Piedmont - The Model of How Good an Airline Can Be

This was a 1987 video produced by Piedmont Airlines based in Winston-Salem, NC. It was put together shortly after the merger with USAir was announced. The actual merger came about 2 years later.

[@jamesallen8320]

My father was a pilot for piedmont from 1944-1984. It was his life. I miss his stories.

[@nashfan1000]

I left Eastern Airlines in 1984 to start with Piedmont Airlines in Greensboro North Carolina absolutely loved Piedmont, they did everything right and they value their employees. Was a sad day when they got together with USAir and their employee hating management. I retired from Piedmont USAir American in 2015. I loved working for Piedmont, wish I had started their years before and was able to enjoy the true Piedmont family before us are ruined it.

[@flightforensics4523]

Sad day doesn't even scratch the surface of how dismal Pittsburgh was. So glad Doug Parker eventually cleaned house in PIT. PIT. THE REASON FOR TWO BANKRUPTCIES AND OVER HALF OUR PENSIONS STOLEN FROM US!

[@dustinleonsky4513]

I remember flying on a 767 to Los Angeles from Charlotte. Was in Los Angeles for 2 weeks. Flew back to Charlotte from Los Angeles. It was great. The flight crew was so COURTEOUS and very PROFESSIONAL on both flights.

[@ThatCodeBlue]

It still warms my heart to see the rare Piedmont professional in the system today. They always stand out because they are so very kind.

[@jasongoforth]

This is bringing back so many memories. My dad married a Piedmont flight attendant from my hometown in NC around 1980 or 81. We flew all the time & I've been in love with aviation ever since.

[@judyrevels230]

PIEDMONT AIRLINES, the best, better than all the rest and had the best CEO EVER.

[@stevedow5842]

Airline mergers just lead to the end of customer service.

[@Lex5576]

And the prices keep getting higher and higher. But Piedmont did indeed have their sh*t together. They kept Charlotte-Douglas Airport busy around the clock.

[@lymarstallings1835]

Wonderful memories of Piedmont Airlines! Thanks so much for posting.😊

[@craigjackson2428]

Thanks for the historic upload,. As a kid, fond memories of Piedmont Airlines from Louisville. By the time I was 16 in the 80s, i accrued a free ticket to los angeles via brand new 767s and Charlotte being a frequent flyer member along with hotel stay and rental car. That kid eventually became a avgeek globetrekker as a adult.

[@airpiedmont]

Thanks for watching! Louisville was a very early destination for Piedmont. Great city.

[@jjgreek1]

I grew up in CLT and have great memories of this great airline. Used to fly them to NY all the time connecting to TWA to ATH to visit relatives.

[@nc4tn]

Like many an ole country boy from the south, I made my first jet flight in a Piedmont 737.

[@RobertDixon-sw3dz]

I well remember when the London gateway was up in the air. It was American at RDU vs Piedmont out of CLT with Piedmont getting the route.

[@stitch-xx2oo]

I will always miss Piedmont even though it is still here as a commuter between CLT and ROA!! Piedmont is definitely the best!!!!

[@rickodato369]

The commuter is NOT Piedmont.

[@flyinghow]

I was a Piedmont FF all through the 80s living in LYH with little other choice, but I loved Piedmont and their AC, especially the 727. I got to fly on the 767 out of TPA to CLT a few times, but never had the chance to go across the pond. It was a great AC. Takeoff was thrilling. The guy at 1:46 is HOT LOL!

[@scotabot7826]

Video of the destruction of one of the greatest airlines ever built!

[@rapman5363]

Hardly, Piedmont was a thriving,productive airline for years. Consistently ranking high in customer satisfaction and work place satisfaction. This is a video on how a small regional airline went from 3 planes to a top player in the industry. This video as made in 1987 and Piedmont was on top of the world at that time, so I don’t see how you can deduce from this video anything but success. There is no doubt Piedmont was gobbled up by a changing market forces in 1989 but to see anything put positivity in this video is delusional at best.

[@scotabot7826]

@@rapman5363 You, didn't understand my comment it seems. I plainly said. "One of the greatest airlines ever built". When USAir bought Piedmont in the late 80's, it ruined the airline, and was it's destruction! Please read my comment again! How you deduced what you did from my comment, I couldn't tell you. Try again!

[@michaelargenta3856]

NOBODY SAYS WE CAN NOT BRING BACK THE PIEDMONTE AIRLINES BACKF FROM THE DEAD/GRAVEYARD >>????? !!!! SOUNDS LIKE A MOVIE - ??

[@jocelynharris-fx8ho]

That is why I hated when they passed the Airline Deregulation Act which set merger mania into motion. Some of the greatest airlines in terms of style and personality, were swallowed up by the major carriers and made flying less fun and less exciting. In addition to Piedmont, I miss, Hughes Airwest, Air California, Frontier ( the original), Ozark, Texas International, North Central, Southern, Air Florida, Trans International, Wein Air Alaska, Aloha Airlines and Pacific Southwest. 😢

[@Lex5576]

It's depressing to know that there will never ever be an airline remotely close as good as Piedmont was before the merger. The bigger and wealthier these airlines of today become, the deeper they cut quality and service. I don't fly anymore. Why even bother when driving equals less hassle? Taking a crusty Amtrak compartment is an upgrade to airlines these days.

[@aaronswafford4441]

Why did Piedmont take over USAir?

[@airpiedmont]

They didn't. USAir purchased Piedmont.

[@scotabot7826]

And then ruined everything that Piedmont had built!! @@airpiedmont

[@flightforensics4523]

​@@scotabot7826ESPECIALLY if that part of Piedmont was profitable or money saving! Like the Florida Shuttle or the efficiency of the INT HANGAR!

[@jelenedressler]

@@flightforensics4523 I worked those Florida Shuttle F-28's while based in Miami! We sometimes had 9-leg days on that shuttle and it never felt like work to me! How I loved being a flight attendant for Piedmont Airlines! I miss it to this day.

[@jasper2207]

My first flight was on a Piedmont Martin 404. The return was on a Boeing 727. It was love at first flight!