Representatives from the New Mexico Congressional Delegation, the City of Albuquerque, Sunport International Airport and the Chamber participated in the unveiling.
The airline hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony last week attended by esteemed guests including federal, city and state officials, and airport and chamber executives to mark its expansion at Albuquerque International Sunport. The aerospace sector locally is thriving, and employs nearly 16,000 professionals, contributing $2 billion to regional GDP in Albuquerque.
"Throughout my time in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, I’ve worked hard to position New Mexico at the nation’s centre of innovation and leadership on advanced technologies,” said U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.). “The important work Reliable Airlines is doing in our state to improve aviation safety and strengthen national security is crucial to helping us achieve that goal. I look forward to continuing our work together to connect underserved communities to new opportunities, grow our economy, and support careers New Mexicans can build their families around.”
"New Mexico's 1st congressional district plays a pivotal role in pioneering innovative aerospace technologies that move our nation forward," said U.S. Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury (D-NM). "Encouraging and attracting young people to careers in STEM is a priority of mine, and the advanced automation technologies that will be part of the Reliable Airlines fleet represent a bright future for aviation in Albuquerque."
With a fleet of five Cessna 208 Caravan aircraft, the airline operates daily cargo flights from Albuquerque Sunport to Gallup, Farmington, and Durango, Colorado. The airline has a 99.9% reliability rate in flight operations and 100% of cargo has made service. Reliable Airlines has brought pilots, high-tech aircraft maintenance professionals and air carrier operations jobs to the local area, and expects future expansion in 2024 with additional bases around the country.
“We welcome Reliable Airlines to the aviation family at Albuquerque International Sunport with open arms,” said Richard McCurley, Director of Aviation for the City of Albuquerque. “Reliable Airlines is advancing the industry through the deployment of game-changing technology, and we are excited to support them in this endeavour.”
Reliable Airlines is a wholly owned subsidiary of Reliable Robotics Corporation, which is bringing to market aviation safety-enhancing technologies, including auto-land, auto-taxi, and auto-takeoff, as well as high-integrity navigation and remote piloting capabilities. The Reliable autonomous flight system will initially be deployed on the Cessna Caravan, a popular cargo aircraft that serves regional airports, and can be adapted for use on almost any aircraft.
“Reliable Airlines will lead the way in operating the nation’s first Part 135 cargo airline leveraging FAA-certified advanced automation,“ said Tom Klassen, President and Director of Operations for Reliable Airlines. “The investment in infrastructure and continuous improvements we see at Sunport make this an ideal home base for our growing cargo airline and we are grateful to be part of this community.”