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The story of Kalitta Air and its founder, Conrad "Connie" Kalitta, is rooted in a deep passion for drag racing that eventually led to the establishment of an international cargo airline. Kalitta began his company in 1967 using a Cessna 310 to move auto parts, which he later expanded into a large fleet that serves various purposes, including air freight, air ambulance, and passenger charters.
Kalitta Air is based at the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base. It has recently been recognized with the FAA's Diamond Award for maintenance training. Connie Kalitta’s aviation ventures faced numerous challenges, including flirting with bankruptcy and fierce competition in the passenger charter market. Despite these challenges, Kalitta Air continues to thrive, maintaining over 1,500 workers at its facility.
Kalitta Air was significantly involved in Department of Defense operations following the September 11th attacks. Kalitta described the intense work environment, noting: “people at the office were doing 13 to 16-hour days.” The airline expanded rapidly to support missions in the Middle East, including mail deliveries to US forces.
