Kalitta Air is an international cargo airline.

History

In 1967 Conrad "Connie" Kalitta began a business carrying car parts using a twin engine Cessna 310 that he piloted himself.

Over the years this simple start blossomed into a major airline - American International Airways.

AIA began flying in 1984 using Boeing 747, Lockheed L1011, Douglas DC8, Twin Beech and LearJet aircraft, for air freight, air ambulance and charter passenger operations. In 1990 and 1991 AIA flew 600 missions in support of Desert Shield/Desert Storm (the US military name for the operation to remove Sadam Hussein from Kuwait). They ultimately became one of the world’s 25 largest airlines.

In 1997, AIA merged with Kitty Hawk Inc. and Conrad Kalitta resigned to start Kalitta Leasing (buying, selling and leasing large aircraft).

In April 2000, Kitty Hawk International (the former AIA) ceased operations. Kalitta decided to rescue it and the new airline, Kalitta Air, began operations in November 2000.

Operations

The company is based at Willow Run airport in Ypsilanti, Michigan, USA. Since their startup with three Boeing 747 aircraft, six more Boeing 747 have been added and three Boeing 727. The company provides domestic and international scheduled or on-demand cargo service and support for the requirements of the Department of Defence Air Mobility Command.

In January 2003, Kalitta Air announced the start of scheduled cargo flights from the US to Europe. The freighters on this service operate from JFK (John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York, USA) and ORD (O’Hare, Chicago, USA) to AMS (Schiphol, Amsterdam, the Netherlands) and EMA (Nottingham East Midlands Airport, England). The airline also flies scheduled cargo operations between the US and Hong Kong.

Conrad Kalitta (the owner of Kalitta Air) has been very successful in the sport of drag racing in the top-fuel class of the NHRA. He does not currently (2003) race but remains heavily involved in the sport. In 1992 he was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame in the USA.

Livery

The cheat line is brown, flanked by two red lines, running from the plane's nose to the tip of the fin. The airline name Kalitta Air is in black halfway along the fuselage, flanked by wing symbols.

Fleet

• 9 Boeing 747F with registrations between N702CK and N716CK
• 3 Boeing 727 with registrations N721SK, N722SK and N723SK.

Destinations

World-wide

Company web site

http://www.kalittaair.com