Air California, later AirCal, began as an intrastate regional airline operating mainline turboprop and then jet aircraft. The air carrier served points in the state of California and in later years a number of destinations in neighboring U.S. states. The system eventually included service to Chicago, Seattle, Anchorage, Alaska and Vancouver, British Columbia. It was founded by a partnership of Orange County businessmen as an alternative to other airlines and what was left of the state's passenger railroad system. The airline's initial route as of their January 1967 debut was between Orange County Airport (SNA) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO), a previously unserved route, using Lockheed L-188 Electra four engine turboprop airliners. Air California was headquartered in Newport Beach, California.. The airline's "home" airport over the years was Orange County Airport which is now known as John Wayne Airport.
Famous quotes containing the words air and/or california:
“As in hoary winter’s night stood shivering in the snow,
Surprised I was with sudden heat which made my heart to glow;
And lifting up a fearful eye to view what fire was near,
A pretty Babe all burning bright did in the air appear;”
—Robert Southwell (1561?–1595)
“I can’t earn my own living. I could never make anything turn into money. It’s like making fires. A careful assortment of paper, shavings, faggots and kindling nicely tipped with pitch will never light for me. I have never been present when a cigarette butt, extinct, thrown into a damp and isolated spot, started a conflagration in the California woods.”
—Margaret Anderson (1886–1973)