Great Lakes Airlines
A former U.S. regional airline that linked Denver and other western hubs with small communities using turboprop aircraft.
About Great Lakes Airlines
Great Lakes Airlines was a U.S. regional scheduled carrier operated by Great Lakes Aviation. Founded in 1977 and based in Cheyenne, Wyoming, it developed a distinct role serving smaller communities, particularly through federally supported Essential Air Service routes. The airline used the IATA code ZK and ICAO code GLA. Financial and operational pressures eventually proved unsustainable, and it suspended scheduled passenger operations in March 2018.
Denver was the airline’s primary hub and its largest departure point, with Minneapolis, Page, Farmington and Las Vegas also functioning as important stations within the network. Great Lakes served 48 destinations across the United States and operated 123 routes. Its schedule concentrated on linking communities in the Great Plains, Mountain West and Southwest with larger airports, including Phoenix and Albuquerque, where passengers could connect to broader domestic networks.
The fleet was built around two regional turboprop families: the Beechcraft Beech 1900 and Embraer EMB-120 Brasilia. These compact aircraft were suited to lightly travelled routes and airports that could not consistently support larger regional jets. Service was generally offered in a single economy cabin, with limited overhead storage and fewer onboard amenities than travellers would expect from a mainline carrier. Some larger bags therefore needed to be checked at the gate.
Great Lakes Airlines did not belong to Star Alliance, SkyTeam or Oneworld and did not operate a widely recognized standalone frequent-flyer programme. It instead relied at various times on commercial relationships, interline arrangements and codeshare connections with larger U.S. airlines. The details and availability of those partnerships changed over the carrier’s history, so benefits associated with another airline’s loyalty scheme were dependent on the specific agreement and itinerary.
Great Lakes Airlines’ principal strength was the connectivity it provided to communities with few scheduled air-service alternatives. Its small turboprops and regional network could offer a practical link to Denver or another connecting airport. The trade-off was a more basic passenger experience, limited schedule flexibility and greater vulnerability to disruption than on dense mainline routes. Because scheduled operations ended in 2018, its former destinations and route figures describe the historical network rather than flights currently available for booking.
Good to know
Flying with Great Lakes Airlines — what to expect
Operations Have Ended
Great Lakes Airlines suspended scheduled passenger service in March 2018, so its former flights are no longer available to book.
Small Turboprop Aircraft
The airline operated Beech 1900 and Embraer EMB-120 turboprops. Cabins and overhead-storage areas were smaller than those found on typical mainline jets.
Limited Cabin Storage
Larger cabin bags could require gate checking because of the aircraft’s restricted storage space. Travellers were wise to keep medicines, documents and valuables in a small personal item.
Regional Connections
Many services linked small communities with Denver or another larger airport. Connection times needed a reasonable buffer because frequencies on thin regional routes could be limited.
Basic Onboard Service
Flights generally used a single economy cabin with limited amenities. The airline’s focus was essential regional transport rather than a full-service premium experience.
Network overview
Where Great Lakes Airlines flies
Great Lakes Airlines operates 123 routes to 48 destinations across 1 countries, its longest sector reaching Denver to Williston (930 km nonstop).
Destinations served
Cities Great Lakes Airlines flies to, most-served first.
Main hubs
Busiest departure bases, by route count.
Fleet
Aircraft types on record for these routes.
Longest nonstop route
Denver → Williston
930 km · DEN → ISN
The longest sector in the Great Lakes Airlines network, measured as the great-circle distance between the two airports.
Route data · TravelPayouts route data · updated 2026-07
Route network
Popular routes operated by Great Lakes Airlines
Notable destinations on Great Lakes Airlines's network.
ZKDenverdirectZKMinneapolisdirectZKPagedirectZKFarmingtondirectZKLas VegasdirectZKPhoenixdirectZKChadrondirectZKPierredirectZKAlamosadirectZKAlbuquerquedirectZKAlliancedirectZKCortezdirectDestination list is indicative of Great Lakes Airlines's network; see the airline's official route map for its complete, current schedule.
More from United States
Other airlines based in United States
FAQ
Great Lakes Airlines — frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the details travellers usually check first, from codes and locations to the practical basics that help with planning.
8 common questions
- Great Lakes Airlines served 48 destinations across 1 country, operating 123 routes. These figures describe its historical network because scheduled passenger service ended in 2018.
- Originfacts compares live fares from hundreds of airlines and travel agencies via its partner Travelpayouts and never adds a fee. Since Great Lakes Airlines has ceased scheduled service, searches may instead surface current carriers serving relevant routes.
- The longest Great Lakes Airlines route was Denver to Williston, about 930 km nonstop. It formed part of the carrier’s former regional network.
- Carry-on space was highly restricted aboard the airline’s small Beech 1900 and Embraer EMB-120 aircraft, and some otherwise standard cabin bags could be gate checked. Historical allowance details should not be treated as current because the airline no longer operates scheduled passenger flights.
- Great Lakes Airlines tickets are no longer sold because scheduled passenger operations ended in 2018. For alternative airlines serving its former markets, compare flexible dates and book early where regional flight frequencies are limited.
- The busiest departure hubs were Denver, Minneapolis, Page, Farmington and Las Vegas, in that order by number of routes. Denver was the airline’s principal connecting hub.
- Denver was Great Lakes Airlines’s primary hub and busiest departure point. Minneapolis, Page, Farmington and Las Vegas were also important stations in its historical network.
- Great Lakes Airlines served regional destinations across the United States, including Denver, Minneapolis, Phoenix, Albuquerque, Page, Farmington, Chadron and Pierre. It suspended scheduled passenger operations in 2018 and no longer flies these routes.