View source for Western Airlines (2007)

{{Short description|Defunct airline in the United States}}
{{Infobox airline
| airline=Western Airlines
| logo=Westernlogo.png
| logo_size=150
| fleet_size=1 (at time of demise)
| destinations=4 (at time of demise)
| IATA=XP
| ICAO=CXP
| callsign=RUBY MOUNTAIN
| parent=
| founded=2006
| commenced=January 18, 2007
| ceased=February 7, 2007
| headquarters=[[Bellingham, Washington]]
| key_people=Jerry Welch (President)<br>Curt Tronsdal (Chairman)
| hubs=[[Bellingham International Airport]]
| focus_cities=
| frequent_flyer=
| lounge=
| alliance=
| website=www.iflywestern.com (defunct)
}}
'''Western Airlines''' was an American [[low-cost carrier|low-cost]] [[airline]] headquartered in [[Bellingham, Washington]], and operated from a hub at [[Bellingham International Airport]].
==History==
Officials of the [[Port of Bellingham]] had set the goal in 2004 of obtaining additional passenger service for Bellingham International Airport to destinations other than Seattle. In late 2005, the Port announced that it had entered into a lease with Western, a startup airline founded by two local businessmen with aviation experience.<ref>{{cite news | first = J.J. | last = Jensen | title = Waterfront, airport drew much of Port's focus in 2005. (Port of Bellingham) | date = 2006-01-01 | work = [[The Bellingham Business Journal]] }} Copy available [https://web.archive.org/web/20141011092920/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-141255720.html here].</ref><ref>{{cite news | first = Dave | last = Gallagher | title = Regional Airline Starting Up at Bellingham, Wash., Airport | date = 2005-12-08 | work = [[The Bellingham Herald]] }}. Copy available [http://www.aviationpros.com/news/10404289/regional-airline-starting-up-at-bellingham-wash-airport here].</ref>
On November 16, 2006, Western announced that they would begin flights in January from [[Bellingham International Airport]] to four vacation destinations; the fourth announced destination of [[Reno, Nevada]] was cancelled before the airline began service. Service began on January 18, 2007, with a flight from Bellingham to [[Ontario, California]]. Western operated as a "scheduled charter" service, with aircraft [[wet lease]]d from [[Xtra Airways]] and was working through the process of gaining [[FAA]] approval as a commercial airline.{{Cn|date=June 2024}}
On February 7, 2007, Western suspended operations due to outstanding debts to suppliers, including Xtra Airways and the fuel vendor in Bellingham. Xtra Airways continued service in order to return Western's passengers to their originating airport. Xtra Airways officials stated that flights have had to stop in [[Seattle, Washington]] to take on fuel, though a Western spokesperson claimed that only one flight has had to stop, and that was due to a higher than expected fuel burn on the flight to Bellingham.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.bellinghamherald.com/102/story/48210.html | title=New airline short of cash, cancels flight | first=John | last=Stark | work=[[The Bellingham Herald]] | date=2007-02-07 | accessdate=2007-02-07}}{{Dead link|date=October 2010}}.</ref><ref>{{cite news | first = JJ | last = Hensley | title = Western Airlines shuts down flights | date = 2007-02-07 | url = http://www.azcentral.com/community/mesa/articles/0207mr-wester0208.html | work = [[The Arizona Republic]] | accessdate = 2012-04-25}}</ref>
Western officials traced the problem to difficulties with [[credit card]] payments. The company had been running into problems obtaining a merchant identification number, which was needed before banks would deposit money into the airline's account. The airline stated it was working out an arrangement with [[PayPal]], which would allow credit card payments to be processed and sent to the airline without the need for a merchant identification number. The airline expected to resume flights once the problem was resolved.<ref>{{cite news| title=Airline aims to fly again | url=http://www.bellinghamherald.com/255/story/48312.html | first=John | last=Stark | work=[[The Bellingham Herald]] | date=2007-02-08 | accessdate=2007-02-08}}{{Dead link|date=October 2010}}</ref>
==Destinations==
'''Western''' flew to four destinations in the [[United States]]:
===United States===
====Arizona====
* [[Mesa, Arizona|Mesa/Phoenix]] ([[Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport]])<ref>{{cite news | first = Art | last = Thomason | title = Western Airlines flies to Bellingham | date = 2007-01-19 | url = http://www.azcentral.com/community/mesa/articles/0119brk-wgaflight0119-on.html | work = [[The Arizona Republic]] | accessdate = 2012-04-25}}</ref>
====California====
* [[Ontario, California|Ontario]] ([[LA/Ontario International Airport]])
* [[San Diego, California|San Diego]] ([[San Diego International Airport]])
====Washington====
* [[Bellingham, Washington|Bellingham]] ([[Bellingham International Airport]]) '''Hub'''
==Fleet==
At the time of Western's demise on February 7, 2007, the airline had 1 aircraft in its fleet consisting of:
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:auto;"
|-
!Type
!Total
!Passenger Capacity
!Routes
!Notes
|-
|[[Boeing 737#737-400|Boeing 737-400]]
|align=center|1
|{{center|150}}
|Medium Haul
|[[wet lease]] from [[Xtra Airways]]
|}
== See also ==
* [[List of defunct airlines of the United States]]
==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Portal bar|Companies|Aviation}}
[[Category:Defunct low-cost airlines of the United States]]
[[Category:Airlines established in 2006]]
[[Category:Airlines disestablished in 2007]]
{{US-airline-stub}}