NEA is formed at Las Vegas in 1983 to offer charter services plus sightseeing flights over the Grand Canyon with a fleet of 4 Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftains.
Operations continue with little change until 1989, except that the fleet is increased to 11 aircraft, including Cessna 402s. During the summer, scheduled services are introduced from the gambling capital to the canyon and back.
The company closes its doors in the recession year of 1991.
NATIONAL EXECUTIVE FLIGHT SERVICE: United States (1959-1967). Joseph C. Whitney establishes NEFS at Boston, Massachusetts, in 1959 to provide scheduled passenger and cargo services to Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, and Hyannis. Employing 2 Aero Commander 500s and 3 Piper PA-24 Commanches, Whitney inaugurates daily scheduled roundtrips on June 20, 1960, supplementing those offered by Northeast Airlines. Operations continue apace in 1961-1963.
Taking a leaf from the book of John Van Arsdale’s Provincetown-Boston Airline (PBA), President Whitney establishes a Florida division at Sarasota late in 1964. Employing a Piper PA-32 Cherokee Six and a Beech 99, NEFS inaugurates seasonal roundtrip services on December 15 to Tampa and other south Florida holiday destinations.
Services continue to be provided both north and south throughout 1965-1966. The first de Havilland DH 104 Dove is placed into service during the latter year, replacing Northeast Airlines on routes to certain of the smaller communities in Maine. On January 1, 1967, the company is reformed and renamed Executive Airlines.
World History
