When Pro Air 737s underwent "C" maintenance checks, Spirit Airlines, Pan Am Clipper Connection, and Casino Express operated its flights via charters.
A Pan Am Boeing 727 collapsed the fence at the end of runway 33 in at Detroit City Airport (DET) due to having to significantly increase engine thrust because of the short runway takeoff length of 5000 ft.[citation needed] Pro Air required its initial employees to go door-to-door in the metropolitan Detroit area and pass out flyers promoting the airline.
[citation needed] Pro Air was in direct competition with Northwest Airlines (which operated a hub at the larger Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)) on many of its routes.
Detroit-area vehicle manufacturers General Motors and Chrysler also had programs in place for their employees and families who flew on Pro Air with discounted fares of $30 each way being available.
[7] Due to Detroit City's short runways limiting the amount of fuel the aircraft could carry on takeoff, flights to Seattle and Florida stopped in Chicago and Atlanta, respectively.
Just before Pro Air's demise, General Motors (GM) had been in talks to offer their three corporate-configured Saab 2000 turboprop aircraft to the airline, indicating that they would choose which routes and frequencies the aircraft would operate on as Pro Air Express flights; however, the deal was never consummated due to the airline ceasing operations, as well as the abandonment of Detroit City Airport.