The rise and fall of Hooters Air — the airline that lost the 'breastaurant' $40 million

pulse

February 23, 2018 8:02 PM

Hooters started an airline in 2003, and it closed three years later. Here's what it was like to work there.

You might not remember it, but at one point Hooters had an airline. Hooters Air launched in 2003, but closed about three years later. The company cited a number of reasons for the airline's failure, including a $40 million loss. But in the short time that Hooters Air existed, it made a major economic impact on one city in particular — Myrtle Beach, South Carolina — that's where the airline was headquartered, and where it brought thousands of tourists every week.We talked to people who worked for Hooters Air — flight attendants and one pilot (who asked to remain anonymous). They told us what it was really like to work for the airline (which featured two Hooters Girls on every flight) and dispelled some common misperceptions about what it was like to fly it. Hooters declined to comment for this story. Following is a transcript of the video.BI: Hooters had an airline?BI: