Some of us can remember a time when any number of US airlines graced the skies, both near and far. Most dated back to the early days of commercial aviation and every single one of them had a loyal fan base. Several were permanently grounded as a result of severe financial difficulties that no amount of bankruptcy restructuring could fix. Others were absorbed in complicated mergers that left only one carrier as the surviving airline. Whatever the reason, all of them are missed. That’s why I thought it’d be fun to take a look back at these bygone airlines; how they started, how they grew and what contributions they made to the world of aviation. This is the seventh and final installment in a multi-part series. If you’re lucky enough to remember flying just one of these carriers, I hope you enjoy your trip down memory lane. If not, I'm betting you'll appreciate learning more about what made each airline special and the role they played in the evolution of the industry. Next up - US Airways.
That airline could trace its history back to All American Aviation, Inc., a company founded in 1939 by the du Pont family brothers Richard C. du Pont and Alexis Felix du Pont, Jr. two years later. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, the airline first served the Ohio River Valley. All American Aviation focused primarily on airmail services, transporting mail between small communities in Pennsylvania. The airline’s early operations relied on a fleet of small aircraft, including the Stinson Reliant, a popular single-engine aircraft of the time. These aircraft were suitable for short-haul flights and enabled All American Aviation to serve the needs of local communities efficiently. However, as the demand for passenger transportation grew, the airline recognized the potential for expansion beyond airmail services.
In the late 1940s, the carrier expanded its operations to include scheduled passenger flights. It acquired larger aircraft, such as the Douglas DC-3 and Convair CV-240, which offered improved capacity and range. These aircraft became the workhorses of the airline, connecting various cities and towns across the region. With the introduction of passenger services, the carrier underwent a name change and in 1949 it became known as All American Airways. This shift in focus marked a significant milestone in the company’s evolution, seeing it transition from a mail carrier to a regional passenger airline.
As All American Airways continued to expand, the airline established more routes across the US, particularly in the northeastern and mid-Atlantic regions. It aimed to connect smaller communities with larger cities and became a vital transportation link for both passengers and cargo. All American Airways underwent further transformations in the following decades. In 1953, it was renamed Allegheny Airlines and operated under that name for a quarter-century. Allegheny acquired its first jet, the Douglas DC-9, in 1966. The carrier absorbed Lake Central Airlines in 1968 and Mohawk Airlines in 1972 to become one of the largest carriers in the northeastern United States. In 1973 it was the ninth-largest airline in the free world by passengers carried and and 24th largest by passenger miles. With expansion came growing pains and I recall living in Pennsylvania in the 1970s when Allegheny had the disparaging nickname "Agony Airlines.” On the plus side, Allegheny initiated an agreement with Henson Airlines to operate "Allegheny Commuter" flights, which became the industry's first code-share agreement, a type of service now commonplace throughout the industry.
After passage of the US Airline Deregulation Act, Allegheny Airlines changed its name in October of 1979 to USAir. This rebranding aimed to position the airline as a national carrier and reflect its growing presence beyond its regional roots. USAir experienced a boom in the 1980s, firstly by becoming the launch customer for the Boeing 737-300 in 1984, and later by merging with Pacific Southwest Airlines in 1986 and with Piedmont Airlines in 1987 and, at the same time, acquiring Piedmont’s hub at the Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina.
By 1989, USAir had grown to be one of the largest in the world, operating upwards of 5,000 flights per day. Within a few years, the airline had become a major player in the aviation industry, operating a diverse fleet that included modern jet aircraft such as the Boeing 737 and the Airbus A320. The airline established additional hub operations at airports such as Pittsburgh International Airport and Philadelphia International Airport, facilitating efficient connections for passengers traveling across the country. In the early 1990s, USAir began operating transatlantic services to London (LHR), Paris (CDG), and Frankfurt (FRA). A short-lived alliance with British Airways began in 1992 but ended four years later when the UK flag carrier announced plans to partner instead with American Airlines. Nevertheless, USAir continued to see a surge in profits due to low fuel prices and a buoyant market, and in 1997 it rebranded yet again, this time as US Airways.
But, the good times were not to last. The 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon resulted in a significant decline in air travel demand and negatively impacted the entire airline industry, including US Airways. By August of 2002, the carrier had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection due to the financial strain caused by the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, economic downturns, rising fuel costs and intensified competition. US Airways underwent a comprehensive restructuring effort for the next three years while operating under bankruptcy protection. This period involved cost reduction measures, fleet optimization, route adjustments, labor negotiations, and the development of a restructuring plan to improve efficiency and financial stability. The airline also sought financial assistance from the Air Transportation Stabilization Board (ATSB), a government agency created to support struggling airlines in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks. By March of 2005, US Airways successfully emerged from bankruptcy after implementing various restructuring measures and receiving much needed financial support. A merger with America West Airlines headquartered in Phoenix that same year ensured its survival. As a more recognizable brand worldwide, it was decided that the merged airlines would retain the name US Airways.
During the same time period, American Airlines was facing similar difficulties, fueled by the 2008 financial crisis. In February 2013, the struggling carriers announced plans to merge, forming the largest airline in the world. The merger was completed in December of the same year and, once again, the smaller airline's management took control. Within two years, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) granted both carriers a single Air Operator Certificate (AOC). This led to the removal of the US Airways brand by October 2015. When it ceased operations that year, the US Airways fleet comprised 331 aircraft, including 90 Airbus A321s, 20 A330s, and 24 Boeing 757s. Most of its aircraft were transferred to American Airlines, including an order for 22 Airbus A350-900s, which was later canceled when the carrier opted for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner instead. In October 2015, the final US Airways flight took to the skies from San Francisco (SFO) to the airline's main hub in Philadelphia (PHL). En route, it made stops at US Airways' other hubs in Phoenix (PHX) and Charlotte (CLT). That Airbus A321 operated as flight #1939, commemorating the year that All American Aviation first graced the skies.
Until next time…safe travels.
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