The airline was started in 1927 as
Scenic Airways by J. Parker Van Zandt at Grand Canyon, Arizona with a
Stinson SM-1 Detroiter and
Ford Trimotor aircraft. On February 23, 1929, the opening day of the
Arizona Biltmore Hotel, Scenic Airways dropped a wooden key on the roof of the hotel's ballroom. The key is on display above the fireplace of the Biltmore History Room. Scenic Airways changed its name to Grand Canyon Airlines in 1930, and Grand Canyon Airlines is believed to be the world's oldest air tour company in continuous operations. Grand Canyon Airlines introduced commercial airline service to
Boulder City Airport (predecessor to the contemporary airport) on June 15, 1936. Two Grand Canyon Airlines pilots were the first to spot the wreckage left by the
1956 Grand Canyon mid-air collision, between
United and
TWA aircraft. Pilots Henry and Palin Hudgen had been flying a scheduled service around the area at the time. On March 29, 2007, Scenic Airlines was sold to Grand Canyon Airlines and was subsequently renamed
Grand Canyon Scenic Airlines. The airline continued to operate from the Boulder City airport providing services to Grand Canyon West, Grand Canyon, Page, Arizona, Monument Valley, Utah, and Rainbow Bridge, Utah. At that time, Grand Canyon Scenic Airlines continued to operate sightseeing flight services to the Grand Canyon every day of the year. On March 19, 2009, Grand Canyon Airlines moved its operations at the Boulder City airport into the company's new Boulder City Aerocenter, a terminal. In 2024 GCSA received the "Best of Las Vegas" Gold award for best airline/charter in the city of Las Vegas. ==Destinations==