SkyWest Airlines is a leading regional airline in North America, operating a fleet of over 500 aircraft and serving 257 destinations across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Founded on April 26, 1972, by Ralph Atkin, who purchased Dixie Airlines to provide shuttle services for business travelers, SkyWest has grown from carrying just 256 passengers in its first year to transporting over 42 million passengers annually as of 2024[2][4][5]. Headquartered in St. George, Utah, SkyWest is a wholly owned subsidiary of SkyWest, Inc., which also manages SkyWest Charter and SkyWest Leasing[4][5]. The airline started with a modest fleet and routes but steadily expanded through strategic acquisitions and partnerships. In 1984, it acquired Sun Aire Lines, becoming the eleventh largest regional carrier at the time, and went public in 1986 to fund further growth[1][3]. SkyWest established key code-sharing partnerships with major carriers such as Western Airlines (later Delta Air Lines), Continental Airlines, United Airlines, American Airlines, and Alaska Airlines, operating flights under brands like Delta Connection and United Express[1][4]. These partnerships helped SkyWest become one of the largest regional carriers in the U.S. SkyWest's fleet primarily consists of Bombardier CRJ series jets (CRJ200, CRJ700, CRJ900) and Embraer E175 aircraft, equipped with advanced safety technology including Ground Proximity Warning Systems, GPS, and Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance Systems, underscoring its commitment to operational safety[6]. The airline has received industry accolades, such as Bombardier’s Airline Reliability Award for the CRJ700/900 fleet[2]. Today, SkyWest employs nearly 15,000 people and maintains extensive corporate, maintenance, and operational facilities across North America. Its success is attributed to strategic partnerships, a focus on safety, and continuous technological investment, makin