Champion Air

Ghost Corp Apparel — resurrecting iconic corporate ghosts.

Champion Air emerged in July 1995 when Minnesota tour operator Front Page Tours acquired a majority interest in Grand Holdings, the business descended from MGM Grand Air. The reworked carrier adopted the Champion Air name, retained the old “MG” airline code, and traded much of the casino-era glamour for serious charter work.

In March 1997, Minnesota Twins owner Carl Pohlad and Northwest Airlines acquired Champion Air. The company relocated to the Minneapolis area, shared facilities and resources with Northwest, and became a principal charter carrier for Northwest-owned MLT Vacations. Its documented headquarters was later in Bloomington, Minnesota.

Champion specialized in moving professional sports teams, vacation groups and government customers. Its Boeing 727 fleet was built for practical charter duty, not subtlety: three engines, three-pilot crews, and plenty of old-school jet presence. In 2003, five company executives purchased the carrier from its Northwest/Pohlad ownership group.

By 2008, rising fuel costs, an aging 727 fleet, and the loss of major charter business had made the numbers unforgiving. Champion Air announced its wind-down on March 31, 2008, and ceased flight operations on May 31, 2008. The champion went out not with a trophy parade, but with the last boarding call.

Our Champion Air collection celebrates a hard-working charter airline that carried teams, fans and sun-seekers before its Boeing 727s finally took their curtain call.