Morris Air
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Founded | 1984, as Morris Air Service | ||||||
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Commenced operations | 1992 | ||||||
Ceased operations | October 1994 (merged with Southwest Airlines) | ||||||
Hubs | Salt Lake City | ||||||
Fleet size | 21, all Boeing 737 | ||||||
Destinations | 21, western U.S. | ||||||
Headquarters | Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S. | ||||||
Key people | June Morris (CEO) David Neeleman (President) | ||||||
Revenue | $116 million (1992)[1] | ||||||
Profit | $5.3 million (1992)[1] | ||||||
Employees | 2,000 (1993)[1] |
Morris Air was a low-fare airline in the western United States, based in Salt Lake City, Utah. It began scheduled operations in 1992,[2][3][4] and was sold to Southwest Airlines in December 1993 for over $120 million in stock.[1][5][6][7][8] The airline officially became part of Southwest in the autumn of 1994.[9][10] Morris Air was the first airline in the world to invent e-ticket (ticketless) travel based on the suggestion of Stuart Thatcher, an employee at the time. Although Southwest Airlines is often credited with offering the first e-ticketing system, it was in fact created and implemented by Morris Air and later integrated into Southwest Airlines after it purchased Morris Air.[11]
History[]
The airline began charter operations as Morris Air Service in 1984.[3][12] It was launched by Utah businesswoman June Morris, who also founded Morris Travel in 1970,[13][14][15][16][17] and David Neeleman who also co-founded WestJet and JetBlue.[18] Neeleman worked with Southwest for a short period and when his non-compete agreement expired, he founded JetBlue Airways.[19] June Morris sat on the board of directors of Southwest Airlines until she retired at the annual shareholders' meeting on May 17, 2006.[20]
Charter flights were operated by Ryan International Airlines during 1992, and by both Ryan International and Sierra Pacific Airlines with some flights being operated with Boeing 737-200 jets[3][21] prior to 1992.[22]
Morris obtained its own FAR 121 operating certificate in December 1992 and then began operating as its own carrier.[3]
The airline was based at Salt Lake City International Airport where it operated a hub[23] and flew a number of routes primarily in the western U.S. using Boeing 737-300 aircraft. In late 1993, it operated over 1,000 flights per week with a fleet of 21 planes.[12]
Destinations[]
The following destination information is taken from Morris Air route maps with the airline not serving all of these airports at the same time.[24]
- Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport
- Boise Airport
- Colorado Springs Airport
- Denver Stapleton International Airport
- Eugene Airport
- Fresno Yosemite International Airport
- Laughlin/Bullhead International Airport
- Las Vegas McCarran International Airport
- Los Angeles International Airport
- Oakland International Airport
- Ontario International Airport
- Palm Springs Airport
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
- Portland International Airport
- Reno/Tahoe International Airport
- Sacramento International Airport
- Salt Lake City International Airport
- San Diego International Airport
- San Jose International Airport
- Santa Ana-John Wayne Airport
- Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
- Spokane International Airport
- Tucson International Airport
- Twin Falls, Idaho-Magic Valley Regional Airport
Morris Air Service Seasonal Destinations[]
- Honolulu International Airport - flights to and from Hawaii operated on behalf of Morris Air by American Trans Air (ATA)[25]
- Orlando International Airport
- Cancun International Airport
- Puerto Vallarta International Airport
- Playa de Oro International Airport (Manzanillo, Mexico)
- Mazatlan International Airport
- Los Cabos International Airport (Cabo San Lucas, Mexico)
Fleet[]
- 21 - Boeing 737-300[12]
See also[]
References[]
- ^ a b c d "Southwest will buy cut-rate Morris Air". Lodi News-Sentinel. (California). Associated Press. December 14, 1993. p. 8.
- ^ "DOT fines Morris Air $100,000". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). staff and wire reports. November 11, 1992. p. A8.
- ^ a b c d "Morris Air plans Dec. 2 takeoff". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). staff and wire reports. November 25, 1992. p. A7.
- ^ Murphey, Michael (February 25, 1994). "Southwest's landing here likely June 6". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. A12.
- ^ Cortex, Marjorie; Knudson, Max B. (December 13, 1993). "Southwest purchasing Morris Air". Deseret News. (Salt Lake City, Utah). p. A1.
- ^ Cortex, Marjorie (December 14, 1993). "Southwest emphasizes its commitment to S.L." Deseret News. (Salt Lake City, Utah). p. B1.
- ^ "Southwest to buy Morris Air". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). wire reports. December 14, 1993. p. A1.
- ^ History: Morris Air Service
- ^ "Southwest to absorb 2 Morris Air routes". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. September 18, 1994. p. 9B.
- ^ Cortex, Marjorie (October 4, 1994). "Southwest launches daily service in S.L.; Morris Air legacy praised". Deseret News. (Salt Lake City, Utah). p. B3.
- ^ "JetBlue Airways: David Neeleman". NPR.org. Retrieved 2019-05-04.
- ^ a b c "Utah's Morris Air is a strong competitor in western market". Prescott Courier. (Arizona). Associated Press. November 14, 1993. p. 5D.
- ^ Luster, Tina (July 29, 1992). "Morris Air Service to open up travel horizons for locals". Kingman Daily Miner. (Arizona). p. 5.
- ^ "June Morris built success on basic plan". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. December 19, 1993. p. E1.
- ^ "Morris Air founder gets tourism award". Deseret News. (Salt Lake City, Utah). January 28, 1994. p. B5.
- ^ Thomson, Linda (February 28, 1996). "4 'Utah Pioneers of Flight' honored". Deseret News. (Salt Lake City, Utah). p. A7.
- ^ Benson, Lee (November 15, 2000). "Love those fares? Just thank June". Deseret News. (Salt Lake City, Utah). p. B1.
- ^ Knudson, Max B. (March 31, 1996). "High flier". Deseret News. (Salt Lake City, Utah). p. M1.
- ^ Johnson, Cecil (August 1, 2004). "Attention Deficit Disorder a plus for risk taker". Lakeland Ledger. (Florida). Knight-Ridder newspapers. p. E5.
- ^ "Morris Air: The Only Southwest Contender". International Aviation HQ. Retrieved 2020-07-26.
- ^ "Morris Air Service". Deseret News. (Salt Lake City, Utah). (advertisement). May 5, 1992. p. 8D.
- ^ "Morris Air Service adding to jet fleet". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). staff and wire reports. October 22, 1992. p. A12.
- ^ http://www.departedflights.com, Morris Air route maps
- ^ http://www.departedflights.com, Summer 1992, Feb. 1993, Jan. 17, 1994 & June 6, 1994 Morris Air route maps
- ^ http://www.departedflights.com, Feb. 1993 Morris Air route map
External links[]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Morris Air. |
- AirTimes: Morris Air
- Codes and Fleet Information[permanent dead link]
- United States airline stubs
- Defunct airlines of the United States
- Airlines established in 1984
- Airlines disestablished in 1994
- Private equity portfolio companies
- Southwest Airlines
- 1984 establishments in Utah
- 1994 disestablishments in Utah