Empire Holdings Inc. buys FedEx Feeder West Air Inc.

HAYDEN — Empire Holdings Inc., parent company of Empire Airlines, has purchased West Air Inc., a FedEx Feeder airline headquartered in Fresno, Calif.

Founded in 1978 and based in Fresno, West Air operates Cessna Caravans for FedEx servicing parts of California, Nevada and Utah. The company has served as a FedEx Feeder operator since 1987.

The acquisition expands the footprint of Empire Holdings Inc., which is based in Hayden and owns Empire Airlines, Empire Aerospace and Empire Unmanned. Empire Airlines, founded in 1977, operates for FedEx out of 16 bases in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Alaska, California, Oklahoma, South Dakota, New Mexico and Kansas. Empire Airlines has been a FedEx Feeder airline since 1988.

“West Air is a great company with a stellar reputation in the industry,” said Empire Airlines CEO and Chairman of the Board Tim Komberec. “Their management philosophy and business ethics closely match those of Empire. We are excited to have them as a member of the Empire family.”

West Air will continue to operate as a standalone company with existing management in place. Komberec will become the new Chief Executive Officer. The terms of the sale are not being disclosed.