Golden Gate Airlines was a United States regional airline founded in 1980 in Monterey, California after the merger of Gem State Airlines and Air Pacific (USA) in 1979. It merged again in 1981, this time with Swift Aire Lines, but discontinued service shortly thereafter.
Golden Gate Airlines served the following destinations during its existence. According to the July 1, 1981 joint Golden Gate Airlines / Swift Aire Lines route map, the two air carriers were serving those cities appearing in bold either separately or jointly together:
Bakersfield, California (BFL) – served by Golden Gate and Swift Aire
Boise, Idaho (BOI)
Elko, Nevada (EKO)
Ely, Nevada (ELY)
Fresno, California (FAT)
Grand Junction, Colorado (GJT)
Lake Tahoe, California (TVL)
Las Vegas, Nevada (LAS)
Los Angeles, California (LAX) – served by Golden Gate and Swift Aire
Merced, California (MCE)
Modesto, California (MOD)
Monterey, California (MRY) – Golden Gate Airlines home base
Oxnard, California (OXR)
Oakland, California (OAK)
Palm Springs, California (PSP) – served by Swift Aire
Pendleton, Oregon (PDT)
Reno, Nevada (RNO)
Sacramento, California (SMF)
Salt Lake City, Utah (SLC)
San Francisco, California (SFO) – served by Golden Gate and Swift Aire
San Diego, California (SAN) – served by Swift Aire
San Jose, California (SJC) – served by Golden Gate and Swift Aire
San Luis Obispo, California (SBP) – served by Swift Aire
Santa Barbara, California (SBA) – served by Swift Aire
Santa Maria, California (SMX) – served by Swift Aire
Stockton, California (SCK)
Sun Valley, Idaho (SUN)
Following the merger of Golden Gate Airlines and Swift Aire, the following turboprop aircraft types were being operated by the combined air carriers:
de Havilland Canada DHC-7 Dash 7
Convair 580
Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner
Aérospatiale N 262 (Nord 262) (via merger with Swift Aire Lines)
Fokker F27 Friendship (via merger with Swift Aire Lines)
