The Government Has Now Given Out CARES Act Grants To 287 U.S. ‘Airlines’. There Aren’t 287 Airlines!

When the Treasury Department first reported on airline subsidy payouts under the CARES Act I was shocked to learn that 96 airlines were receiving payroll support grants. Who knew there were 96 airlines?

The Treasury Department wasn’t done yet, and there were still a couple of billion dollars to hand out. This week they updated their report, and they’ve committed $24,157,445,417 out of an appropriated $25 billion in payroll support grants, and funds are going to 287 airlines. Who knew there were 287 airlines?

Some of the funds went to the cleverly-named Rite Bros Aviation, some to Eastern Airlines. Guardian Helicopters which doesn’t even seem like an airline and it’s not the only helicopter company that got money. There are sightseeing tour companies like Rust’s Flight Service getting money, too.

$27 million went to Clay Lacy Aviation which charters private planes (and donates to the President). There’s even $133,418 that just went to a guy named Jeffrey J. Carlin.

Here’s the full list:

Airline
Payroll Support 
AMERICAN AIRLINES INC. $5,814,516,440
DELTA AIR LINES INC. $5,436,331,186
UNITED AIRLINES INC. $4,958,498,096
SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO. $3,259,181,720
ALASKA AIRLINES INC. $992,189,880
JETBLUE AIRWAYS CORPORATION $935,754,826
SKYWEST AIRLINES INC. $438,021,524
SPIRIT AIRLINES INC. $334,736,832
HAWAIIAN AIRLINES INC. $292,459,908
REPUBLIC AIRWAYS INC. (F/K/A REPUBLIC AIRLINE INC.) $205,986,653
FRONTIER AIRLINES INC. $204,877,426
ALLEGIANT AIR LLC $171,912,904
EXPRESSJET AIRLINES LLC $109,883,984
MESA AIRLINES INC. $92,467,745
ONE SKY FLIGHT LLC $84,362,984
WHEELS UP PARTNERS HOLDINGS LLC $74,227,036
OMNI AIR INTERNATIONAL LLC $67,071,357
SUN COUNTRY INC. $60,558,866
AIR WISCONSIN AIRLINES LLC $40,998,013
METRO AVIATION INC. $40,321,393
GOJET AIRLINES LLC $35,456,672
COLUMBIA HELICOPTERS INC. $34,303,584
CLAY LACY AVIATION INC. $26,937,934
CHAMPLAIN ENTERPRISES LLC $25,695,574
JET LINX AVIATION LLC $20,033,063
CAREFLITE $14,756,673
HYANNIS AIR SERVICE INC. $14,719,957
SILVER AIRWAYS LLC $13,616,171
WESTERN AIR CHARTER INC. $11,485,372
ELITE AIRWAYS LLC $11,276,814
EASTERN AIRLINES LLC $9,259,648
DELUX PUBLIC CHARTER LLC $8,958,475
BOUTIQUE AIR INC $7,996,358
MOUNTAIN AVIATION INC $7,173,077
EXCLUSIVE JETS LLC $7,098,628
CORPORATE FLIGHT MANAGEMENT INC. $6,993,262
EXECUTIVE FLIGHT SERVICES LLC $6,928,679
COBALT AIR LLC $6,889,049
ROTORCRAFT LEASING COMPANY LLC $6,291,119
CARIBBEAN SUN AIRLINES INC. $6,127,638
REVA INC. $5,477,452
BERING AIR INC. $5,367,784
TALON AIR LLC $5,202,329
GRANT AVIATION INC. $5,041,910
WING AVIATION CHARTER SERVICES LLC $4,740,313
TEMSCO HELICOPTERS INC. $4,685,365
SC AVIATION INC. $4,616,357
KEY LIME AIR CORPORATION $4,584,679
PRIESTER AVIATION $4,482,420
AIRMD LLC $4,410,560
WORLDWIDE JET CHARTER INC. $4,179,700
TRADEWIND AVIATION LLC $4,039,007
RR INVESTMENTS INC $4,007,663
SEABORNE VIRGIN ISLANDS INC. $3,934,446
SUN AIR JETS LLC $3,773,256
PEGASUS ELITE AVIATION INC. $3,647,106
SUPERIOR TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATES INC $3,624,735
SCOTT AVIATION LLC $3,537,798
L.J. ASSOCIATES INC. $3,100,359
AIR MED SERVICES L.L.C. $3,041,463
MAYO AVIATION INC. $3,004,182
PRESIDENTIAL AVIATION INC. $2,919,322
KENMORE AIR HARBOR LLC $2,908,316
NORTHERN JET MANAGEMENT INC. $2,861,349
HILLSBORO AVIATION INC. $2,850,605
ULTIMATE JETCHARTERS LLC $2,828,548
JETSELECT LLC $2,788,581
ADVANCED AIR LLC $2,765,649
RED WING AEROPLANE COMPANY $2,698,908
DAVINCI JETS LLC $2,666,486
KALININ AVIATION LLC $2,610,482
CCM COMPANY HOLDINGS INC. $2,402,746
MEDWAY AIR AMBULANCE LLC $2,394,350
SKY ONE HOLDINGS LLC $2,375,751
JET ACCESS AVIATION LLC $2,371,863
PATHFINDER AVIATION LLC $2,282,881
AIR RUTTER INTERNATIONAL LLC $2,282,235
SKY QUEST LLC $2,200,993
WRIGHT AIR SERVICE INC. $2,190,695
PRIME JET US LLC $2,154,355
ACE AVIATION SERVICES CORP $2,044,251
TROPIC OCEAN AIRWAYS LLC $2,038,790
SCHUMAN AVIATION COMPANY LTD MKHA-108K $2,036,555
PACIFIC COAST JET LLC $2,012,940
K&S HELICOPTERS INC $1,977,194
TRANS-EXEC AIR SERVICE INC $1,967,261
GREAT WESTERN AIR LLC $1,869,608
NORTHEASTERN AVIATION CORP $1,867,715
PINNACLE AIR CHARTER LLC $1,801,857
DREAMLINE AVIATION LLC $1,795,135
MERCY FLIGHT CENTRAL INC. $1,749,912
AERO CHARTER INC. $1,720,786
GLOBAL AVIATION INC $1,627,826
PAKLOOK AIR INC. $1,563,222
AERO WAYS INC. $1,558,644
VENTURE TRAVEL LLC $1,555,160
COASTAL HELICOPTERS INC. $1,544,173
DOMINION AVIATION SERVICES INC. $1,509,541
CTP AVIATION LLC $1,482,597
AMERICAN JET INTERNATIONAL CORP $1,438,637
PRECISION LLC $1,432,940
INTERNATIONAL JET AVIATION SERVICES INC. $1,429,848
CHANTILLY AIR INC. $1,421,833
AIR 7 LLC $1,339,827
MARTINAIR INC. $1,330,013
NORTHSTAR TREKKING LLC $1,319,157
JET AIR INC. $1,297,810
AVIATION ADVISOR INC. $1,277,822
NEW ENGLAND LIFE FLIGHT INC. $1,275,164
IBW AIR SERVICES LLC $1,268,796
JOE BRIGHAM INC. $1,200,952
AIRCRAFT MANAGEMENT GROUP $1,177,280
MIDWEST JET CENTER LLC/MIDWEST JET MANAGEMENT LLC $1,174,771
FLIGHT GROUP CORPORATION $1,168,067
TANGO AIR INC. $1,160,129
RUST’S FLYING SERVICE INC $1,158,660
SUMMIT AVIATION INC. $1,138,718
JACK HARTER HELICOPTERS INC. $1,121,912
EAST COAST JETS INC $1,117,028
CHANNEL ISLANDS AVIATION INC. $1,071,365
CAUSEY AVIATION SERVICE INC. $1,043,568
CLUB JET CHARTER LLC $1,034,921
NORTHERN ILLINOIS FLIGHT CENTER $1,012,006
DESERT JET CHARTER LLC $994,695
PIONEER BUSINESS SERVICES LLC $994,235
GULF COAST AVIATION INC. $984,234
ELEVATE JET LLC $976,764
AVCENTER INC $964,330
SIERRA PACIFIC AIRLINES $931,741
KEYSTONE AVIATION LLC $927,109
PARADIGM JET MANAGEMENT INC. $921,017
MACH ONE AIR CHARTERS INC $910,944
SCOTT AIR LLC $905,244
WARBELOW’S AIR VENTURES INC. $877,427
TRIDENT AIRCRAFT INC. $876,718
DUPAGE AEROSPACE CORP $850,786
STARFLITE MANAGEMENT GROUP INC $832,744
ALPINE AIR ALASKA LLC $829,056
WORLD CLASS JET $803,735
HAWAII PACIFIC AVIATION INC. $791,268
GRANDE AVIATION LLC $782,567
LOYD’S AVIATION $778,595
HOLMAN LEASING SYSTEMS INC. $775,377
JET LOGISTICS INC. $774,107
MODESTO EXECUTIVE AIR CHARTER INC. $771,590
ALANTE AIR CHARTER LLC $726,689
TAILWIND AIR LLC $718,359
UNDERHILL HOLDINGS LLC $699,235
TREGO DUGAN AVIATION INC. $699,199
C.C. CALZONE LLC $693,536
IMAGE AIR CHARTER LLC $687,387
PENTASTAR AVIATION CHARTER INC. $678,814
WARD AIR INC. $675,964
AIR TREK INC. $672,600
GUARDIAN HELICOPTERS INC. $669,951
EXECUTIVE AIR TAXI CORPORATION $661,768
AIRCRAFT CHARTER MANAGEMENT EXPERTS $659,209
VIEQUES AIR LINK INC $635,806
REDEMPTION INC. $627,885
WINGS AIRWAYS LLC $621,346
EXECUTIVE AVIATION CORPORATION $612,134
ISLAND EXPRESS HELICOPTERS INC. $603,838
TEM ENTERPRISES $583,561
FLORIDA JET SERVICE INC. $577,388
SACRAMENTO EXECUTIVE HELICOPTERS INC. $574,728
PLANESMART! AVIATION LLC $573,646
JPS AVIATION LLC $564,998
PRO AIRWAYS LLC. $563,716
HELICOPTER SOLUTIONS INC. $543,310
MIRA VISTA AVIATION INC. $537,425
VENTURA AIR SERVICES INC. $530,489
FIRST WING MANAGEMENT LLC $527,657
PREMIER JETS INC. $518,890
ISLAND AIR INC $495,565
ALASKA RELIANT INC $479,816
NORTH DALLAS AVIATION INC. $478,451
EXEC AIR MONTANA INC. $469,005
MOSER AVIATION LLC $457,305
CORPORATE FLIGHT INC. $450,237
ASI CHARTERS $445,477
NOVICTOR AVIATION LLC $439,385
STERLING AIR SERVICE LLC $430,523
EL AERO SERVICES $408,993
TRUE AVIATION CHARTER SERVICES LLC $406,922
SAN JUAN AIRLINES (RUGBY AVIATION LLC) $390,488
LYDDON AERO CENTER INC. $387,562
NEXGEN AVIATION LLC $367,861
SP AVIATION INC $366,900
NEW ENGLAND AIRLINES INC. $365,901
SOUTHERN SKY AVIATION CHARTERS LLC $364,648
SMOKEY BAY AIR INC. $353,151
AIRCRAFT CHARTER SERVICES INC. $351,418
JET 1 CHARTER INC. $349,790
OMNI LOGISTICS INC. $349,044
ALPHA AVIATION LLC $345,408
CAPITAL CITY JET CENTER INC $342,402
AVALAIR AIRCRAFT MANAGEMENT LLC $339,222
SKY NIGHT LLC $333,091
AIRGATE AVIATION INC. $333,023
LAKE AND PENINSULA AIRLINES INC. $332,063
FLYCAROLINA LLC $331,461
ALTIUS AVIATION LLC $322,931
RAI JETS LLC $322,423
BANKAIR INC $315,016
MCPHILLIPS FLYING SERVICE INC. $311,144
PM AIR LLC $308,465
JETEX LLC $308,222
CAPITAL CITY AIR CARRIER INC. $307,848
AIRSTAR INC. $305,860
GOLDEN STATE JET LLC $304,595
JET SERVICES INC $297,558
COLEMAN JET LLC $279,552
NORTH COUNTRY AVIATION INC. $275,514
STARJET INC. $272,990
M&N AVIATION INC $271,676
JET METHODS INC $270,802
MERIDIAN AIR GROUP INC $266,777
M&N EQUIPMENT LLC $263,914
EAST COAST FLIGHT SERVICES INC. $260,109
TOWER AVIATION MANAGEMENT LLC $259,915
ABERDEEN FLYING SERVICE $234,772
MCCALL AVIATION INC. $224,167
BUSINESS JET MANAGERS INC. $223,788
TIDAL AVIATION LLC $218,109
CATALINA AEROSPACE CORPORATION $213,590
ALLIANT AVIATION LLC $207,553
MCLEAN AVIATION SERVICES INC. $201,483
WINGS AIR HELICOPTERS LLC $199,886
SPECIALIZED HELICOPTERS INC $197,176
THUNDERUN AVIATION CORPORATION $196,440
SEAWIND AVIATION INC. $193,103
RITE BROS. AVIATION INC. $183,054
SOUTHEAST AVIATION LLC $176,806
MID-PACIFIC AIR SERVICE LLC $175,521
FRESH AIR AVIATION $172,408
MAXAIR INCORPORATED $172,007
EGLI AIR HAUL INC. $171,862
HASKIN AVIATION LLC $165,283
GO AVIATION INC. $163,772
ISLAND WINGS AIR SERVICE LLC $159,643
JEM AIR HOLDINGS LLC $158,775
AMERICAN JET CHARTER INC. $152,466
WALKABOUT AIR INC $140,819
DENALI AIR INC. $140,790
K&R AVIATION LLC DBA OPENAIR $134,387
JEFFREY J CARLIN $133,418
DAE AVIATION ENTERPRISES CORP $132,314
JET OUT LLC $129,089
TURNKEY JET INC. $120,325
AIR-TAXI SERVICE AND SUPPORT LLC $118,963
STOUT FLYING SERVICE INC $114,403
HOPSCOTCH AIR INC $112,896
ROTORWORKS LLC $108,028
WINDSTAR AVIAITION $106,557
EXECUTIVE AIRLINK INC. $105,733
PUBLIC CHARTERS INC $104,712
FLIGHT LEVEL AVIATION LLC. $103,243
SUNNYFIELD AVIATION ASSOCIATES LLC $101,454
BTR AIR CHARTER & MANAGEMENT INC. $100,159
MISTY FJORDS AIR & OUTFITTING INC. $98,322
EXPRESS AIR MEDICAL TRANSPORT LLC $92,772
PRECISION AVIATION INC. $92,266
CAPITAL JET INC. $90,521
EMPYREAL JET INC $89,899
VERTICAL SOLUTIONS LLC $86,430
FLORIDA AEROCHARTER INC. $82,080
MIDWEST FLYING SERVICE $74,150
BLATTI AVIATION INC. $74,096
BLACK HILLS HELICOPTERS INC $73,465
GREAT LAKES AIR INC. $60,729
FENIX AIR CHARTER LLC $58,053
EASTERN AIR EXPRESS INC $57,937
PACJET INC $55,067
PREMIER AIR CHARTER LLC $54,896
NORTHWIND AVIATION LLC $53,895
VALLEY AIR SERVICE INC. $51,384
JANNUS AIR INC. $49,780
AIRWAY AIR CHARTER INC D/B/A NOBLE AIR CHARTER $44,862
THUNDERBIRD AIRWAYS INC. $34,455
SAI FLIGHT SERVICES INC. $33,613
WILDERNESS AIRCRAFT CO. LLC $31,084
RIDGELINE AVIATION INC $27,126
ALAMO HELICOPTER TOURS SAN ANTONIO LLC $23,411
TREASURE AIR CHARTERS LLC $22,559
INFORMART A CA CORP. $16,644
ORION AVIATION INC. $12,842
AIR CHARTER EXPRESS INC $5,981

There’s still $842.5 million in payroll support funds available at the Treasury. Applications have closed for the program, but perhaps if you have a plane it’s worth an inquiry to PayrollSupportApplications@treasury.gov?

Matthew Lesko was right, after all, “the ones who know about the programs are the ones who get the money!”

About Gary Leff

Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel - a topic he has covered since 2002. Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »

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Comments

  1. At least they are naming names…unlike the $500 billion dollar bailout fund that Mnuchin is hiding.

  2. This is because the program isn’t for “airlines” but for “air carriers”. There are basically 2 categories of air carriers: regularly schedule carriers under FAR Part 121 (“regularly scheduled” carriers) and unscheduled service under FAR Part 135. The former includes the “airlines” we often think of but can be very small operators, too. The latter includes charters, air taxis, tour operations, helicopter air ambulance services.

    Yes there are many small air carriers in the US. As with small business in general, they’re an important part of the economy. Just because you’re unaware of them doesn’t mean anything untoward is happening or that they aren’t as deserving of a chance for aid as the big boys.

  3. Glad CC Calzone gets some funding. It would be a shame for such a delicious sounding air carrier to go under.

  4. I would love to see how many of these airlines donated to Trump or other major Republicans. Seems to me that private charters are basically for the wealthy.

  5. i would also like a balanced reporting of major democratic supporter airlines that got grants and loans….to include the airline that flew clinton and sanders around in 2016.

  6. Mr. Neff,

    I appreciate your article in the fact that it you are assisting in the transparency of these very large distributions, however, as “Ryan” commented on June 19, 2020 at 12:13 pm, this is for “air carriers”. When I see this list, I see many 14CFR135 Air Carriers, especially Helicopters. Whether or not some or all of these companies are deserving of the distribution, they are all in fact, Air Carriers.

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