Empire Airlines

Name

Empire Airlines

Legal name

Empire Airlines, Inc.

Website

https://empireairlines.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regional Cargo Air Transportation

NAICS

Scheduled Freight Air Transportation (481112), Scheduled Air Transportation (4811)

SIC

Air Transportation, Scheduled (4512), Air Courier Services (4513)

akta.pro primary industry

Scheduled Air Cargo Airlines (All-Cargo Carriers) (THABAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Express / Time-Definite Air Cargo Carriers (TLADAAAB)

Keywords

• Regional cargo airline
• FedEx feeder operations
• Aircraft MRO services
• Passenger-to-cargo conversions
• Commercial drone services

Headquarters

HQ city

Hayden

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. FedEx Cargo Feeder Operations: Empire Airlines operates under a contractual relationship with FedEx Express, where FedEx owns the aircraft and Empire Airlines conducts all flight operations. This includes scheduled cargo feeder flights throughout the western United States and Alaska, serving as the largest regional operator for FedEx.
2. Empire Aerospace MRO Services: Provides state-of-the-art aircraft maintenance services including turbine engine maintenance, propeller maintenance, heavy checks, full avionics service, composite repair, and ATR passenger-to-cargo conversions for third-party customers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Empire Airlines operates as a dedicated regional cargo feeder airline for FedEx Express, conducting scheduled cargo operations across the western United States and Alaska using a fleet of ATR and Cessna turboprop aircraft owned by FedEx. The company also delivers aircraft maintenance, repair, and modification services through its Empire Aerospace division (including specialized ATR passenger-to-cargo STC conversions), and provides commercial unmanned aerial systems (UAS) data services through Empire Unmanned.

Product overview

Empire Airlines is a cargo feeder airline operating as the largest regional operator for FedEx Express, with a fleet of ATR 42s, ATR 72s, ATR 72-600Fs, Cessna 208 Caravans, and Cessna 408 SkyCouriers. The company operates three divisions: Empire Airlines (cargo feeder operations), Empire Aerospace (maintenance and aircraft conversion services), and Empire Unmanned (commercial UAS services). The FedEx Purple Runway program provides pilot career pathways from feeder operations to FedEx mainline. Empire Aerospace specializes in ATR aircraft conversions including the ATR 72 passenger-to-cargo modification program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cargo Feeder Operations Scheduled regional cargo feeder operations for FedEx Express using a fleet of ATR 42s, ATR 72s, ATR 72-600Fs, Cessna 208 Caravans, and Cessna 408 SkyCouriers across the western United States and Alaska. FedEx owns the aircraft while Empire Airlines conducts all flight operations.
• Empire Aerospace MRO Services

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• IPR Conversions (ACIA Aero Group)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Empire Aerospace was selected by IPR Conversions in 2016 to be a conversion center for their ATR42/72 Bulk Freighter and Large Cargo Door Freighter Supplemental Type Certification. Empire completed its first 3 conversions before the end of 2017 and has completed over 10 conversions to date.
• FedEx ExpresscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFedEx has a contractual relationship with Empire Airlines with FedEx owning the aircraft and Empire Airlines conducting all flight aspects. Empire Airlines is an independent regional airline operating on behalf of FedEx Express as their largest regional cargo feeder operator.
• Mountain Air CargominorGTM or Marketing PartnerMountain Air Cargo is another eligible feeder airline partner in the FedEx Purple Runway Pathways Program alongside Empire Airlines and IFL Group.
• IFL GroupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIFL Group is another eligible feeder airline partner in the FedEx Purple Runway Pathways Program alongside Empire Airlines and Mountain Air Cargo.
• Mission43minorOthersIdaho-based organization providing veterans and their spouses with resources to make a successful transition from the military to civilian employment. Empire has partnered with this veteran advocacy organization.
• Hire Heroes USAminorOthersVeteran employment organization that helps veterans begin careers with employment partners across a broad spectrum of industries. Empire has partnered with this veteran advocacy organization.
• DoD SkillBridge ProgramminorOthersThe DoD SkillBridge Program helps transitioning service members gain valuable civilian work experience through industry training, apprenticeships or internships. Empire participates as an employment partner.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Mountain Air Cargo: Mountain Air Cargo is a FedEx feeder airline operating a similar turboprop fleet in the eastern and southeastern United States. It is one of only a few eligible feeder partners in the FedEx Purple Runway program alongside Empire, making it the closest direct comparator for Empire's cargo feeder business.
• IFL Group: IFL Group operates contracted cargo feeder services for FedEx and is another eligible partner in the FedEx Purple Runway program. Its feeder operations, freight-focused fleet, and FedEx-dedicated model closely mirror Empire's core business.
• CSA Air: CSA Air is a regional cargo carrier providing FedEx feeder services across the upper Midwest and other regions. It shares Empire's model of operating dedicated FedEx feeder routes with small turboprop aircraft, serving smaller communities in regional networks.
• Ameriflight: Ameriflight is one of the largest U.S. regional cargo carriers, operating a feeder network for multiple integrators including FedEx, UPS, and DHL. It is directly comparable to Empire in cargo feeder operations, regional turboprop fleet, and express integrator relationships.
• Air Transport Services Group (ATSG): ATSG provides leased cargo aircraft and operates express/contract cargo flying for integrators including Amazon and DHL. It is comparable to Empire in the contracted express cargo model and in operating dedicated freight aircraft on behalf of a single large customer.
• Mesa Air Group: Mesa Air Group operates regional passenger flights under contract for major airlines. While Empire is cargo-focused, both are regional Part 121 operators with similar fleet sizes, contract-based revenue models, and exposure to pilot labor dynamics in the U.S. regional aviation market.
• Precision Aircraft Solutions: Precision Aircraft Solutions specializes in aircraft passenger-to-freighter conversions, including ATR 72 conversions. It directly competes with Empire Aerospace's ATR conversion STC program and is a key peer for Empire's MRO and conversion business.

Broad incumbents

• FedEx Express: FedEx Express is Empire's primary customer and the broader integrator that owns the aircraft Empire flies. As the largest U.S. express integrator, FedEx sits above Empire in the value chain and is the principal counterparty whose strategic decisions drive Empire's business.
• UPS Airlines: UPS Airlines is a major U.S. express integrator with its own regional feeder network. While not a direct customer or competitor for the same cargo, UPS is the closest analog to FedEx in the integrator space and a reference point for the broader market in which Empire operates.
• DHL Aviation: DHL Aviation is a global integrator with extensive cargo feeder operations. While not directly competing with Empire in the U.S. FedEx feeder network, DHL is a comparable global integrator whose feeder operating model and reliance on regional partners is structurally similar.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/EmpireAirInc
• Facebookfacebook.com/empire-airlines-143042629143686
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/8960316
• Instagraminstagram.com/empireairlinesinc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Empire Airlines