| Airline: | Zantop Air Transport |
| Founded: | incorporated in Michigan |
| Ceased: | renamed to Universal Airlines |
| Focus Cities: | Detroit, Michigan United States |
| Key People: | Lloyd Zantop Howard Zantop Duane Zantop |
Zantop Air Transport was a United States airline incorporated in 7 July 1956 from the earlier Zantop Flying Service.[1] It was a Part 45 carrier until 1962 when the Civil Aeronautics Board approved transfer of the operating certificate of Coastal Air Lines, making Zantop a supplemental air carrier.[2] As a Part 45 carrier, Zantop was not a common carrier, it flew contract work for the Big Three automakers and for the Air Force Logair air freight service. As a supplemental, Zantop was able to hold itself out to the public as a general charter carrier. The original founders of Zantop Flying Services, the Zantop brothers, all sold their stock and resigned from the company in 1966. A name change was filed with the State of Michigan effective 29 December 1966 in the name of Universal Airlines, Inc.[3]
The airline was based at Wayne County Airport, Inkster, Michigan.[2]
Zantop Flying Service was a fixed base operator (FBO) formed by brothers Duane, Lloyd and Howard Zantop as a partnership in 1946.[2] The base of operations for the new company was Jackson, Michigan. At first, the fledgling company used light aircraft, and performed cargo duties for General Motors. In 1952 the company obtained a commercial operators permit and began to service Chrysler and Ford. A year later in 1953 they moved the operations to Wayne Major Airport, now Detroit Metro Airport.
The company continued under that name until becoming Zantop Air Transport in 1956.
See main article: Universal Airlines (United States).
See main article: Zantop International Airlines. Universal collapsed on 4 May 1972. Zantop International Airlines was incorporated in 30 May 1972 by the three Zantop brothers with minority participation by two other people. By June it was in operation, once again flying auto parts.
The Zantop Air Transport fleet consists of the following aircraft as of 1966:[4]
| Aircraft | Total | |
|---|---|---|
| Armstrong Whitworth Argosy | 9 | |
| Curtiss C-46 Commando | 49 | |
| Douglas DC-3 | 4 | |
| Douglas C-47 Skytrain | 4 | |
| Douglas DC-4 | 7 | |
| Douglas DC-6 | 7 | |
| Douglas DC-7 | 21 |