Denver Ports of Call

Context

Air travel clubs were non-profit membership organizations that had their own transport aircraft and ran their own trips, avoiding regulation by the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB), the now defunct federal agency that, until 1979, provided tight economic regulation of almost all US commercial air transport. While unregulated by the CAB, air travel clubs were regulated for operations/safety by the FAA.

Rise

Ports of Call incorporated in Colorado 5 February 1966. In April a POC promoter was revealed to be an escaped forgery convict and captured after being shot; no money was missing. Operations started that year with a Douglas DC-7 bought for $105,000 (over $1 million in 2026 terms). The club reflected efforts of a husband and wife team. Larry Turrill led POC for over two decades, during which annual trips went from four when he joined to 26 in 1970, 140 in 1974 and hit 345 in 1978. In 1982, the foreign/domestic split was 50/50. A frequently-served destination was Mazatlan with 45 trips in 1979. Options ranged from weekend flights to fish the Pacific from the Oregon coast, to a 26-day round-the-world trip at $3995 (over $13,500 in 2026 terms). Trips might require multiple aircraft, depending on demand. Trips covered 41 states and eight foreign countries, and included three to four thousand cruise passengers a year. On occasion trips went to unusual destinations such as Cuba or Ivory Coast.

Larry's wife Fredda managed the flight attendants (FAs); POC originally used off-duty United Airlines FAs but established its own FA school in the late 1960s. FAs, who in 1982 were still all women, doubled as tour directors, responsible for practicalities, such as the delivery of luggage to hotel rooms, standard club practice. By 1982, 66,000 members could buy trips on an air-only basis, but most still opted for complete packages. Families were a majority of membership; POC ran a separate singles organization. From 1973, the club had its own terminal (including company offices) at Stapleton Airport, with its own customs and immigration facility (the club later also built a hangar). Members parked for free, the terminal was also a venue for non-club aviation and non-aviation events. A yearly favorite was the mystery trip; members knew only it would be a beach destination. Some members wore badge holders around their neck displaying a badge for each trip they made. By 1982 POC also flew charters for the Denver Broncos, University of Colorado, Colorado State University and the United States Air Force Academy.

Ports of Call was a feature of Colorado life. For instance, when in December 1984, the Denver Broncos returned home having won their division, 2,500 fans welcomed them at the POC terminal. Colorado governor Richard Lamm took his family on a Caribbean vacation—on POC.

Becoming an airline

In summer 1984, charters came to an abrupt halt when the CAB noted POC did not have required authority. At the time, POC operated under Part 125 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs), which banned common carriage. POC's charter business had become high profile, having flown for the 1984 Gary Hart and Jesse Jackson presidential campaigns and including contracts with over a dozen college football teams. POC had to stop it all, as it had no economic authority to be a common carrier nor did its operating authority permit it. The club immediately applied to become a charter carrier and the DOT (successor to the CAB) gave the necessary economic authority in July 1985. In September, the FAA gave it the companion operating authority. POC's application to the CAB/DOT said it planned to remain a club.

Fall

But also in 1984, the club completed the write off of $10.6 million (over $30 million in 2026 terms) in a failed investment in a hush kit manufacturer for the Boeing 707. Noise regulations required POC's 707s be equipped with hush kits, which cost $2 million per aircraft. To fix the financial hole, POC opted to turn itself into a profit-making corporation and sell stock through an initial public offering (IPO). Members approved the new corporate form on 20 December 1985. A minority of members was unhappy at the changes and sued to stop it, delaying the IPO of Ports of Call, Inc. until 10 February.

In January 1987, Larry Turrill was fired (along with wife Fredda, then VP marketing) after over two decades at the helm; a director said the nature of the company had changed substantially, given a big push in charters, and it needed new management. Other senior management had been let go at the end of 1986. The largest investor was Fidelity, which disclaimed responsibility. Membership and profit both dropped in 1986 over 1985, and the company made a small loss. Fidelity's stake kept growing; by June 1988 it held a majority of shares.

In June 1988, the airline ditched the name Skyworld, becoming Ports of Call Air as a dba. Skyworld was chosen as a way to give the airline its own identity, but it "just didn't catch on."

In October 1973, the club got its first Convair 990, which grew to an operating fleet of five, plus two additional used for parts. In 1980, POC acquired its first Boeing 707; by 1985 the 990s phased out and there were a dozen 707s. From 1981 to end of 1987 the club had a single Boeing 727-100.

As of 31 December 1975, Ports of Call had the largest fleet of any air travel club with:

Ports of Call, 31 December 1979:

5 Convair 990

Incidents

19 April 1976: A man awaiting sentencing for his third drunk driving conviction (a felony in his jurisdiction) held a pilot and mechanic at gunpoint at the airport at Grand Island, Nebraska and forced them to fly him in a light aircraft to Stapleton Airport, where he demanded a plane to Mexico. POC offered the use of a Convair 990, including a volunteer crew. Disguised FBI agents shot and killed the gunman while he inspected the aircraft.