ED BEAUVAIS 1960 - 1963 ACCOUNTANT DEN Making a Difference; America West's Latest Dogfight By LAWRENCE M. FISHER Published: May 12, 1991 "On this initiative, we've hit the market hard; we are the strongest," said Edward R. Beauvais, founder, chairman and chief executive of America West Airlines, referring to the carrier's announcement last week of steep fare cuts. Since its founding 10 years ago, America West has built a reputation as one of the last of the scrappy independents, offering full service at precipitous discounts, with such perks as unlimited free drinks. The booze is gone, but last week's move could be the first salvo in a new round of fare wars. The Phoenix-based carrier cut most of its full coach fares by an average of almost 40 percent, touting the discounts in a $20 million ad campaign that casts Jonathan Winters as a Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf lookalike. Some carriers, like Northwest and Midway, matched the new fares immediately in some markets, but the big three - American, United and Delta -- said only that they were studying the move. The guarded response of the giants was just what he expected, Mr. Beauvais said. "Our cost levels are such that we can make money on these fares," he added, noting that America West has the youngest fleet of fuel-efficient airplanes in the business. In markets where the big three compete only with each other, they maintain high fares, Mr. Beauvais asserted. "It's really important for the industry to have the mavericks to provide a competitive spark," he said. Though America West accounts for only about 3 percent of the airline industry's capacity, its routes link many major cities, with hubs in both Phoenix and Las Vegas. Despite its spunk, America West is not immune to the travails of the airline industry as a whole. It reported a first-quarter loss of $49.9 million, compared with a loss of $2.6 million in the comparable period a year ago. Mr. Beauvais said the combination of the gulf war, the recession and soaring fuel prices hurt results, but that business began to recover in March. A 31-year veteran of the industry, Mr. Beauvais, who is 54, began his career with Frontier Airlines in Colorado as an accountant. Prior to forming America West, he was a principal partner in an air transportation consulting firm from 1970 to 1981. -http://query.nytimes.com/gst/ (1/5/09) Beauvais rises again on the wings of ambition Ed Beauvais lost almost everything in 1992. New lenders ousted him as chairman of the bankrupt America West Airlines. He lost a $1 million salary, a $1 million home and his stock in the low-fare carrier he founded was nearly worthless. There was one thing he didn't lose: his ambition. Last week, Beauvais, 58, announced plans to launch a new airline, Commercial Air, in Colorado Springs. -http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/ (4/17/16) An old college buddy, the late Gene Lamansky, had talked him into interviewing for an accounting job at Frontier Airlines. ... He left Frontier Airlines in 1963 to be director of budgeting and cost control at Bonanza Airlines, then a regional carrier based in Las Vegas. ... America West's expansion during the 1980s made it a media darling, with glowing articles appearing in the Wall Street Journal and Business Week. Phoenix was particularly infatuated with the easygoing Beauvais. The former Frontier Airlines accountant and aviation consultant was hailed as a civic icon who had helped put the city on the map. Working for America West became fashionable in Phoenix; announcements of new routes were made weekly, and the carrier always seemed to be hiring. The constant stream of America West planes flying in and out of Sky Harbor made the airline's familiar logo - a burgundy sun setting over stylized initials that look like mountain peaks--an everyday sight. -http://www.westword.com/news/im-ed-fly-me-5055728 (4/17/16) He is not on the Feb 1960 FL Roster. -Jake Lamkins (4/17/16) Hi Jake, I've been remiss! Cheryl and I've been friends with Ed and Mary Ellen Beauvais for a long time. I knew Ed had started his airline career with Frontier and, as such, shoulda had him signed up with you long before this! My bad! Ed was the founder of America West Airlines that grew to become the largest airline in the world with the livery of American Airlines. He also founded Western Pacific Airlines and another who's name escapes me this morning. I nominated Ed for the Arizona Aviaton Hall of Fame. He was inducted in 2014. -Billy Walker (5/17/18) Hi Billy, Thanks for the update on Ed. Recommend the online FL News to Ed at http://FAL-1.tripod.com/FL_News.html It's free and in color. Oh, I found a pic of Ed from 1963 that I bet he's forgotten. It's attached. Best regards, -Jake Lamkins (5/17/18) Ed Beauvais died He's also work for Frontier, too. https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2021/10/01/ed-beauvais-co-founder-and-former-ceo-america-west-airlines-dies-84/5959075001/ -Dave Bottinelli (10/2/21) Thanks for letting me know, Dave. -Jake Lamkins (10/2/21) Tribute to him at Airways Magazine is at https://airwaysmag.com/featured/a-tribute-edward-r-beauvais/ It says he left FL in 1963 to join BZ in LAS. His obituary says he joined FL in 1960. The azpilots.org article also uses these dates. A google search for "Edward R. Beauvais" gets 1440 results. His Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/edward.beauvais.5 FindAGrave is at https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/232760672/ed-beauvais -Jake Lamkins (10/8/21) Edward R. Beauvais Edward R. Beauvais has been in the air travel industry since 1960. He was the founder of three airlines in the U.S. subsequent to the air carrier industry's deregulation in 1978. He founded America West Airlines and built it into a billion dollar operation within eight years after its start up. He was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of America West for eleven years, from 1981 to 1992. During this period, America West acquired over 100 Boeing and Airbus aircraft, grew to a 14,000 employment level. After leaving America West in 1992, Beauvais founded two new low fare airlines. Western Pacific Airlines (Westpac) was formed in 1994 and initiated service at its Colorado Springs hub in April, 1995. Mountain Air Express (MAX), a Colorado Springs based commuter carrier initiated service in 1996. Ed retired from Westpac in January 1998. Mountain Air Express (MAX) was sold to Air Wisconsin in 1998. Prior to the formation of America West, Beauvais was the Chairman and CEO of his own air transportation consulting firm from 1970 to 1981. His firm provided economic research and development services to many airlines, including Continental Airlines, Frontier Airlines, Trans Texas Airlines, USAirways and New York Air. His firm also provided aviation related consulting services to many communities, including Baltimore, Boston, Houston, Louisville, Oakland, Phoenix, Toledo and Wichita. He began his aviation career in 1960 as an accountant for Frontier Airlines, and in 1963 joined Bonanza Airlines, which merged with two other airlines in 1968 to become Airwest Airlines. A native of Pueblo, Colorado, Beauvais graduated from Regis University in Denver in 1958 and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and Economics. He received an Honorary Doctorate in Aviation from Embry-Riddle University and an Honorary Doctor of Management from Colorado Technical University. -https://azpilots.org/images/newsletters/2013/apanewsletter2013-05may20.pdf (10/8/21) ARIZONA AVIATION HALL OF FAME EDWARD RAYMOND BEAUVAIS Arizona Aviation Hall of Fame Enshrined 2014 Edward Beauvais was born November 13, 1936, in Pueblo, Colorado and grew up there. He attended Regis College in Denver where he received a degree in accounting. His career in aviation began in 1960 when he went to work for Frontier Airlines as an accountant. In 1963 he was hired by Bonanza Airlines as Manager of Budgets and Cost Control. Ed and his family first came to Arizona in 1966 when Bonanza moved its headquarters to Phoenix from Las Vegas. Two years later he moved along with the airline to California when it merged with Pacific Airlines and West Coast Airlines to form Air West. In 1979, Edward formed his own aviation consulting business called Beauvais, Robert, and Kurth. Headquartered in Burlingame, California the company provided economic, route system, and marketing support to numerous airlines and cities throughout the country. Eventually, the company would open offices in both Washington DC and Phoenix. Edward led the company until 1981 when he developed a business plan for a new low-cost airline, America West to be headquartered in Phoenix. Over the next two years, he worked to secure financing and lease aircraft for the fledgling airline. America West began service on August 1, 1983, with flights from Phoenix to Kansas City, Wichita, Colorado Springs, and Los Angeles. Over the next ten years, Beauvais built America West into one of the most successful of the 1980s post-deregulation airlines. He left America West as Chairman and CEO in 1992 and returned to his native Colorado. Two years later he founded Western Pacific Airlines and a year after that began Mountain Air Express. Mountain Air was sold in 1998 and that same year he retired from Western Pacific. In nearly forty years in the airline industry, Beauvais founded three successful airlines, one of which, America West, has grown through mergers to become one of the largest airlines in the United States and has adopted the name of its latest acquisition, American Airlines. Beauvais has received numerous awards and recognitions over the years including: an honorary Doctorate of Aviation Management from Embry Riddle University, Entrepreneur of the Year from Arizona State University College of Business for 1988, the Key to the City of Tempe, Honorary Doctorate of Management from Colorado Technical University, and the Laurels Award for Outstanding Achievement in Commercial Transport from Aviation Week & Space Technology. -https://pimaair.org/hall-of-fame/edward-raymond-beauvais/ (10/8/21). Hardly anything on him in my FLiles other than the Jul 15, 1963 Finance Dept photo. He is not on the Feb 1960 employees roster or the Dec 1961 employees club roster. -Jake Lamkins (10/11/21) Hey Billy, When/where was this pic taken of you and Ed? Jake Lamkins (10/11/21) Good Mornin, Jake, That woulda been March 2011. I was inducted into the AZ Aviation Hall of Fame. Then my sister, MM, surprised me with a nice surprise gathering at the Left Seat Restaurant where this was taken. Ed really was a hellofafella! The largest airline in the world is American Airlines and owned by America West Holdings! What a legacy! Ed was proud of his start in the airline industry at good ol' Frontier in 1960. -Billy Walker (10/11/21) Jake, Mary Ellen has looked high and low for a photo or two of Ed when he was with Frontier (1960). Here are some photos that I scanned that, hopefully, you will find helpful with Ed's obit page. Beauvais Family 1996 Standing L-R: John, Mark, Matt, Cathy, Paul & Ed Talbow (Mary Ellen's brother). Ed went from FAL to Bonanza. He is standing 2nd from the right with the company basketball team. Ed was an All State football and baseball player in high school. There will be a memorial for Ed with my Stearman Squadron buddies performing the Missing Man Flyover at 5:30 PM Thursday the 28th. Promises to be a great sendoff for Ed the 28th. 3 T-6 Texans and 4 Stearmans will perform the Missing Man in his honor! Hellofafella! Catholic services will be held Friday AM. -Billy Walker (10/11/21) Thanks for the pix and info, Billy. Jake (10/11/21) FLacebook Frontier Memorial Webpage Posted ED BEAUVAIS 1960 - 1963 ACCOUNTANT DEN http://FAL-1.tripod.com/Ed_Beauvais.html Ed went on to found America West airlines. Post your remembrances of him. -Jake Lamkins (10/12/21) Pam Coffman Ellis Prayers for Ed’s family and friends Mary Ellen Beauvais Thank you so very much for the thoughtfulness of doing this. We are all grateful. (10/13/21)