Trump Shuttle

Trump Shuttle, Inc. was an airline owned by Donald Trump. It operated from 1989 to 1992. The airline used landing rights and some equipment from Eastern Air Lines, which had previously run similar shuttle flights.

The Trump Shuttle offered hourly flights on Boeing 727 planes. These flights went from LaGuardia Airport in New York City to Boston Logan International Airport in Boston, Massachusetts and to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Washington, D.C.. The airline also provided special charter flights to other places.

Before starting the Trump Shuttle, Donald Trump bought three Sikorsky S-61 helicopters in 1988. These helicopters had been used by Resorts International Airlines to take visitors to the Resorts Casino Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey. He repainted the helicopters and added the Trump Air logo.

History

In the late 1980s, both Eastern Air Lines and Pan Am had successful air shuttle services in the Northeastern United States. When Eastern's finances worsened, they sold their shuttle service. Donald Trump bought it for $365 million in 1989, getting 17 Boeing 727s and landing rights in three cities. He planned to turn it into a luxury airline with fancy interiors and new technology like self-service check-in kiosks.

The Trump Shuttle started in June 1989 and quickly gained market share. However, it struggled financially. By late 1989, passenger numbers dropped, and the economy worsened. In 1990, rising fuel prices and Trump's financial troubles hurt the airline. By 1992, the Trump Shuttle was merged into Shuttle, Inc., later becoming part of US Airways and then the American Airlines Shuttle.

Helicopter service

Trump Air had a helicopter service that flew between LaGuardia Airport and Wall Street Heliport. This helped people connect to the Trump Shuttle flights at LaGuardia.

The service also flew between New York City and East Hampton Airport, and between West 30th Street Heliport and Steeplechase Pier in Atlantic City. They used Sikorsky S-61 and Boeing Chinook helicopters. The helicopters could carry 24 passengers each and the trip took about 48 minutes. The fares ranged from $49 to $125.

Fleet

The Trump Shuttle had a small group of airplanes for its flights. It used 8 Boeing 727-100 planes and 17 Boeing 727-200 planes to move people between cities.