Bemidji Airlines

The airline was established in 1946 and started operations in 1947 operating a single Noorduyn Norseman aircraft. From 1981 to 1991, the airline operated with scheduled service from Bemidji; Thief River Falls; Worthington; and Mankato, all in Minnesota, to the Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport. In the mid-eighties, they expanded the business to include many regional cargo freight runs, and added many larger aircraft. Since 1991, primary activities have been small-feeder cargo services, passenger and cargo charters, and typical fixed-base operations at the Bemidji Airport. In January 2017, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, based Business Aviation Courier (DBA Encore Air Cargo) was acquired from BBA Aviation. Encore was sold in 2023. The company became a 100% ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) in 2007.

Destinations

Bemidji Airlines operates domestic cargo/passenger services within Minnesota, Wisconsin, Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota as well as extensive charter and air taxi work within the United States and Canada.

Fleet

The Bemidji Airlines fleet consists of the following aircraft (at Mar 2020):

11 Beechcraft 99, 99A or C99

9 Fairchild Metro III Model AC227-AC