key on the roof of the hotel's ballroom. The key is on display above the fireplace of the Biltmore History Room.

Scenic Airways changed its name to Grand Canyon Airlines in 1930, and Grand Canyon Airlines is believed to be the world's oldest air tour company in continuous operations.

Grand Canyon Airlines introduced commercial airline service to Boulder City Airport (predecessor to the contemporary airport) on June 15, 1936.

Two Grand Canyon Airlines pilots were the first to spot the wreckage left by the 1956 Grand Canyon mid-air collision, between United and TWA aircraft. Pilots Henry and Palin Hudgen had been flying a scheduled service around the area at the time.

On March 29, 2007, Scenic Airlines was sold to Grand Canyon Airlines and was subsequently renamed Grand Canyon Scenic Airlines. The airline continued to operate from the Boulder City airport providing services to Grand Canyon West, Grand Canyon, Page, Arizona, Monument Valley, Utah, and Rainbow Bridge, Utah. At that time, Grand Canyon Scenic Airlines continued to operate sightseeing flight services to the Grand Canyon every day of the year.

On March 19, 2009, Grand Canyon Airlines moved its operations at the Boulder City airport into the company's new Boulder City Aerocenter, a 30000 sqft terminal.

In 2024 GCSA received the "Best of Las Vegas" Gold award for best airline/charter in the city of Las Vegas.

Destinations

Fleet

the Grand Canyon Airlines fleet consists of the following aircraft:

Accidents and incidents

• On June 18, 1986, Grand Canyon Airlines Flight 6, a de Havilland Canada DHC-6-300 (N76GC) of the airline collided with a Bell 206 JetRanger helicopter operated by Helitech Helicopters. Both aircraft were operating scenic air tour flights over the Grand Canyon when the collision occurred near Crystal Rapids. The collision killed all 25 people on both aircraft.
• On September 27, 1989, Grand Canyon Airlines Flight 5, a de Havilland Canada DHC-6-300 (N75GC) of the airline crashed while performing a go-around at Grand Canyon National Park Airport. Both crew members and eight of 19 passengers died.

References

References

1. "Federal Aviation Administration - Airline Certificate Information - Detail View".
2. link. (2011-07-11 ." Grand Canyon Airlines. Retrieved on October 3, 2009.)
3. (2007-04-03). "Directory: World Airlines". [[Flight International]].
4. (28 March 2017). "Arizona Biltmore: The Jewel of the Desert • Outside Suburbia Travel".
5. McBride, Dennis. (February 2005). "Boulder City History".
6. ''Blind Trust'', by John J. Nance, William Morrow & Co., Inc. (USA), 1986, {{ISBN. 0-688-05360-2, PP 96-97
7. Spillman, Benjamin. (2009-03-20). "Happy landings in Boulder City".
8. "Airline/Charter".
9. (10 December 2024). "Safford Regional Airport to debut daily passenger air service to Phoenix in January".
10. (2009-02-28). "Grand Canyon Airlines".
11. "Aircraft {{!}} Grand Canyon Airlines".
12. (September 2025). "Global Airline Guide 2025 - Grand Canyon Airlines".
13. "Aircraft {{!}} Grand Canyon Airlines".
14. "N76GC accident description page". Aviation-Safety.net.
15. "Photo Sharing. Your Photos Look Better Here.".
16. "N75GC accident description page". Aviation-Safety.net.
17. "Photo Sharing. Your Photos Look Better Here.".