<Tr> <Th> Headquarters </Th> <Td> Miami - Dade County, Florida </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Key people </Th> <Td> Eli Timoner (President) Ed Acker CEO </Td> </Tr> <P> Air Florida was an American low - cost carrier that operated from 1971 to 1984 . In 1975 it was headquartered in the Dadeland Towers in what is now Kendall, Florida in unincorporated Miami - Dade County, Florida . </P> <P> Air Florida was based at Miami International Airport . It was founded in September 1971 by a Miami, Florida, native, Eli Timoner, and was organized by company president Ted Griffin, a former marketing director of Eastern Airlines . It initiated revenue operations on September 28, 1972, operating as an intrastate airline using two Boeing 707 jetliners purchased from Pan American World Airways and offering twice - daily service in Florida between Miami (MIA), Orlando (MCO) and St. Petersburg (PIE) on a "triangle" routings of MIA - MCO - PIE - MIA and MIA - PIE - MCO - MIA with a one way introductory fare of $12.00 . The airline later acquired Lockheed L - 188 Electra turboprop aircraft which replaced the Boeing 707s . Although Air Florida began operations as an intrastate air carrier flying wholly within the state of Florida, it subsequently began adding domestic and international destinations outside of the state . With this expansion, Air Florida's fleet grew to include Boeing 727 - 200, Boeing 737 - 100, Boeing 737 - 200, Douglas DC - 8 - 62, Douglas DC - 9 - 10, and McDonnell Douglas DC - 10 - 30 jetliners . </P>

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