The company undertakes nonscheduled cargo charters to various local destinations. A decade later, on September 29, 1967, the operator, renamed Combs Freightair two weeks earlier, begins scheduled Aero Commander 500B flights to Williston, Lewistown, Cody, Spokane, and other regional destinations. An airmail contract is received from the U. S. Post Office. In 1969, Combs joins in an agreement with local service carrier Frontier Airlines (1) for a route from Billings to Williston.
During the 1970s, the carrier flies to a total of 40 cities employing a fleet that grows by decade’s end to include 10 Convair CV-340s/440s, 14 Aero Commander 680FLs and 7 Aero Commander 500Bs. Retaining its rating as the Post Office’s longest continuous contract carrier, Combs sees its freight business increase a huge 132% in 1981.
Operations continue apace in 1982, during which year the amount of cargo carried increases to 34.9 million pounds. The fleet at year’s end includes 7 Aero Commander 500Bs, 10 Commander 680FLs, 4 Commander 800FLs, and 10 CV-440s.
An arrangement is reached with Frontier Airlines (1) in the summer of 1983 for Combs to begin offering a significant number of scheduled replacement passenger flights for the larger airline as the first Frontier Commuter. Employing a fleet of 8 CV-580s provided by the national under lease, the small regional’s Combs Airways division inaugurates hub-and-spoke services on October 17 from Denver to 8 surrounding communities.
Late in the year, to bolster the freight service, the all-cargo division of Providence Airline Corporation is purchased and merged, together with its routes and aircraft. The fleet now comprises 8 CV-440s, 4 CV-240s, 11 Aero Commander 680s, and 7 Aero Commander 500Bs.
As a result, the overall freight carried jumps 5.5% to 39.3 million pounds. Enplanements in the fourth quarter total 32,547. Revenues from both freight and passenger services total $10.7 million and costs are $11.23 million. Losses total $535,000 (operating) and $774,000 (net).
Four additional cities become Frontier Commuter destinations in early
1984. The company’s expansion in recessionary times brings significant financial shortfall and, in April, it files for Chapter XI bankruptcy. While a search is made for new investors, a full schedule is maintained. Two more Frontier Commuter markets are inaugurated in June.
For several months while reorganization is attempted, both freighter and passenger services continue; however, the company shuts down after its last flight on January 14, 1985.
World History
