Cochise Airlines was a commuter airline which was founded in 1971 in Tucson, Arizona.airlines It operated until 1982. Cochise linked small cities in Arizona with Phoenix, Arizona and Tucson, Arizona and also served southern California and New Mexico at one point.Cochise Airlines
History According to the February 1, 1976 edition of the Official Airline Guide (OAG), Cochise was operating de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter turboprop aircraft as well as Cessna 402 prop aircraft.Feb. 1, 1976 Official Airline Guide By 1979, the airline was flying Swearingen Metroliner (Metro II) turboprops. One route served with the Metro II at this time was Tucson (TUS) - Phoenix (PHX) - Yuma (YUM) - Imperial, CA (IPL) - Los Angeles (LAX) while another route served Phoenix (PHX) - Flagstaff (FLG) - Winslow (INW) - Gallup (GUP).http://www.departedflights.com, Nov. 15, 1979 Official Airline Guide (OAG), Los Angeles, Phoenix and Tucson flight schedules
Besides serving Phoenix, Tucson, Imperial and Yuma, the February 1, 1976 OAG listed scheduled service operated by Cochise into the following destinations in Arizona: Flagstaff (FLG), Grand Canyon National Park Airport (GCN), Kingman (IGM), Lake Havasu City (LHU), Page (PGA), Prescott (PRC) and Winslow (INW).
By 1981, Cochise was flying a Convair 440 propliner nonstop between Tucson (TUS) and San Diego (SAN)http://www.airliners.net, photos of Cochise Airlines Convair 440 at Tucson and San Diego and also on the Tucson - Phoenix - Yuma - El Centro - Los Angeles route in addition to Metro II propjet service on the latter route.http://www.departedflights.com, April 1, 1981 Official Airline Guide, Los Angeles, Phoenix and Tucson flight schedules The Convair 440 was the largest aircraft type ever operated by the airline. Also in 1981, Cochise was flying a Phoenix (PHX) - Blythe, CA (BLH) - Los Angeles (LAX) route in addition to operating its other routes within Arizona and southern California.http://www.departedflights.com, April 1, 1981 Official Airline Guide (OAG), Phoenix schedules
The air carrier's two letter airline code in the OAG was "DP".
Destinations in 1974 According to its April 15, 1974 route map, Cochise was serving the following destinations:http://www.departedflights.com, April 15, 1974 Cochise Airlines route map
Douglas, Arizona Flagstaff, Arizona Fort Huachuca/Sierra Vista, Arizona Grand Canyon National Park Airport, Arizona Kingman, Arizona Lake Havasu City, Arizona Phoenix, Arizona - Hub Prescott, Arizona Tucson, Arizona - Home base and focus city Yuma, Arizona
Destinations in 1979 According to its November 15, 1979 route map, Cochise Airlines was serving the following destinations:http://www.departedflights.com, Nov. 15, 1979 Cochise Airlines route map
Blythe, California Flagstaff, Arizona Fort Huachuca/Sierra Vista, Arizona Gallup, New Mexico Grand Canyon National Park Airport, Arizona Imperial, California - El Centro, California was served via the Imperial County Airport Kingman, Arizona Los Angeles, California (LAX) Phoenix, Arizona - Hub Prescott, Arizona Tucson, Arizona - Home base Winslow, Arizona Yuma, Arizona
The airline also served San Diego, California during the early 1980s.
Cochise ceased all operations on June 2, 1982.
Fleet Piston aircraft: Cessna 402 Convair 440 - largest aircraft type operated by the airline
Turboprop aircraft: de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter Swearingen Metroliner (Metro II model)
See also List of defunct airlines of the United States
References