"Imagine an airline like no other, an airline so superior in style and substance it recalls a past time when traveling was an elite experience." MGM Grand Air in 1987 Other Channel: @VegasVisualTheater ContactVegasVisual@gmail.com
I love these vintage commercials and the old news footages in your videos. This MGM air was definitely a thing for the rich and famous. I'm surprised they don't still have this business going on today.
One reason why MGM Grand Air shut down is because their primary customers, business executives and celebrities, either own or lease their own jets now and also because there are more companies like Netjet providing jet service with smaller planes.
I flew this airline often between NY/LA. The ticket prices were exactly the same as first class on other airlines and in return you had the luxury and service of a private jet.
Very cool that you got to ride it many times. It offered a niche service that doesn't have enough of a market today because access to private jets and semi-private jets much cheaper now.
Another great video VV! As I was watching this I knew they were doomed by choosing old planes despite them saying they were new (designed in the 50’s)THE 727 and DC-8 were popular in the 60’s but not fuel efficient at all. I also laughed at the “quiet” comment about the DC-8… all that meant was that the very old engine designs had so called “hush kits” installed on them but they were still pretty loud. Many airlines used to start up using old cheaper planes but their inefficiency with fuel costs ultimately became the downfall. As always, great work 👍
Thank you Blair, interesting information. Also, Kerkorian probably spent too much money on luxury while still charging the same price as first class on other airlines, which is why they had to had "Coach class" seats.
Kerkorian was used to the old aircraft but even then the DC-8s were an odd choice over the 727 because they were not only old, but also perceived as old. I would bet the charter 727s made money. AA and other airlines flew the 727s well into the 2000s. And the fact that he got into deals with other airlines like UA's Mileage Plus...more money out.
I'm surprised MGM hasn't resurrected MGM Grand Air again. There was word a few months ago in social media, MGM was thinking of flying again. I remember Micheal Jordan and the Chicago Bulls flying around with MGM Air back in the day.
I didn't go into the financial detail of MGM Grand Air but the airline had a difficult time making money and eventually shut down in part because some flights had more crew than passengers. MGM might bring the airline back but instead of a traditional airline with scheduled flights it might have chartered flights only.
I had heard about it a long time ago and I ran into some information recently while working on another project and thought it would be interesting. I was hoping for more Vegas specific info/stories but I really didn't find any information.
@@williameddyonlocation I didn't look into what years Kerkorian owned MGM Studios 3 separate times so I don't know if he ever owned MGM Studios while MGM Grand Air was flying.
MGM Grand Air president Chuck Demoney had a brief stint as a SVP at New York Air in 1985-86 (merged into CO 1987). I'm surprised that MGM Grand lasted as long as it did because he was not exactly an inspiring leader in sales and marketing for those of us who were there. When he became president (was at Avis by then) it kind of shocked those in the industry but everyone knew that Kerkorian called the shots. Kerkorian was a former Army Air Force pilot who parlayed surplus aircraft and cargo into an immense fortune and a long life.
Thanks for the info, interesting background on Demoney. I think for Kerkorian MGM Grand Air was a pet project that he wanted to try and he had plenty of money to burn on this project. There were some profitable years according to the New York Times but overall it was an uphill battle in part because they offered so much for a standard first class ticket price.
@@VegasVisual Demoney originally came from Frontier, a very different airline and market than NYA on the East Coast. He didn't last long in Lorenzo-land.
Northwest bought a controlling share of the airline when northwest was bought by delta airline they chose not it recertification the old 727 and dc8 or add more unions. They did take the nba hockey and baseball contracts under their certificate also completion on the lax jfk market was stiff American airline offered double frequint flyer miles on the route and put put transatlantic meal service on thier flights. Also the dc8 was a gas hog and had reliability issues due to maintenance. So we lost a lot of customers to this plus many people did not want to stop in las Vegas and the added 3 hours to the flights. You missed a chapter when we also bought a 757 and did charter work to Jamaica it was high density 208 seats and the charter company sun and fun went out of business stiffing mgm for the cost of flights it also gave us a bad name with the general public that it was not mgm grand service or luxury. Sorry I must change the beginning mgm assets and flight certificates were bought by Connie Kalitta pilots were offered jobs and flight attendant were offered to work 747 charters to the haij or go to a new airline called Champion Air. Connie sold the 727 cert to Frontpage tours in msp.. the DC 8 certificates whet to his son and 2 DC 8s he formed tras continental and flew cargo it didn't last to long and son Scott died in a race car crash. Champion flew sports teams and Rockl and roll but it primary business was high density charter for mlt vacations Vagas and Mexico we had 14 727 at one point it was champion that was bought by northwest and then shut down in 2008
