View source for Sunbird Airlines

'''Sunbird Airlines''' was a United States airline founded by Ralph Quinlan in [[Denver, North Carolina]] on {{Start date and age|1979|11|15|p=y}}.

Operating the [[Cessna 402]], and later the [[Cessna 404]] aircraft, the company shared equipment, operations, maintenance and facilities with parent company [[Mountain Air Cargo]] founded by Ralph Quinlan. In 1983, Sunbird acquired the [[Beechcraft C99]] turboprop aircraft, and was the launch customer for the -C model (larger baggage pod, etc.). Also in 1983, '''Mountain Air''' acquired '''Atlanta Express''', and merged this operation with that of Sunbird.

Sunbird was only marginally successful those initial years, managing only because of the shared facilities of the parent. Through the various cycles of the parent company, the decision was made in late 1983 to [[divest]] the Sunbird operation to Roy Hagerty. Mr Hagerty had financing, and previous airline experience, he being one of the creators of [[Southeastern Airlines]]. That company later was absorbed into the company now known as [[Atlantic Southeast Airlines]]. On the completion of the Sunbird purchase, Hagerty moved the entire Sunbird operation to the [[Charlotte/Douglas International Airport]] in [[Charlotte, NC]].

Under the period of Hagerty ownership, the company was known as Sunbird Airlines 1984, Inc. With the Hagerty leadership, a program of aggressive growth began. New cities were added, and the acquisition of [[Short 330]] aircraft began. In 1985, a code-sharing agreement was reached with [[Piedmont Airlines]] for Sunbird to begin operations as [[Piedmont Commuter]] at the Charlotte Piedmont hub on or about May 1, 1985. At this time, the "Sunbird" radio callsign was lost to history, and the Sunbird/Piedmont Commuter flights were under the "Carolina" call. On or about {{Start date and age|1986|02|15|p=y}}, the company was renamed [[CCAir]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Airlines of USA N-Z |url=http://www.aerofiles.com/airlines-nz.html |access-date=2024-06-01 |website=www.aerofiles.com}}</ref>

==Destinations==
<ref>[http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/ed.htm Sunbird Airlines (1)<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://www.airtimes.com/cgat/usa/misc/c/ccair/gal/edgal.htm CC Air Timetable Image Gallery<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
{{div col}}
* [[Asheville, North Carolina]]
* [[Athens, Georgia]]
* [[Atlanta, Georgia]]
* [[Charlotte, North Carolina]]
* [[Columbia, South Carolina]]
* [[Durham, North Carolina]]
* [[Fayetteville, North Carolina]]
* [[Florence, South Carolina]]
* [[Greenville, North Carolina]]
* [[Hickory, North Carolina]]
* [[Hilton Head Island, South Carolina]]
* [[Jacksonville, Florida]]
* [[Kinston, North Carolina]]
* [[Norfolk, Virginia]]
* [[Raleigh, North Carolina]]
* [[Richmond, Virginia]]
* [[Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina]]
* [[Rocky Mount, North Carolina]]
* [[Tri-Cities, Tennessee]]
* [[Wilson, North Carolina]]
* [[Winston-Salem, North Carolina]]
{{div col end}}

==Fleet==
* 10 Beechcraft C99 Airliner
*  3 BAe Jetstream31
*  1 Short SD-330<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://rzjets.net/operators/?show=307|title=Sunbird Airlines|website=rzjets.net}}</ref>

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

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://midamericajet.com/private-jet-charters/nashville-tn/ Private Jet Charters]

{{Portal bar|United States|Companies|Aviation}}
{{Airlines of the United States|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:Airlines established in 1979]]
[[Category:Airlines disestablished in 1987]]
[[Category:Airlines based in North Carolina]]
[[Category:Defunct airlines of the United States]]