View source for Hughes Airwest

{{Short description|Defunct airline of the United States (1968–1980)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox airline
| airline        = Hughes Air Corporation
| logo           = Hughes Airwest logo.svg
| logo_size      = 250
| IATA           = RW
| ICAO           = 
| callsign       = HUGHES-AIR
| founded        = {{start date|1968|04|17}}<br />{{small|(amalgamation; as ''Air West'')}}
| commenced      = {{start date|1970||}}<br />{{small|(as ''Hughes Airwest'')}}
| ceased         = {{end date|1980|10|01}}<br />{{small|(acquired by [[Republic Airlines]])}}<ref name=ratohawoct>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ESFTAAAAIBAJ&pg=4348,933691|newspaper=Deseret News|agency=UPI |title=Republic Airlines takes over Hughest Airwest on Oct. 1|date=September 18, 1980 |page=10B}}</ref>
| bases          = 
| hubs           = {{nowrap|[[San Francisco International Airport|San Francisco]]}}
| secondary_hubs = 
| focus_cities   = {{ubl|class=nowrap
  | [[Boise Airport|Boise]]
  | [[Stapleton International Airport|Denver–Stapleton]]
  | [[Harry Reid International Airport|Las Vegas]]
  | [[Los Angeles International Airport|Los Angeles]]
  | [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport|Phoenix–Sky Harbor]]
  | [[Portland International Airport|Portland (OR)]]
  | [[Salt Lake City International Airport|Salt Lake City]]
  | [[Boeing Field|Seattle–Boeing]]
  | [[Seattle–Tacoma International Airport|Seattle/Tacoma]]}}
| frequent_flyer = 
| lounge         = 
| alliance       = 
| subsidiaries   = 
| fleet_size     = 
| destinations   = 
| parent         = 
| headquarters   = [[San Mateo County, California|San Mateo County]], [[California]], [[United States]]
| key_people     = {{bulleted list|
  | [[Nick Bez]] 
  | [[Howard Hughes]] (owner)
  | Russell V. Stephenson ([[President (corporate title)|president]])}}
| website        = 
}}

[[Image:Fairchild F-27A N755L Air West SFO 19.09.70 edited-3.jpg|thumb|200px|Air West [[Fairchild F-27]]A in 1970<br />at [[San Francisco International Airport]]]]

'''Hughes Airwest''' was a [[local service carrier]], a scheduled airline in the [[Western United States]] from 1970 to 1980. It was backed by [[Howard Hughes]]' [[Summa Corporation]]. Its original name in 1968 was '''Air West''' and the air carrier was owned by [[Nick Bez]]. Hughes Airwest flew routes in the western U.S. and to several destinations in Mexico and Canada; its headquarters were on the grounds of [[San Francisco International Airport]] (SFO) in [[unincorporated area|unincorporated]] [[San Mateo County, California]].<ref>"World Airline Directory." ''[[Flight International]]''. April 28, 1979. [http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1979/1979%20-%201441.html?search=%22Hughes%20Airwest%22 1379].</ref>

With distinctive all-yellow aircraft, the company slogan was ''Top Banana in the West'';<ref name=topban76>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=wCJZAAAAIBAJ&pg=3502,6737762 |newspaper=Deseret News |location=Salt Lake City, Utah)|title=Now, "Top Banana" service|agency=(advertisement)|date=June 29, 1976|page=16A}}</ref><ref name=huwtbad>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=uyJZAAAAIBAJ&pg=6184%2C5208764|newspaper=Deseret News|title=Top Banana in the West|agency=(advertisement)|date=June 22, 1976|page=back}}</ref><ref name=banrno>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3PlLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=7fgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4030%2C114391|work=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=Washington |agency=(advertisement) |title=Go Bananas to Reno|date=March 1, 1977 |page=23}}</ref> Hughes Airwest was purchased by [[Republic Airlines]] in 1980, which in turn was merged into [[Northwest Airlines]] in 1986. Northwest Airlines was then merged into [[Delta Air Lines]] in 2010.<ref name=ratohawoct/><ref name=hrmisn>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=h8heAAAAIBAJ&sjid=XDIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5123%2C5511483 |work=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=Idaho |title=Herman is in, the Big Yellow Banana is out|date=September 30, 1980 |page=1B}}</ref>

== History ==
On April 17, 1968, three earlier [[local service carrier]]s in the western U.S. merged to form '''Air West''':<ref name=awmlc>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8mQhAAAAIBAJ&pg=4770,3404180|newspaper=Tri-City Herald|location=Washington|agency=Associated Press|title=Air West merger legally complete|date=April 18, 1968|page=3}}{{Dead link|date=October 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref><ref name=niaw>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8KVfAAAAIBAJ&pg=5036,5115162 |newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune|location=Idaho|last=Campbell |first=Thomas W. |title=Another merger: now it's Air West |date=April 28, 1968|page=21}}</ref><ref name=stbdet>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=U9hVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=H-EDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4553%2C73591 |work=Eugene Register-Guard |location=Oregon |agency=Associated Press |title=Air West's service said deteriorating |date=October 2, 1968 |page=4A}}</ref>
* '''[[Pacific Air Lines]],''' which previously operated as '''Southwest Airways''' when it was founded in 1941, was based in [[San Francisco]], flew along the coast and California's [[Central Valley (California)|Central Valley]], linking cities from [[Medford, Oregon]], to [[Southern California|southern]] California. Pacific operated [[Boeing 727-100]]s and [[Fairchild F-27]]s in 1968.
* '''[[Bonanza Air Lines]]''' routes reached west from its [[Phoenix, Arizona|Phoenix]] base to southern California and north to [[Las Vegas]], [[Reno, Nevada|Reno]], and [[Salt Lake City]]. Bonanza flew [[Douglas DC-9]]-10s and Fairchild F-27s in 1968, with a DC-9-30 on order, delivered after the merger.
* '''[[West Coast Airlines]],''' based at [[Boeing Field]] in [[Seattle]], served the [[Pacific Northwest]], [[Idaho]], [[Utah]], [[Montana]], and [[Northern California|northern]] California. West Coast operated DC-9-10s, F-27s, and [[Piper Navajo]]s in 1968.

The initial '''Air West''' fleet included Boeing 727-100s, Douglas DC-9s, Fairchild F-27s, and Piper Navajos. The first new addition to the Air West fleet was a McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30, which had been ordered by Bonanza Air&nbsp;Lines.

Hungry for another adventure in the airline industry, [[Trans World Airlines|TWA]]'s former owner [[Howard Hughes]] sought the airline in 1968,<ref name=hmbaw>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=AclOAAAAIBAJ&pg=6917,2603821 |newspaper=Deseret News|location=Salt Lake City, Utah|title=Hughes may buy Air West|agency=UPI|date=August 12, 1968|page=6C}}</ref><ref name=hcwsf>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=avFIAAAAIBAJ&pg=5028,5643083 |newspaper=Youngstown Vindicator|location=Ohio|last=Arnold|first=Patrick|agency=Associated Press|title=Hughes charged with stock fraud|page=1|date=July 31, 1974}}</ref> and the US$90 million deal was finalized in April 1970.<ref name=awpac>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=c2NOAAAAIBAJ&pg=4762,111916|newspaper=Ellensburg Daily Record|location=Washington|agency=UPI|title=Air West purchase almost completed|date=April 2, 1970|page=8}}</ref><ref name=erghcdlg>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bKxVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=POEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5429%2C529044|work=Eugene Register-Guard|location=Oregon|agency=UPI|title=Hughes completes dealings for airline|date=April 3, 1970|page=3A}}</ref><ref name=awtobhu>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gZNYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OvgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4887%2C1368816 |work=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=Washington|agency=Associated Press |title=Air West taken over by Hughes |date=April 4, 1970 |page=2}}</ref> Renamed '''Hughes Air West''', its call sign became "Hughes Air," and the airline expanded to several cities in the western United States, Canada, and Mexico. With the new yellow paint scheme, unveiled in<!--28 --> September 1971, the airline began calling itself '''Hughes Airwest''', two words instead of the initial three.

The airline participated in some movies in the 1970s, notably ''[[The Gauntlet (film)|The Gauntlet]]'' with [[Clint Eastwood]] and [[Sondra Locke]] in [[1977 in film|1977]]. Eastwood's character arrives in Las Vegas from Phoenix on the airline and when he phones the airport for flight departure times, Locke's character sarcastically called the airline, "Air ''Worst''." Also in 1977, the airline was operating service from both Burbank (BUR) and Orange County (SNA) to Denver (DEN) via an interchange flight agreement with the original [[Frontier Airlines (1950–1986)|Frontier Airlines]].<ref>http://www.departedflights.com, 1977 Frontier Airlines Annual Report, route map</ref> Hughes Airwest soon introduced its own jet service to Denver from a number of locations.

Like other local service airlines in the 1970s, Hughes Airwest eliminated many stops and opened longer routes. Service expanded to resorts in Mexico; domestic routes didn't reach east of Utah and Arizona until Denver, Des Moines, Milwaukee, and Houston Hobby Airport were added in 1978. When it ended F-27 turboprop flights in 1979, Hughes Airwest became an all-jet airline with 727-200s, DC-9-10s, and DC-9-30s.

In September [[1979 in aviation|1979]], the airline was grounded for two months by a walkout by their ticket agents, reservations handlers, and office employees, who had been without a contract for over a year.<ref name=awsem>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=I1tOAAAAIBAJ&pg=3870,2548519|newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle|title=Airwest strike effect minimal|date=September 11, 1979|page=5}}</ref><ref name=ntiaws>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=pKtfAAAAIBAJ&pg=6097,5417915|newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune|agency=Associated Press|title=No talks in Airwest strike|date=September 29, 1979|page=2A}}</ref><ref name=hawfras>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_2VJAAAAIBAJ&pg=2737,2413684|newspaper=News and Courier|location=[[Charleston, South Carolina|Charleston, SC]]|agency=Associated Press|title=Hughes Airwest flights resume after strike|date=November 11, 1979|page=2A}}{{Dead link|date=October 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> During 1979, several airlines showed interest in buying Hughes Airwest, including [[Alaska Airlines|Alaska]] and [[Allegheny Airlines|Allegheny]], with the latter soon becoming [[US Airways|USAir]].<ref name=aweots>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=UspeAAAAIBAJ&pg=2244,42763|newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune|agency=Associated Press|title=Airwest entertains offers to sell|date=October 1, 1979 |page=1B}}</ref> The strike was resolved in late October and flights resumed in November. Four months later they were the target of a buyout by [[Republic Airlines]],<ref name=reloaaw>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ImcaAAAAIBAJ&pg=6372,680158|newspaper=Milwaukee Journal|agency=(Los Angeles Times)|title=Republic looking at Airwest|date=March 12, 1980|page=17}}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> which was finalized on October 1, 1980, for $38.5 million.<ref name=ratohawoct/><ref name=mwsnt>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=TYBQAAAAIBAJ&pg=5524%2C2361030 |work=Milwaukee Sentinel |agency=UPI |title=Republic Airlines get CAB approval for Hughes merger |date=September 13, 1980 |page=7, part 2 }}{{Dead link|date=October 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref><ref name=hnc>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=nU9OAAAAIBAJ&pg=4904,125218 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review|title=Hughes name changes|agency=Associated Press|date=October 1, 1980|page=A23}}</ref> [[Minneapolis]]-based Republic had formed in July 1979 via the merger of [[North Central Airlines]] and [[Southern Airways]], the first under [[Airline Deregulation Act|airline deregulation]].<ref name=ncsamok>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZHlQAAAAIBAJ&pg=3952,818124|newspaper=Milwaukee Sentinel|agency=UPI|title=North Central, Southern Airlines merger gets final OK from Carter|date=June 5, 1979|page=5-part 2}}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name=ppokm>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=wY4qAAAAIBAJ&sjid=JVwEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4391%2C2298202|newspaper=Pittsburgh Press|agency=UPI |title=Carter okays airline merger |date=June 5, 1979|page=A-14}}</ref><ref name=yvapokm>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1KNJAAAAIBAJ&sjid=eIQMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6212%2C2083038 |newspaper=Youngstown Vindicator |location=Ohio|agency=Associated Press |title=Carter okays merger of 2 airlines |date=June 5, 1979|page=21}}</ref>

Republic was acquired by [[Northwest Airlines]] in [[1986 in aviation|1986]],<ref name=nrmctlc>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=U_4lAAAAIBAJ&pg=4195%2C133082|newspaper=Miami News|agency=Associated Press|title=Northwest-Republic merger creates third-largest carrier|date=August 1, 1986|page=9A}}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name=twoair>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=x3ozAAAAIBAJ&pg=5454,87554|newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard|title=Two airlines get approval for merger|date=August 1, 1986|page=1C }}</ref> which [[Delta Air Lines-Northwest Airlines merger|merged]] into [[Delta Air Lines]] in [[2010 in aviation|2010]].

{| class=wikitable style="text-align:center"
|+ Revenue Passenger-Miles (Millions)
|+(Sched Service Only)
|-
! !! Pacific/RW !! Bonanza !! West Coast !! Empire
|- 
! scope="row" | 1951
| 26 || 7 || 11 || 9
|- 
! scope="row" | 1955
| 47 || 23 || 35 || (merged WC)
|- 
! scope="row" | 1960
| 103 || 64 || 93
|- 
! scope="row" | 1965
| 138 || 170 || 122
|- 
! scope="row" | 1970
| 893 || colspan=2|(merged 1968)
|- 
! scope="row" | 1975
| 1497
|}

==Corporate affairs==
[[File:AW9 Air West (5920250419) (2).jpg|thumb|The Air West color scheme prior to conversion to Sundance Yellow and Universal Blue]]
[[File:Hughes Airwest McDonnell Douglas DC-9-31 Silagi-1.jpg|thumb|Hughes Airwest DC-9s in 1979]]
The original headquarters were in two buildings in downtown [[San Mateo, California]], on the San Francisco [[San Francisco Peninsula|peninsula]].

Its new headquarters were located in San Mateo.<ref>''Standard & Poor's Register of Corporations, Directors and Executives, Volume 3''. [[Standard & Poor's]], 1976. p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=zucVAQAAMAAJ&q=%22Hughes+Airwest%22+%22Clearview+Way%22 638]. "Hughes Air Corp d/b/a Hughes Airwest Airlines, 3125 Clearview Way, San Mateo, Cal."</ref> The airline scheduled the move to a new headquarters in late August<!-- 25–28,--> 1973; the complex was on a hill overlooking San Mateo and San Francisco Bay. The airline relocated two departments from the offices at San Francisco International Airport: flight control and reservations.<ref>"[http://www.hughesairwest.com/PDF/73-newsletter-aug.pdf 'Big Move' under way to new international headquarters in San Mateo]." ([https://web.archive.org/web/20140202195740/http://www.hughesairwest.com/PDF/73-newsletter-aug.pdf Archive]) ''Hughes Airwest'' newsletter. August 1973. Vol. 5, No. 8. p. 1.</ref>

=== Livery ===
Hughes Airwest's planes were recognizable by their banana-yellow fuselage and tail colors.<ref>Hughes promoted their new colors as "Sundance Yellow" and "Universe Blue."  The blue has sometimes been described as purple, but this is an optical illusion when viewed on the yellow expanse of aircraft hull.  Since these were not standards-compliant color names, the exact color values are uncertain, and can only be approximated by examining color photographs of Hughes Airwest aircraft.</ref> Their airplanes were often dubbed "flying bananas" and the airline launched an advertising campaign with the catchphrase "Top [[Banana]] in the West."<ref name=topban76/><ref name=huwtbad/><ref name=banrno/><ref>{{cite journal|journal=AOPA Pilot|date=July 2011}}</ref> Most nicknames given to Hughes Airwest airplanes in aviation books and magazines have to do with bananas. Apart from their all-yellow scheme, the airplanes also featured a blue logo on the [[vertical stabilizer]] (tail) that resembled three [[Rhombus|diamonds]] connected (possibly a reference to the initials of Howard Hughes). The name ''Hughes Airwest'', in stylized lettering, was featured unconventionally ''below'' the front passenger windows.

This [[aircraft livery|livery]] was devised by the [[southern California]] design firm of [[Mario Armond Zamparelli]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.marioarmondzamparelli.com/html/awards.html|title=Mario Armond Zamparelli|access-date=January 19, 2011|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304004126/http://www.marioarmondzamparelli.com/html/awards.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.marioarmondzamparelli.com/html/P2-1.html|title=Mario Armond Zamparelli|access-date=January 19, 2011|archive-date=March 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305063011/http://marioarmondzamparelli.com/html/p2-1.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> following the crash of [[Hughes Airwest Flight 706|Flight 706]] in June 1971, caused by a [[mid-air collision]] with a [[United States Marine Corps|U.S. Marine Corps]] [[F-4 Phantom II|F-4B]] jet fighter near [[Duarte, California|Duarte]], California.<ref name=lajcia>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=L_9JAAAAIBAJ&pg=3342,1566932|newspaper=Modesto Bee|agency=Associated Press|title=L.A. jetliner, fighter crash in air; 50 die|date=June 7, 1971|page=A-1}}{{Dead link|date=October 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref><ref name =ahu>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZYBfAAAAIBAJ&pg=6306%2C1562101|newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune|agency=Associated Press|title='Airliner hit us,' survivor says after mid-air collision|date=June 8, 1971|page=6}}</ref><!-- The company thought the plane's all-white fuselage, now called "Eurowhite," was a contributing factor,--> In late 1971, the company launched a new marketing campaign which included new colors and repainted planes.<ref name=awmkclch>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dMkdAAAAIBAJ&pg=5314%2C6199169|newspaper=Deseret News|title=Airwest makes colorful changes|date=October 27, 1971|page=B-5}}</ref><ref name=prfsbnw>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1338&dat=19711122&id=CLwzAAAAIBAJ&pg=6914,2071410|newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle|title=Profit seen by Airwest|date=November 22, 1971|page=5}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://newspaper.twinfallspubliclibrary.org/files/Times-News_TF284/PDF/1971_11_26.pdf|newspaper=(Twin Falls, ID) Times-News|title=Airwest unveils bright new look|date=November 26, 1971|page=7|access-date=January 12, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304001655/http://newspaper.twinfallspubliclibrary.org/files/Times-News_TF284/PDF/1971_11_26.pdf|archive-date=March 4, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><!--{{citation needed|date=April 2011}}--> The cabin windows also had a metallized [[PET film (biaxially oriented)|PET film]] coating originally,<ref name=huawoc71>{{cite web|url=http://www.hughesairwest.com/PDF/71-newsletter-oct.pdf|publisher=Hughes Air Corp. (co. newsletter)|title=New look is first step in '72 marketing program|date=October 1971|page=1}}</ref> but this proved too costly to maintain. Zamparelli also designed the uniforms of the [[flight attendant]]s in the new colors, primarily in Sundance Yellow trimmed with Universe Blue.<ref name=alnewstrun>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=MvAjAAAAIBAJ&pg=5473%2C2952345 |work=Spokesman-Review |location=Spokane, Washington |agency=(photo) |title=Airlines new stewardess uniforms |date=November 23, 1971 |page=26 }}</ref><ref name=pfphawu>{{cite web|url=http://www.museumofflight.org/pre-flight-primp|publisher=Museum of Flight|title=Pre-flight Primp: Hughes Airwest Flight Attendant Uniforms|access-date=January 11, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140615070203/http://www.museumofflight.org/pre-flight-primp|archive-date=June 15, 2014}}</ref>

After the sale in October 1980 the all-yellow paint scheme was gradually replaced by Republic's white with blue and green trim. Aircraft tails bore Republic's flying [[mallard]], "Herman the Duck."<ref name=hrmisn/><ref name=hnc/>

== Fleet ==
Air West and Hughes Airwest operated the following aircraft types at various times during their existence:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://aerobernie.bplaced.net/Air%20West.html|title=Air West fleet|website=aerobernie.bplaced.net|access-date=February 20, 2021}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em auto; text-align:center"
|+ Hughes Airwest fleet
|-
!Aircraft
!Total
!Introduced
!Retired
!Notes
|-
|[[Boeing 727-193]] 
|3 
|1968
|1972
|
|-
|[[Boeing 727-200]]
|11
|1976
|1980
|
|-
|[[Douglas C-47A Skytrain]]
|7
|1968
|1969
|
|-
|[[McDonnell Douglas DC-9-14]]
|5
|1970
|1980
|
|-
|[[McDonnell Douglas DC-9|McDonnell Douglas DC-9-15RC]]
|12
|1973
|1980
|
|-
|[[McDonnell Douglas DC-9-31]]
|30
|1970
|1980
|
|-
|[[McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32]]
|2
|1971
|1980
|
|-
|[[Fairchild F-27]]
|34
|1968
|1980
|
|-
|[[Piper PA-31 Navajo]]
|4
|1968
|1970
|
|}

== Destinations ==

===Air West in July 1968===
This is a list of destinations taken from the Air West system timetable dated July 1, 1968, when the merger to form Air West became effective.<ref>http://www.timetableimages.com, July 1, 1986, Air West system timetable</ref> Cities served with jets are noted in '''bold'''. Air West was operating [[Boeing 727-100]], [[Douglas DC-9-10]], and [[McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30]] jets, as well as [[Fairchild F-27]] turboprops and small [[Piper Navajo]] twin props at this time. The majority of the destinations on this list that did not have jet service were served with [[Fairchild F-27]] twin turboprops.

ARIZONA:

* Grand Canyon (GCN<!--, Grand Canyon National Park Airport-->)
* Kingman (IGM)
* Page (PGA)
* '''Phoenix''' (PHX): [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]] - '''Hub'''
* Prescott (PRC)
* '''Tucson''' (TUS)
* Yuma (YUM)

CALIFORNIA:
{|
|
* Bakersfield (BFL)
* Blythe (BLH)
* '''Burbank''' (BUR): [[Bob Hope Airport]]
* Chico (CIC)
* Crescent City (CEC)
* El Centro (IPL)
* '''Eureka/Arcata''' (ACV)
* '''Fresno''' (FAT)
* Inyokern (IYK)
* Lake Tahoe (TVL)
* Long Beach (LGB): [[Long Beach Airport]]
|
* '''Los Angeles''' (LAX): [[Los Angeles International Airport]] - '''Hub'''
* Marysville/Yuba City (MYV)
* '''Monterey''' (MRY)
* Oakland (OAK): [[Oakland International Airport]]
* Ontario (ONT): [[Ontario International Airport]]
* Oxnard/Ventura (OXR)
* Palmdale/Lancaster (WJF)
* Palm Springs (PSP)
* Paso Robles/San Luis Obispo (PRB)
* Redding/Red Bluff (RDD)
* Riverside (RAL)
|
* Sacramento (SMF)
* '''San Diego''' (SAN): [[Lindbergh Field]]
* '''San Francisco''' (SFO): [[San Francisco International Airport]] - '''Hub''' & '''airline headquarters'''
* '''San Jose''' (SJC): [[Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport]]
* '''Santa Ana''' aka Orange County (SNA): [[John Wayne Airport]]
* '''Santa Barbara''' (SBA): [[Santa Barbara Municipal Airport]]
* Santa Maria (SMX)
* Santa Rosa (STS)
* Stockton (SCK)
* Vandenberg Air Force Base (VBG)
|}
IDAHO:

* '''Boise''' (BOI) - '''Hub'''
* Burley/Rupert (BYI)
* Idaho Falls (IDA)
* Lewiston (LWS)
* Pocatello (PIH)
* Twin Falls (TWF)
* Sun Valley/Hailey/Ketchum (SUN)

MONTANA:

* Great Falls (GTF)
* Kalispell (FCA)

NEVADA:

* '''Las Vegas''' (LAS): [[McCarran International Airport]] - '''Hub'''
* '''Reno''' (RNO)

OREGON:
{|
|
* Albany/Corvallis (CVO)
* Astoria/Seaside (AST)
* Baker (BKE)
* '''Eugene''' (EUG)
* Klamath Falls (LMT)
* '''Medford''' (MFR)
|
* North Bend/Coos Bay (OTH)
* Ontario (ONO)
* '''Portland''' (PDX): [[Portland International Airport]] - '''Hub'''
* Redmond/Bend (RDM)
* Roseburg (RBG)
|}
UTAH:

* Cedar City (CDC)
* '''Salt Lake City''' (SLC): [[Salt Lake City International Airport]] - '''Hub'''

WASHINGTON:
{|
|
* Aberdeen/Hoquiam (HQM)
* Ephrata/Moses Lake (EPH)
* Olympia (OLH)
* '''Pasco/Kennewick/Richland''' (PSC<!--, Tri-Cities Airport-->)
* Pullman (PUW)
* '''Seattle''' (SEA): [[Seattle-Tacoma Airport]] - '''Hub'''
|
* '''Spokane''' (GEG)
* Tacoma (TIW)
* Walla Walla (ALW)
* Wenatchee (EAT)
* '''Yakima''' (YKM)
|}
CANADA:

* Calgary, Alberta (YYC): [[Calgary International Airport]]

MEXICO:

* '''La Paz''' (LAP)
* '''Mazatlan''' (MZT)
* '''Puerto Vallarta''' (PVR)
* '''Guadalajara''' (GDL)
* '''Guaymas''' (GYM)

=== Hughes Airwest in September 1980 ===
In 1980, Hughes Airwest was an all-jet airline operating [[Boeing 727-200]], [[Douglas DC-9-10]], and [[McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30]] aircraft. The <!--1980-->timetable for September&nbsp;1 lists service to:<ref>http://www.departedflights.com, September 1, 1980, Hughes Airwest system timetable</ref>

ARIZONA:

* Grand Canyon (GCN<!--, Grand Canyon National Park Airport-->)
* '''Phoenix''' (PHX): [[Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport]] - '''Hub'''
* Tucson (TUS)

CALIFORNIA:
{|
|
* Burbank (BUR): [[Bob Hope Airport]]
* Eureka/Arcata
* Fresno
* '''Los Angeles''' (LAX): [[Los Angeles International Airport]] - '''Hub'''
* Oakland (OAK): [[Oakland International Airport]]
* Ontario (ONT): [[Ontario International Airport]]
* Palm Springs
|
* Redding/Red Bluff
* Sacramento
* San Diego (SAN): [[Lindbergh Field]]
* '''San Francisco''' (SFO): [[San Francisco International Airport]] - '''Hub''' & '''airline headquarters'''
* San Jose (SJC): [[Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport]]
* Santa Ana aka Orange County (SNA): [[John Wayne Airport]]
|}
COLORADO:

* Denver (DEN): [[Stapleton International Airport]]

IDAHO:

* '''Boise''' (BOI) - '''Hub'''
* Idaho Falls
* Lewiston
* Pocatello
* Twin Falls

IOWA:

* Des Moines

MONTANA:

* Kalispell

NEVADA:

* '''Las Vegas''' (LAS): [[McCarran International Airport]] - '''Hub'''
* Reno

OREGON:

* Eugene
* Klamath Falls
* Portland (PDX): [[Portland International Airport]]
* Redmond/Bend

TEXAS:

* Houston (HOU): [[William P. Hobby Airport]]

UTAH:

* '''Salt Lake City''' (SLC): [[Salt Lake City International Airport]] - '''Hub'''

WASHINGTON:

* Pasco/Kennewick/Richland (Tri-Cities Airport)
* '''Seattle''' (SEA): [[Seattle-Tacoma International Airport]] - '''Hub'''
* Spokane
* Yakima

WISCONSIN:

* Milwaukee

CANADA:

* Calgary, Alberta (YYC): [[Calgary International Airport]]
* Edmonton, Alberta (YEG): [[Edmonton International Airport]]

MEXICO:

* Manzanillo
* Mazatlan
* Puerto Vallarta

==Accidents and incidents==
===1971 – Flight 706===
{{Main|Hughes Airwest Flight 706}}
On the evening of Sunday, June 6, 1971,<!--Hughes Airwest--> Flight 706, a [[McDonnell Douglas DC-9#Series 30 subvariants|Douglas DC-9-31]] [[Mid-air collision|collided in mid-air]] with a [[United States Marine Corps Aviation|U.S. Marine Corps]] [[McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II|F-4B]] [[Fighter aircraft|fighter]] over [[southern California]] near [[Duarte, California|Duarte]]. All 49 on the airliner and the F-4 pilot were killed; the sole survivor was the F-4 [[Naval flight officer|radar intercept officer]]. Flight 706 had departed [[Los Angeles International Airport|Los Angeles]] for [[Seattle–Tacoma International Airport|Seattle]], with five intermediate stops, the first in [[Salt Lake City International Airport|Salt Lake City]].

===1972 – Flight 800 hijacking===
Two months after the [[Aircraft hijacking|hijacking]] by [[D. B. Cooper]] of [[Northwest Airlines|Northwest Orient]] flight 305, Hughes Airwest was the target of a [[Copycat crime|copycat]] hijacker in early 1972.<ref name="ctnsjal">{{cite news |date=January 21, 1972 |title=Nab skyjacker after leap |page=1, sec. 1 |work=Chicago Tribune |agency=Associated Press |url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1972/01/21/page/1/article/nab-skyjacker-after-leap}}</ref><ref name="hjcapoc">{{cite news |date=January 21, 1972 |title=Hijacker caught after parachuting over Colorado with $50,000 in cash |page=1 |newspaper=Lewiston Daily Sun |agency=Associated Press |location=Maine |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=M5UgAAAAIBAJ&pg=1442%2C2185479}}</ref><ref name="dethfls">{{cite news |date=January 21, 1972 |title=This hijacker fails |page=A1 |work=Deseret News |agency=UPI |location=Salt Lake City, Utah |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=mdZjAAAAIBAJ&pg=6620%2C4063000}}</ref> After boarding Flight 800 at [[McCarran International Airport|McCarran]] airport in [[Las Vegas]] in late morning on Thursday, January 20, 23-year-old Richard Charles LaPoint claimed he had a bomb while the plane was on the taxiway and demanded $50,000 cash, two [[parachute]]s, and a helmet.<ref name="skycod">{{cite news |last=Miniclier |first=Kit |date=January 21, 2001 |title=Skyjacker a Colorado oddity? |newspaper=Denver Post |url=http://extras.denverpost.com/news/news0121g.htm |url-status=dead |access-date=February 16, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140424062530/http://extras.denverpost.com/news/news0121g.htm |archive-date=April 24, 2014}}</ref> When these demands were met, 51 [[Reno, Nevada|Reno]]-bound passengers and two flight attendants were released; the DC-9 departed eastward toward [[Denver]], followed by two [[General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark|F-111]] aircraft of the [[United States Air Force|U.S. Air Force]] from nearby [[Nellis Air Force Base|Nellis AFB]].<ref name="parhjcap">{{cite news |last=Taylor |first=Daniel L. |date=January 21, 1972 |title=Parachutist hijacker captured |page=3A |newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard |agency=UPI |location=Oregon |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=wthVAAAAIBAJ&pg=6730%2C4283362}}</ref> The parachutes were high-visibility and equipped with emergency locator devices.

Without a coat and in [[cowboy boot]]s, the hijacker bailed out from the lower aft door over the treeless plains of [[Eastern Plains|northeastern]] [[Colorado]] in mid-afternoon. LaPoint was apprehended a few hours later,<ref name="dethfls" /><ref name="chhijcbp">{{cite news |date=January 21, 1972 |title=Chuting hijacker caught by police |page=1 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |agency=Associated Press |location=Spokane, Washington |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=je9LAAAAIBAJ&pg=6586%2C1917285}}</ref> with minor injuries and very cold.<ref name="skycod" /><ref name="hi50j">{{cite news |date=January 21, 1972 |title=Hijacker with $50,000 loot captured after bailing out |page=1 |newspaper=Milwaukee Journal |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=P_IdAAAAIBAJ&pg=2850%2C8504 }}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name="hftbj">{{cite news |date=January 21, 1972 |title=Hijacker foiled; tracked by jets |page=19 |newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle |agency=Associated Press |location=Washington |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=CLVYAAAAIBAJ&pg=5884%2C1649602}}</ref> The plane, with two pilots and a flight attendant on board, landed safely at Denver's [[Stapleton International Airport|Stapleton]] airport at 2:55&nbsp;p.m. [[Mountain Time Zone|MST]].<ref name="hjcapoc" /> Facing potential [[Capital punishment|death penalty]] charges for [[Aircraft hijacking|air piracy]],<ref name="hfhwob">{{cite news |date=January 22, 1972 |title=Hijack figure held without bail |page=1 |newspaper=Lewiston Morning Tribune |agency=Associated Press |location=Idaho |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_bdeAAAAIBAJ&pg=4216,4324876}}</ref> the [[Vietnam veteran]] and former [[United States Army|U.S. Army]] [[paratrooper]]<ref name="ctchapr">{{cite news |date=January 22, 1972 |title=Ex-paratrooper is charged with piracy in hijack bid |page=5, sec. 1 |work=Chicago Tribune |agency=Associated Press |url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1972/01/22/page/21/article/ex-paratrooper-is-charged-with-piracy-in-hijack-bid}}</ref> was sentenced to forty years, but served less than eight, and was released from a [[halfway house]] in 1979;<ref name="skycod" /> he died at age 60 in his native [[New Hampshire]] in 2008.

== See also ==
* [[List of defunct airlines of the United States]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.hughesairwest.com/ Hughes Airwest enthusiast site]&nbsp;&mdash; hughesairwest.com
* [https://digitalcollections.museumofflight.org/nodes/view/27708 Hughes Airwest | Museum of Flight Digital Collections]

{{Portal bar|San Francisco Bay Area|Companies|Aviation}}
{{Delta Air Lines}}
{{Legacy carrier}}
{{U.S. airlines of the regulated era (1938–1978)|state=collapsed}}
{{Airlines of the United States|state=collapsed}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Hughes Airwest| ]]
[[Category:Airlines established in 1968]]
[[Category:Airlines disestablished in 1980]]
[[Category:Defunct airlines of the United States]]
[[Category:Howard Hughes]]
[[Category:Defunct companies based in the San Francisco Bay Area]]
[[Category:1980 disestablishments in California]]
[[Category:1968 establishments in California]]
[[Category:Airlines based in California]]