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24-04-2022, 09:49 AM
Jacopo Prisco, CNN • Updated 20th April 2022
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Pet Airways
![[Image: http%3A%2F%2Fcdn.cnn.com%2Fcnnnext%2Fdam...rlines.jpg]](https://dynaimage.cdn.cnn.com/cnn/q_auto,w_634,c_fill,g_auto,h_357,ar_16:9/http%3A%2F%2Fcdn.cnn.com%2Fcnnnext%2Fdam%2Fassets%2F220414130710-03-unusual-airlines.jpg)
Founded in 2009 in Delray Beach, Florida, Pet Airways was an airline exclusively dedicated to pets such as cats and dogs -- or pawsengers, as they called them.
They flew, without their owners, in the main cabin of specially adapted aircraft in which the seats had been replaced with carriers.
Each aircraft could carry about 50 pets, with "Pet Attendants" checking on them every 15 minutes. Before taking off, the animals were given a pre-flight walk and a bathroom break in specially designed airport lounges.
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Hooters Air
![[Image: http%3A%2F%2Fcdn.cnn.com%2Fcnnnext%2Fdam...rlines.jpg]](https://dynaimage.cdn.cnn.com/cnn/q_auto,w_634,c_fill,g_auto,h_357,ar_16:9/http%3A%2F%2Fcdn.cnn.com%2Fcnnnext%2Fdam%2Fassets%2F220414130646-02-unusual-airlines.jpg)
In 2002, Robert Brooks, chairman of the restaurant chain Hooters, acquired Pace Airlines, a charter carrier with a fleet of eight aircraft, mostly Boeing 737s. The next year he turned it into Hooters Air, an airline designed after the restaurant chain.
Its distinction was, other than the bright orange livery design featuring a googly-eyed owl, that two so-called "Hooters girls" were on board, mingling with passengers and hosting trivia games with gadget prizes -- wearing the same tank-top-and-orange-shorts "uniform" popularized by the restaurants.
They did not serve food or handle on board duties, however, as these were carried out by three FAA certified flight attendants.
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The Lord's Airline
Strictly no alcohol on board, Bibles and Torahs instead of in-flight magazines, only religious movies on show, and a quarter of the fares devoted to finance missionary work: these were the unique features of The Lord's Airline, founded by New Jersey businessman Ari Marshall in 1985, when he purchased an old DC-8 that was meant to be the airline's lone aircraft.
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Smokers Express & SmintAir
The FAA banned smoking on all domestic flights in the US in 1990, but William Walts and George Richardson, two entrepreneurs from Florida's Brevard County, weren't happy about it. In early 1993 they decided to circumvent the rule by establishing an airline based on a private club. It required a $25 membership fee and was only open to people over 21.
The airline was meant to be based at the Space Coast Regional airport in Titusville, Florida, and the plan was to offer steaks and burgers on board with a side of free cigarettes.
Almost a year after it was announced, however, the airline still had no license nor a plane, and although the founders reportedly claimed to have raked in over 5,000 memberships, regulators denied Smokers Express a license to operate, making it disappear in a puff of smoke without ever taking off.
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MGM Grand Air
Inaugurated in 1987, MGM Grand Air was a first-class only, superluxury airline that initially covered a single route -- LAX to JFK -- using Boeing 727 and Douglas DC-8 aircraft in lavish configurations: the rule was to no flight could have more than 33 passengers, although the planes could carry 100 or more in standard setups.
The airline promised no queues, no check-ins and no waiting for luggage -- porters whisked bags onto the plane and returned them at the destination -- and even offered an optional door-to-door limousine service. Special lounges at both airports offered luxury amenities and a concierge service.
On board, there were five flight attendants and a stand up bar, as well as private compartments for meetings. A full meal service with fine wine and champagne was always available and the restroom had golden faucets and monogrammed soap. All of this was offered at just more than the cost as a first class ticket on other airlines.
Details on how the airlines ended at: https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/u...index.html
......
Pet Airways
Founded in 2009 in Delray Beach, Florida, Pet Airways was an airline exclusively dedicated to pets such as cats and dogs -- or pawsengers, as they called them.
They flew, without their owners, in the main cabin of specially adapted aircraft in which the seats had been replaced with carriers.
Each aircraft could carry about 50 pets, with "Pet Attendants" checking on them every 15 minutes. Before taking off, the animals were given a pre-flight walk and a bathroom break in specially designed airport lounges.
......
Hooters Air
In 2002, Robert Brooks, chairman of the restaurant chain Hooters, acquired Pace Airlines, a charter carrier with a fleet of eight aircraft, mostly Boeing 737s. The next year he turned it into Hooters Air, an airline designed after the restaurant chain.
Its distinction was, other than the bright orange livery design featuring a googly-eyed owl, that two so-called "Hooters girls" were on board, mingling with passengers and hosting trivia games with gadget prizes -- wearing the same tank-top-and-orange-shorts "uniform" popularized by the restaurants.
They did not serve food or handle on board duties, however, as these were carried out by three FAA certified flight attendants.
......
The Lord's Airline
Strictly no alcohol on board, Bibles and Torahs instead of in-flight magazines, only religious movies on show, and a quarter of the fares devoted to finance missionary work: these were the unique features of The Lord's Airline, founded by New Jersey businessman Ari Marshall in 1985, when he purchased an old DC-8 that was meant to be the airline's lone aircraft.
......
Smokers Express & SmintAir
The FAA banned smoking on all domestic flights in the US in 1990, but William Walts and George Richardson, two entrepreneurs from Florida's Brevard County, weren't happy about it. In early 1993 they decided to circumvent the rule by establishing an airline based on a private club. It required a $25 membership fee and was only open to people over 21.
The airline was meant to be based at the Space Coast Regional airport in Titusville, Florida, and the plan was to offer steaks and burgers on board with a side of free cigarettes.
Almost a year after it was announced, however, the airline still had no license nor a plane, and although the founders reportedly claimed to have raked in over 5,000 memberships, regulators denied Smokers Express a license to operate, making it disappear in a puff of smoke without ever taking off.
......
MGM Grand Air
Inaugurated in 1987, MGM Grand Air was a first-class only, superluxury airline that initially covered a single route -- LAX to JFK -- using Boeing 727 and Douglas DC-8 aircraft in lavish configurations: the rule was to no flight could have more than 33 passengers, although the planes could carry 100 or more in standard setups.
The airline promised no queues, no check-ins and no waiting for luggage -- porters whisked bags onto the plane and returned them at the destination -- and even offered an optional door-to-door limousine service. Special lounges at both airports offered luxury amenities and a concierge service.
On board, there were five flight attendants and a stand up bar, as well as private compartments for meetings. A full meal service with fine wine and champagne was always available and the restroom had golden faucets and monogrammed soap. All of this was offered at just more than the cost as a first class ticket on other airlines.
Details on how the airlines ended at: https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/u...index.html
