Regent Air

Regent Air
727-100 Los Angeles October 1985
IATA ICAO Call sign
4R — —
FoundedFebruary 2, 1982
incorporated in Delaware
Commenced operations
October 14, 1983 (1983-10-14)
Ceased operations
March 3, 1986 (1986-03-03)
Fleet size3
DestinationsLos Angeles
New York
Parent companyRegent Tours International
HeadquartersLos Angeles, California, United States
Key peopleClifford S. Perlman (owner, 1982–1984)
F. Michael Rogers (CEO, 1982–1984)

Regent Air was an "all-frills" airline based in Los Angeles, California that operated luxury service with customized Boeing 727-100s at super-low seating density from New York to Los Angeles in the mid-1980s. The airline suffered from regulatory issues that for much of its life prevented it from operating its own flights. After it failed, its aircraft and some of its management re-appeared the next year in the guise of MGM Grand Air, another New York to Los Angeles luxury airline.

History

Regent was originally incorporated as Firstair Corp. but changed name to Regent Air Corp. to avoid a conflict with Canadian carrier First Air. The airline initially had only 30 seats on a Boeing 727-100, and included private rooms, a dining salon and on board barber and secretarial services. The airline's initial tag-line was "The sky is no longer the limit." The airline offered complimentary limousine as well as connecting helicopter service for their flights, but fares were 50% higher than their competition's prices. The airline initially aimed to offer scheduled service from New York to Los Angeles and San Francisco, with weekend service from the west coast to Hawaii. However, it scrapped all but Los Angeles to New York.

The airline was initially unable to achieve certification in its own right. The Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) withheld authority based on doubts about the corporation's "compliance disposition." Casino operators Clifford S. Perlman and his brother Stuart held 2/3 of Regent's equity. The CAB noted past Perlman issues with the Securities Exchange Commission, the Nevada Gaming Commission and the New Jersey Casino Control Commission. Some of these related to alleged ties to organized crime. The interim solution was that Regent aircraft were operated by a contract airline, International Air Service Company (IASCO). In 1984, the Perlmans sold their equity, but remained the main debt-holders. Regent was able to get temporary authority effective 14 March 1985 (the government still concerned about possible Perlman influence) but IASCO's contract expired 28 February, so the airline did not operate for two weeks. Full authority came only in June 1985.

Regent was deeply unprofitable. As of January 1986, when the airline was sold again, accumulated losses reached $38 million (over $115 million in 2026 terms). Operations ceased March 3, 1986, by which time the airline had been selling tickets on future Boeing 747 flights to Hawaii. The New York attorney general forced the airline to escrow such advance sales, eliminating the ability to fund the flights from future ticket sales and ending any hope of resuming service. The Federal Aviation Administration revoked Regent's operating certificate in July.

Legacy

All three Regent aircraft, and Regent's 1982–1984 president, F. Michael Rogers, resurfaced in 1987 at MGM Grand Air, also a luxury airline flying from Los Angeles to New York (Kennedy Airport this time), working for another casino operator, Kirk Kerkorian.

Fleet

March 1985:

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1985 Annual Report of the Regional Airline Industry (Report). Washington, DC: Regional Airline Association. 1985. p. 122.
  2. 1 2 CAB102 1983, p. 289.
  3. ↑ "New Airline Flies Passengers Beyond First Class". New York Times. CXXXII (45649): 26. October 16, 1983. ISSN 0362-4331.
  4. ↑ CAB102 1983, p. 292.
  5. ↑ CAB102 1983, pp. 579–582.
  6. ↑ "Undated Regent Air service brochure from IASCO era". Regent Air. Retrieved 12 September 2026 – via DepartedFlights.com.
  7. 1 2 "Pre-launch timetable showing NYC, LA, SF and Hawaii service pattern". Regent Air. Retrieved 12 September 2026 – via timetableimages.com.
  8. ↑ Daniels, Lee A. (July 26, 1984). "Perlmans to Sell Regent Air". New York Times. CXXXIII (46116): D18. ISSN 0362-4331.
  9. ↑ "Airline For Rich is Hunting Money". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. 73 (150): A-10. 29 May 1984. ISSN 2326-1137.
  10. ↑ "Regent Air, Fitness Investigation". Civil Aeronautics Board Reports. 102. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office: 260–311. June–July 1983. hdl:2027/ien.35559002074916.
  11. 1 2 CAB102 1983, pp. 264–265.
  12. 1 2 "Regent Air Gets U.S. Approval". New York Times. CXXXIV (47437): D4. June 11, 1985. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 7, 2015.
  13. ↑ "Regent Air Given Partial Approval to Begin Service". Los Angeles Times. CII (272): IV-2. 1 September 1983. ISSN 0458-3035.
  14. 1 2 "Control of Regent Air Sold to Private N.Y. Tour Firm". Los Angeles Times. CV (37): IV-2. 9 January 1983. ISSN 0458-3035.
  15. ↑ "Regent Air Cancels Flights". Los Angeles Herald Examiner. CXIV (310): A-12. 7 March 1985. OCLC 8833630.
  16. ↑ "Regent Air airborne for 90 days". Los Angeles Herald Examiner. CXIV (318): A-13. 15 March 1985. OCLC 8833630.
  17. ↑ "Regent Air delays service to Hawaii". Houston Post. 101 (381): 1C. 4 March 1986. ISSN 1060-3484.
  18. ↑ "Regent Air: Plan Conks Out". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. 75 (261): E-1. 18 September 1986. ISSN 2326-1137.
  19. ↑ Eastwood, A.B.; Roach, J. (2005). Airliner Production List Volume 1. West Drayton (UK): The Aviation Hobby Shop. p. 81–82. Serial numbers 19391,19392,19395.
  20. ↑ "MGM Grand Air Hopes to Land Well-Heeled Fliers". Los Angeles Times. CVI (278): III-17. 7 September 1987. ISSN 0458-3035.
  21. ↑ "Turbine-Engined Fleets of the World's Airlines, 1985". Exxon Air World. 37 (2): 32. 1985. ISSN 0014-5068.