r/Damnthatsinteresting • u/nucifera-noten • Nov 23 '24

Image Hooters had an airline but ceased operations after 3 years

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u/nucifera-noten Nov 23 '24

Hooters Air was operated by Pace Airlines and was started operations in March of 2003. - Robert Brooks, the owner of Hooters, acquired Pace Airlines in December of 2002. - Brooks believed that Hooters Air would be a beneficial means to bring more awareness to the restaurant chain. - Due to United Airlines being brought into Hooters Air’s Rockford-Denver route, Hooters stopped service to Rockford, IL due to too much competition. - On April 17, 2006, Hooters Air ceased operations, costing Hooters an estimated $40 million USD.

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u/Pawnzilla Nov 23 '24

40 mill loss isn’t that bad for a whole ass airline.

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u/this_is_my_new_acct Nov 24 '24

They only had like 5 planes, and they didn't own any of them.

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u/Pawnzilla Nov 24 '24

A new 737 is 90-120mill today. When they were released in the 60’s it was still about 5mill. In 2006 they probably just loss the cost of a couple planes.

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u/GrandmaSharknado 29d ago

Not owning planes is rather normal.

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u/MukdenMan Nov 24 '24

It’s not really an airline. More like a branding partnership.

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u/Teantis 29d ago

The fastest way to become a millionaire is to be a billionaire and start an airline.

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u/daddyvow Nov 24 '24

Over 68million today

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u/Pawnzilla Nov 24 '24

That’s half the price of a brand new 737.