page_title: Essair Airways
hierarchical_section_title: Essair Airways
caption_attribution_description: Douglas C-47 (DC-3) of Pioneer Ai Lines
context_page_description: Essair was incorporated in 1939, the first airline authorized by the federal Civil Aeronautics Board to fly as a "local service" air carrier in the United States. It changed its name to Pioneer Air Lines in 1946 and served destinations in New Mexico and Texas. Pioneer and was acquired by and merged into Continental Airlines in 1955.
  An unrelated commuter airline named "Pioneer Airlines" also operated in Colorado, Montana, New Mexico and Wyoming during the 1980s with Beechcraft 99 and Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner turboprop aircraft. This second version of Pioneer also provided feeder connecting flight services for Continental Airlines at Denver.
context_section_description: Essair (short for Efficiency, Safety, and Speed in the Air) was incorporated in 1939, the first airline authorized by the federal Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) to fly as a "local service" air carrier in the United States. It changed its name to Pioneer Air Lines in 1946 and served destinations in New Mexico and Texas.  Pioneer and was acquired by and merged into Continental Airlines in 1955.
  An unrelated commuter airline named "Pioneer Airlines" also operated in Colorado, Montana, New Mexico and Wyoming during the 1980s with Beechcraft 99 and Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner turboprop aircraft.  This second version of Pioneer also provided feeder connecting flight services for Continental Airlines at Denver (DEN).
caption: Pioneer Air Lines Douglas DC-3 in 1948
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