Originally Posted by
Jughead
Seek and ye shall find.
Pilot unionization became a sore point for management, and they created a dedicated FAR Part 125 Certificate that could operate without unionized pilots. Eventually, all of the contracts held by the company were passed along to others. Those marketplaces were observed to change over time, even as other airlines took over ZIA contracts. The remaining aircraft were sold off, save a handful, and eventually the airline lost business momentum. Its operating certificate and FAR 121 Air Carrier Certificate, once deemed highly valuable, was given back to the FAA in beginning years of the new millennium, as was the FAR 125 Certificate. It was then that Zantop International Airlines ceased operations, and their aging but excellent aircraft were marketed elsewhere.
Thanks for the info JH and C47. I remember that very loud, very high pitched squeal of engine noise on the ramp when those things would come taxiing by!

It would send shivers up my spine.