Rio Airways was a regional passenger airline headquartered in Killeen, Texas, United States,[1] and was operational from 1967 to 1987.

The Connell's who owned Rio, sold it in early 1986 to a group of investors from Houston, Texas headed by Hugh Seaborn a former owner of Metro Airlines[4] Rio operated various aircraft types through its history and initially flew single piston engine Piper Cherokee Six and twin piston engine Beech 18 aircraft.

On January 12, 1971, a Rio Airways flight from Dallas crashed on short approach to the Killeen Municipal airport, injuring several people, including the chancellor of MH-B College.

The flight descended below the approach minimum altitude in fog and struck the ground about a quarter mile (one-half kilometer) short of the runway, slid across Highway 190 and came to rest on the airport boundary fence.

On February 15, 1983, an Iranian man, Hussein Shey Kholya, hijacked a Rio Airways flight from Killeen to Dallas/Fort Worth.

[5] According to the June 1, 1970 Rio Airways route map, the airline was serving the following destinations as an independent regional air carrier:[6] According to the April 1, 1978 Rio Airways route map, the airline was serving the following destinations as an independent regional air carrier:[7] According to the January 1, 1983 Rio Airways route map, the airline was serving the following destinations as an independent regional air carrier:[8] The airline also previously served Abilene, Texas (ABI), Dallas Love Field (DAL), Fort Worth Meacham International Airport (FTW) and Lawton, Oklahoma (LAW).