It was certificated as a scheduled freight airline in 1951 by the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB), the now-defunct federal agency that, at the time, tightly regulated almost all US commercial air transport.

[5] In November 1963, Riddle Airlines shareholders voted to rename the company to Airlift International,[6] a measure approved in March 1964 by the CAB.

[7] In 1966, Airlift acquired the assets of defunct Slick Airways to ensure continuity of charter operations for the military.

The freight schedule was augmented by charter flights to South America and the military but by 1981 Airlift International went into Chapter 11 bankruptcy for reorganization.

Due to financial problems during 1990 and 1991, Airlift International ceased operations in June 1991.