THE AIRPORTS

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

MONTEREY

MRY

Located about 90 miles south of San Francisco along the central California coast, Monterey is a city rich in history and tourism. The defining feature of the Monterey region is the large bay and rugged coastline that continues to draw visitors and seasonal residents. The original Monterey Airport (Del Monte) was opened in 1936, and airline service was started in the early 1940s by United Airlines as a stop on its Fresno-San Francisco service using Douglas DC-3 aircraft. In 1947, Southwest Airways started flights into the airport between Coalinga and Santa Cruz as a stop on it's multi-stop, Los Angeles-San Francisco service also using Douglas DC-3s. In 1958, Southwest Airways became Pacific Airlines and a year later in 1959, turboprop service was introduced when Pacific Airlines started service using "Jet Hawk" Fokker F-27 airplanes from Monterey to Santa Barbara and San Francisco. In 1966, pure jet service was started by Pacific Air Lines to both Los Angeles and San Francisco using Boeing 727 airliners. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Monterey would host numerous commuter airlines as well as regional carriers that would cater to the growing demand of air service on the Monterey Peninsula. Some of these airlines lasted months while other continued to fly into the local airport for years.

 

October 1968* In April 1968, a merger between Pacific Air Lines, Bonanza Air Lines, and West Coast Airlines resulted in the formation of Air West. Pacific Air Lines was initially formed as Southwest Airways which had been the original airline operator into Monterey airport during 1947. The "new" Air West would continue to provide flights into the airport with service from both Los Angeles and San Francisco using the Douglas DC-9. Although Bonanza did not operate into Monterey with the merger it took some time to repaint all the aircraft into the Air West colors and hence although operating under Air West, this Douglas DC-9-14, N949L, is still in the previous owners paint scheme as it taxis out for an afternoon departure.

 

October 1972 Hughes Airwest assumed operations into Monterey from previous operator Air West which had been the result of a merger between three carriers including Pacific Air Lines in 1968. Hughes Airwest continued to provide "jet" service to the airport and by 1972 was providing daily service from Monterey to San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Fresno. Having just landed and in reverse thrust on Runway 28 Left is N9340, a Douglas DC-9-31, originally delivered to predecessor Air West in April 1969, and wearing the striking yellow "banana" color scheme.

 

 

June 1974 United Airlines was the first airlines to start passenger service into Monterey Airport (Del Monte Airport) in the early 1940s, as a stop on its Los Angeles-San Francisco "Coastal" service using Douglas DC-3s. Convair 340 "Mainliner" equipment was then used throughout the late 1950s and into the 1960s until jet service was started in 1968 using Boeing 737s. The new jet service was a welcome addition to the airport and passengers alike with shorter flight times and the modern conveniences of the jet age. Having the integral air-stairs being stowed and getting ready to taxi away from the terminal is N9022U "City of Grand Rapids," a Boeing 737-222.

 

 

September 1975 Although Sierra Pacific Airlines was a scheduled commuter carrier within California, Monterey was not a scheduled destination, however the airlines, Convair 580's were occasionally seen at Monterey during charter or contract military flights especially for adjacent Ford Ord and the Presidio of Monterey. Parked on the ramp is N73301, a Convair 580.

 

 

February 1976 Taking off from Runway 28 Left enroute to San Francisco International Airport and wearing the patriotic "Friendship" colors is N7421U, a Boeing 727-22C, delivered new to United Airlines in May 1967.

 

 

November 1976 United Airlines remained the largest carrier from Monterey well into the 1970s with frequent daily flights to both Los Angeles and San Francisco. Although the Boeing 737 was typically used on flights into Monterey due to its lower capacity, the Boeing 727 and Douglas DC-8s occasionally supplemented the 737 during the 1970s. The DC-8 seemed a rather odd type for the relatively short "hop" to San Francisco, only 70 miles to the northeast, however the plane was used at times on the Chicago-San Francisco-Monterey through service. For a few years in the early 1980s, United expanded its presence at the airport and even started non-stop service to both Denver and Chicago, both of which lasted only a very short time. Seen taxiing outbound for a morning flight to San Francisco is N8005U, "Capt. W.D. Williams," a Douglas DC-8-21 originally delivered to the airline in June 1959, and named after the Assistant Chief Pilot of United Airlines in the 1930s.

 

 

April 1978 The Monterey Peninsula was home to three important military installations; Fort Ord, Presidio of Monterey and the U.S. Navy Postgraduate School. Due to the various military requirements, a frequent visitor to the Monterey Airport was the US Air Force C-9 "Nightingale" aircraft. The C-9 was the military variant of the popular Douglas DC-9 aircraft and was ordered by the Air Force in 1967 as a replacement to the C-118 "Liftmaster" and C-131 "Samaritan" propeller driven planes. The C-9 was specifically designed to carry both ambulatory and litter patients for the Air Mobility Command as the primary airframe for both medical transportation and evacuation. The first of eight initially ordered planes was delivered in 1968, and assigned to the 375th Aeromedical Airlift Wing from Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. For the next thirty years, the Air Force C-9s were the foundation of aeromedical flights within the U.S. Air Force. On its takeoff roll on Runway 28 Left is 68-10960, a Douglas C-9A "Nightingale" (DC-9-32CF), assigned to the 375th Air Mobility Wing, Scott Air Force Base and delivered new to the U.S. Air Force in December 1969.

 

 

July 1978 Pacific Southwest Airlines (PSA) sought to provide service to Monterey in the early 1970s. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) was reluctant to approve a service application for PSA because the seaside resort city was already being served by long-time tenants United Airlines and Hughes Airwest. United caught wind of the proposed PSA route application and threatened to pull out of Monterey completely if PSA was allowed "in." Although Monterey was considered more a "tourist" destination rather then a "business" destination due to its surrounding venues such as Big Sur and Pebble Beach Golf Course, United was adamant to maintaining its virtual monopoly at the airport. After four years of hearings and a vote of the citizens of Monterey, PSA was finally granted service in June 1978, with flights to Monterey from both San Francisco and Los Angeles using the Boeing 727. Monterey would be the thirteenth California city to be served by PSA. Although the flights into Monterey were initially popular with PSA's successful ads campaigns, the competition with United Airlines in the relatively "light" market and need to place aircraft onto more lucrative routes, resulted in PSA dropping Monterey service less then a year later in May 1979. PSA would again add Monterey as a destination on its route map in 1986. Preparing to depart the ramp at the Monterey Peninsula Airport for a mid-day flight is N977PS, a Boeing 727-51, originally delivered to Northwest Orient Airlines in March 1965.

 

 

November 1978 Evergreen International Airlines commenced operations in November 1975 as a contract freight operator based in McMinnville, Oregon. The airline was an early operator for U.S. military cargo and freight flights and used Lockheed Electra's for the service. Because of its location near the various military establishments, Monterey Regional Airport occasionally hosted Evergreens, trademark green striped aircraft. Parked on the tarmac and awaiting its next contract service is N7137C, a Lockheed L-188 Electra-A, originally delivered to Western Airlines in July 1959.

 

 

February 1980* Air Pacific was the new name of Eureka Aero Commuter after deregulation in 1978. The new commuter airline provided flights from San Francisco to points in Northern California. In early 1980, businessman Justin Colin decided to purchase both Gem State Airlines of Idaho and Air Pacific and merge the two to form Golden Gate Airlines in March 1980. Parked on the ramp during initial merger activities is N27AP "City of Bakersfield," a de Havilland DHC-7-102 "Dash 7."

 

 

April 1980* Just after the merger between Gem State Airlines and Air Pacific, the headquarters for the new Golden Gate Airlines was Monterey. With a mixed fleet of Swearingen Metroliners, de Havilland DHC-6, and DHC-7, and the Convair CV-580, the new owner quickly placed the "new" airline name on the existing as the repainting process would take time. Seen taxiing out for an afternoon departure and wearing the Gem State Airlines colors with "Golden Gate" lettering on the nose, is N103GS, a Swearingen SA226-TC Metro II, delivered new to Gem State Airlines on December 15, 1978.

 

 

June 1980 Air California throughout the 1970s continued to consider secondary airports in which to add to it's growing network. Monterey was one such airport and authority was granted and flights started in July 1978, with services to San Francisco, Orange County, Sacramento and Ontario. Although the airline was competing directly with United and Hughes Airwest especially on the San Francisco route, Air California gave travelers another option of service as well as convenient flights into two of the Southern California satellite airports. Preparing to depart the terminal ramp area for another flight is N462GB, a Boeing 737-293, which was delivered to the airline on September 18, 1968.

 

 

March 1981 Regional commuter Apollo Airways started operation in 1969, as an air-taxi operator from a Santa Barbara base. Commuter services were started in 1975, with new Handley-Page Jetstream turboprops. Service to Monterey was started in 1980 with flights to both Santa Barbara and San Jose. Seen parked on the terminal ramp and getting ready to start its engines for another regional flight is N14234, a Handley-Page HP.137 Jetstream Mk. I.

 

 

June 1981 Golden Gate Airlines was the result of a merger between Gem State Airlines and Air Pacific in 1980, and had its base of operations moved to Monterey. Using a variety of equipment the airline eventually flew to six California cities from Monterey including flights to Los Angeles, Sacramento, and San Francisco. In 1981, the after the purchase of San Luis Obispo based Swift Aire, the airline suffered financial difficulties and filed for bankruptcy in August 1981. Seen taxiing inbound to the terminal after a regional flight is N701GG, a de Havilland DHC-7-102, delivered new to Golden Gate Airlines just a month earlier in May 1981.

 

 

February 1983 Orange County based Golden West Airlines focused it efforts in the Southern California market until October 1981 when service was extended north to Monterey and San Francisco. Monterey was served with numerous daily flights to Los Angeles, Orange County, Santa Barbara, and San Francisco until the airline filed for bankruptcy and ceased operations in April 1983. Still wearing the "earth-tone" 1970s color scheme and rolling out on Runway 28 Left after landing is N701GW, a de Havilland DHC-7-102, delivered new to the airline in March 1980.

 

 

June 1983* After the bankruptcy of Golden West Airlines in April 1983, a majority of the aircraft fleet was moved to Monterey pending disposition and purchase by other carriers. Parked on the ramp at Monterey Aviation hangars is N724GW, a de Havilland DHC-7-102, delivered new to the airline on February 17, 1981. Note the pair Golden West of Short SH-330 turboprops behind the tail.

 

 

October 1983* Taking advantage of the deregulation legislation, two businessmen founded Wings West Airlines at Santa Monica California to provide service to Mammoth Lakes. In 1982, the airline added the Swearingen Metroliner and adding additional cities within California. By 1983, the airline had ten destinations in California, Arizona, and weekend service to Aspen, Colorado. Service to Monterey was started in July 1983 with flights to both San Francisco and Los Angeles. Seen taxiing out for a afternoon departure is N31107, a Swearingen SA227-AC Metro III, delivered new to the airline in January 1983. This aircraft was involved in an fatal accident while operating under Lone Star Airlines during a maintenance flight at Hot Springs-Memorial Field (HOT) on August 25, 1992.

 

Back to: The Airports