Empire Airlines was a regional airline serving the Northeastern United States beginning in 1976. In 1985, the airline was purchased by Piedmont Airlines, which itself was later purchased by USAir.
Empire Airlines began with its hub at the Oneida County Airport. Empire expanded throughout the early 1980s to destinations in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states. For a time, Empire aircraft also provided feederliner service to Pan Am as ‘banner carrier’ Pan Am Express at John F. Kennedy International Airport.
Source: Wikipedia
