Island Airways is a small passenger airline based in Charlevoix, Michigan, United States. It provides services to Welke Airport and Charlevoix Municipal Airport.
History The airline began in 1945 as McPhillips Flying Service. In 1975, Welke Aviation was started in competition with McPhillips. The two companies merged in 1983, and Paul Welke bought out his partners in 1989.Rich Warren, "Island Hopping: When Navigating The Great Lakes, Air Taxis Are The Only Way To Fly", Chicago Tribune, August 27, 2000. In 2001, Welke was instrumental in the location and rescue of a family that had been on a charter flight that crashed on approach to Beaver Island.Sara Burnett, Dave Mann, Tom O'Konowitz, "Cold, Tired, Wet ... but Amazingly Alive Rescuers Find Family 15 Hours after Plane Crashed on Island", Daily Herald, February 10, 2001. In 2013, the Michigan Aeronautics Commission gave Welke an award in recognition of Island Airway's long history of service."Aeronautics Commission honors two northern Michigan aviators, National Cherry Festival Air Show Committee", Michigan Department of Transportation, September 13, 2013.
Fleet Britten-Norman Islander Piper Apache PA-23-160 Piper Aztec PA-23-250
Destinations Welke Airport (Beaver Island, Michigan) Charlevoix Municipal Airport
References