AVIATION MERGERS - The Rise and Fall of New and Legacy Airlines after Deregulation in 1978

[@bertg.6056]

I'm old enough to remember when airline travel was something to be enjoyed. Nowadays, it has devolved into something to be endured. Thanks for the great presentation, Mike.

[@glennweaver3014]

You are so right sir.

[@bertg.6056]

@Fox Spirt Sure, in theory you are correct. But the greedy airlines pretty much double the price for First Class.

[@tpajay]

@@bertg.6056 Depends on where you fly. I travel first class domestically & find it reasonable. I took UA CLE-FLL First class one way for $292.00 & CLE-LAX for $447.00 recently. I got out a UA timetable from Dec. 1968 to compare first class prices for you. A first class ticket CLE-MIA was $82.00 one way in 1968 & CLE-LAX was $136.00. Those 1968 prices would be $634.31 & $1.052.03 respectively in 2021.

[@MadeInNewYork73]

Was nice when everyone had nice clothing...and had real dishes & silverware. Now..I tell my kids no different than riding a city bus.

[@bertg.6056]

@@MadeInNewYork73 A city bus has far more room for each passenger, Madeln.

[@maxsmodels]

It breaks my heart that I recall so many of those airlines. I worked at Presidential Airways tossing bags during the deregulation era.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Agreed Max. To support the company, I bought stock in Long Beach-based Jet America.

[@jpgabobo]

Great Photos! Still have fond memories of PSA's smiling 727s. Would love to see more about the histories of the small airlines & the fantastic canvas airliners have been for artists & designers through the years. Thanks for a 'one of a kind' channel, & all the excellent books too.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Appreciate the comment, thanks!

[@maxsmodels]

Another great one Mike. Thanks for helping out at the Livestream. I had not heard of Charles Hubbell but now I am impressed by his work.

[@davidfromkyushu6870]

I really liked this; early on you mentioned Juan Trippe and the men who could buy 20 airplanes with a phone call. Have you considered doing profile videos on them? Trippe and Pan Am have always interested me, there was a certain adventurous angle to the early history of that company as they plotted their course across the Pacific.

[@martinpennock9430]

Fascinating! I remember a lot of those other airlines, but had no idea where they went. Thanks again Mr. Machat for a great video!

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Special thanks to viewer "C G" for suggesting the idea of mergers for this video!

[@Planeviz]

Great trip down memory lane. I worked at the Trump Shuttle, the successor to the Eastern Airlines shuttle, when Eastern and Pan Am folded. Having grown up in 60s/70s Northeast/Delta family it was inconceivable to me to think that once mighty Eastern and Pan Am would be no more.

[@joeljenkins7092]

I had so much fun in the Sixties cataloging and looking at all the regional planes that flew in and out of MCI: Ozark with the turboprop Fairchild and Frontier with DC-9s and 737s were among my favorite. Watching the big, colorful Brannif 707s belch black smoke was a thrill. I flew Pan Am to Tampa in 1982, but my favorite airline was Midwest. Their DC-9s were former Kimberly-Clarke executive planes, trimmed in big, leather chairs. Very smooth, and always on-time to Midway.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Yes, I remember that Midwest DC-9 story, and flew on one of their flights - a great experience!

[@bcshelby4926]

@@celebratingaviationwithmik9782 ..yeah I miss them too, they were pretty much the last of the "old school" full service carriers that still cared about quality. They were a little more expensive than most of the majors and discount carriers, but well worth it. Would have loved to see them survive and have moved to the A-320/321. Also loved the fact that their primary hub was my old hometown of Milwaukee. When Southwest began expanding they wanted nothing to do with the city because of how popular Midwest was there. After thy ceased service Southwest finally moved in making MKE a focus city and later acquired Midwest's rival, AirTran. Now Southwest has the largest market share there which I find disappointing as I dislike their first come first serve "cattle call" boarding procedure. Yeah, North Central/Republic, Northwest, Ozark, and in the 80s/90's Midwest were once major staples at MKE, now all gone while the city has pretty much been relegated just another spoke on the remaining majors' hub networks. Another Airline I miss that was not mentioned here (as the merger with United merger in 1961) was Capital Airlines. This is where United acquired most of their north south routes in the eastern part of the nation along with the fleet of Vickers Viscounts. Capital was the only other US carrier besides Continental to operate the Viscount. In the 1950s Capital was also looking at the Bristol Britannia (when the Britannia prototype toured the US it was painted in Capital's livery) and also ordered DeHavilland Comet 4s, however their worsening financial woes pretty much put that to rest. They did manage to operate one jet type for a short while on their New York - New Orleans routes as well as Cleveland and Pittsburgh to Miami, with Boeing 720s leased from United.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

@@bcshelby4926 Great informatuion, thanks. I illustrated a book on the de Havilland Comet and they wanted a Comet 3 in Capital markings which looked awesome. Well familiar with "Southwest effect" also - they took over my hometown field at Burbank, once the domain of PSA and Western.

[@bcshelby4926]

@@celebratingaviationwithmik9782 ...it would have made for a somewhat curious situation for an airline that was based in our nation's capitol to be flying a primarily British built fleet. Wondered had they survived if they would have considered the BAC One Eleven as well (American, Braniff International, and Mohawk all operated the type). They would have been the only other airline in the Americas to operate the Comet. Mexicana flew 4Bs back in the 1960s to early 70s before transitioning to all 727-200s. I remember seeing their Comets regularly at O'hare. Yeah as i mentioned not very pleased about Southwest's takeover of MKE. The city went from one of the classiest airlines (Midwest) to the "bargain basement" (Southwest, Frontier and Spirit, the latter two having the tightest seat pitch in the nation). I remember when planespotting at MKE was exciting back in the 60s: when the big jets were commonplace like 707s,. 720s, DC-8s (including the 61 series), and later 747s, 757s, and DC-10s. Now it's pretty much all 737s and RJs with the only "big jets" being for UPS, FedEx, DHL, Air Force reserve (KC-135s) and the occasional Volga-Dnepr AN-124 showing up to haul large machine parts. In my book, a "regional jet" is still either a DC-9, 737, or BAC-One Eleven.

[@n84434]

I've been with Delta (Aircraft Maintenance ORD)for nearly 33 years and enjoyed this video immensely. The Pan Am acquisition included hiring a good number of Pan Am's employees and giving them their original seniority, which left a lot of us a little miffed.... That whole ordeal put DL in a tough spot financially. Anyone remember 7.5???

[@BobbyGeneric145]

What was 7.5? It left PanAm in a bad spot too!

[@Mrs.Doubtfire007]

That's okay. Our Northwest people weren't happy with how your Delta screwed us over on our so-called merger.

[@alanclarke3228]

Great video Mike! I had worked at LAX for several years, and I can relate to this video. I've seen a lot of "falling flags". I personally prefer the pre '"mass transit" days!

[@rixxroxxk1620]

This was nicely done! A lot of information that I had no clue about. I enjoyed this immensely. Thank you for making a vid that didn’t use a computer generated voice. You lived it and told it. Liked and subscribed!

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Appreciate the comment, thanks, and great to have you aboard!

[@tpajay]

You missed some mergers that make up American Airlines. Allegheny merged Lake Central (1968), Mohawk (1972). Name became USAir in 1979. USAir merged PSA (1988) & Piedmont (1989). Name became USAirways in 1996 & merger with America West (2005). Before US/PI merger, Piedmont bought Empire Airlines in 1985. Of American's mergers, Trans Caribbean Airways (1971), AirCal (1987), Reno Air (1999), TWA (2001) & USAirways (2015). As you said TWA & Ozark merged (1986). There are commuter airlines that these carriers have bought over the years that I didn't include. I started with Allegheny back in the 1970s, so I just did the mergers that make up today's American Airlines. I'm glad I retired in 2001 because it was a great job back in the last century. Can't imagine what the employees & passengers go through now. As others have said, Hughes Airwest was part of the Republic Airlines & merged with Northwest. I'm not sure if you would call DL/PA a merger. Delta bought profitable assets from Pan Am in 1991 & gave them $100 million to buy a 45% stake ownership into a smaller Pan Am. DL didn't own PA outright. After PA shut down in 1991, United & American split the assets of Pan Am's Miami hub.

[@chuck9987]

Another great video. I remember my first jet flight. Detroit to New York on an American Airlines 707 in 1970. Two things stick in my mind about that flight. One, a 707 has some serious wing flex. I was astounded to see the engines differentially moving up and down, almost as if the planes wings were flapping like a birds. Two, everyone was dressed in their Sunday best and they behaved appropriately. Now everyone dresses like they are going to a slumber party and they tend to behave as if they were as well. :( Over the last 50 years I've gotten to fly on numerous airlines and on different aircraft both for work and personal reasons. I got familiar with the unofficial names of the airlines (TWA, aka The Worst Airline. Allegheny, aka Agony Airlines. North Central (aka Dead Duck). Most of those names were well earned/deserved.

[@alantoon5708]

And Eastern was ALWAYS late.

[@mpetersen6]

@@alantoon5708 Maybe not an unofficial name but the few times I got stuck on Frontier I always looked to check for arrows sticking out of the fuselage.

[@viksaini]

You're cleared for the Chapter 11 arrival! Love the idea of your own bankruptcy lawyer.

[@erbman89b]

I was a junior in High School in 1978 when everyone was talking about airline deregulation. I had no idea what that was all about. In one simple video you have made clear all of the things I have seen and read about different random airlines and now it makes sense. Thanx for clearing that up. I saw the Braniff "Great Pumpkin" frequently as the approach path for DFW was right over my house.

[@downtownpickles2799]

was the only one they used to my understanding ....it was never shut down .....

[@daleamcallister284]

I'm retired from NWA and flew all over The World. Started January 12 1970. Was a spoiled young man and loved it!

[@thomasflynn198]

Playing cards, postcards, stationary with the airline logo and food! Great full meals to be exact. Loved the industry in the 19th century. Great vid as always Mike! subbed.......

[@viksaini]

There were no airlines in the 19th century unless you count the Aerial Steam Navigation Company which never got off the ground. 😁

[@tpajay]

Even though smaller, Eastern, Western, Delta, Braniff, along with several others were considered trunk carriers like the four you mentioned. North Central (started as Wisconsin Central), Southern, & 11 other carriers became local service carriers in 1955. The government subsidized these smaller carriers to smaller cities that the trunks no longer wanted to serve.

[@BobbyGeneric145]

Theres a great book about the local service airlines on Amazon.

[@tpajay]

@@BobbyGeneric145 If you're talking about "America's Local Service Airlines" (printed 2016), I have it. As a matter of fact, I found a couple of mistakes on the airline I worked for & contacted the author about it with my documentation. He gracious contacted me & said that he researched his data again and that I was correct. He amended the info for future reference. Thought it was nice of him to do that.

[@MadeInNewYork73]

Never traveled internationally...but often in the US. Finest ride was always an AA DC-10 and yes, I did fly out of Bflo on one in June 1972. Still love seeing them used as wildfire tankers here in Colo.

[@craiglordable]

I got all of my ratings at Long Beach, private, commercial, multi, and instrument. When I got out of the Air Force I ended up at Flying Tiger Line and had the pleasure of working "stretch 8s and 747s. Love the Airline and the planes. Then FedEx bought us and that was that. Two great companies.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Thanks for the comment Craig, and I had several friends at Tigers during that same era. Did you ever know, or fly with, Rick Drury, Phil Paul, or Pat Foley?

[@craiglordable]

@@celebratingaviationwithmik9782 Didn't mean to mislead you. I was flying for Cessna while working ops with Tigers. I recall Foley as I may have jump seated with him. I ultimately ended up teaching weight and balance on the DC-8 and 747 including FedEx folks. Then they sold the planes and I went on to other things and ended my career in aircraft MX control as a project admin. Great ride.

[@AlchemicalArtist]

I grew up under the flight path of the Long Beach airport (my teachers at Minnie Gant Elementary often paused their lessons to avoid being drowned out by an airplane overhead), I remember riding by the Douglas plant nearly every day as it seemed that we were always driving down Lakewood or Clark or Carson, and consequently I always felt like McDonnell Douglas was "our" airplane manufacturer and was pretty bummed out when they merged with Boeing and announced the plant closures. Thank you giving me a nice moment of nostalgia.

[@garfieldsmith332]

Thanks for another history lesson about aviation. Sadly the bankruptcies, mergers, and acquisitions occurred all over the world as the world shrunk in size. I remember seeing many of those airline names on aircraft. I only flew on two, Trans Canada Airline (now Air Canada), and Allegheny (now part of American). Funny that the aircraft I was on had Allegheny printed on the fuselage and Mohawk printed on the wings. I was flying just after the merger and all the paintwork had not caught up.😊

[@rscott2247]

Did Eastern Airlines get bought out ?

[@garfieldsmith332]

@@rscott2247 Sort of. Bought and merged then disolved.

[@jocelynharris-fx8ho]

I remember Hughes Airwest, the "original" Frontier, Southern Airways, North Central, the original Braniff, Western, Air Calufornia, Texas International and in canada; CP air, Eastern Provincial, Quebecair, Nordair Canadian, and BWIA in the caribbean; those were the days😢.

[@gregorkranzelmayer3986]

Dear Mike! You have the best aviation channel on KZbin . Congratulations and thank you very much for your work, devotion and the good times you bring to me via your presentations. Yours, Gregor Kranzelmayer, Austria/Europe

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

With apologies for the belated reply, many thanks for your kind comment and support of the channel!

[@michaelsteiger8509]

Mike, Delta did not acquire Hughes Airwest. Delta picked up Western! Hughes was on the side of NW/Republic merger. Western included PNA….. Don’t forget National and Pan American merger. Technically Delta did not merge with PA, that just bought the assets when it fell apart. Very nice series! Cheers!

[@joelbosso1331]

This was great! I'm currently reading Hard Landing by Thomas Petzinger. It give a great account of the personalities and events in the immediate aftermath of Deregulation. Highly recommended for anyone that wants to learn more about this era.

[@sharonburgess9829]

I can't stay away from your site. Always fascinating. Loved your work with Wings/Airpower and have your co-authored book on Delta Airlines history. Your profile drawings/paintings are absolutely perfect. At first blush, I wish deregulation had never happened. I spent hours in the 1960s at O'Hare Intl. watching North Central, Ozark, Allegeny, etc. alongside United DC-8s, Continental 707s and American's Lockheed Electras. -- Kurt Burgess

[@JeffreyStull-w4y]

I worked in Dobbs House Airline Catering Service in Jacksonville Florida when Northeast Airlines merged with Delta. We affectionally referred to the Yellow Birds as Half Pealed Bananas. Loved Northeast Airlines and Delta too. It was a complete 360 for Southern Airways. Southern had purchased several DC-9's from Delta, and were kept in service all the way through the Merger with Northwest and Delta. Delta ended up with the same DC-9's it had sold to Southern some years before.

[@diabeticalien3584]

So, I guess, in a way nothing really changed? An industry went from being highly regulated, dominated by a few corporations, to then being highly competitive, and then finally today again dominated by a few big airlines? And of course, airlines got away with down-grading their service.

[@gerardmoran9560]

You can now fly a round trip trans-con route in 1st class for less than 1960's inflation corrected coach price. It's much safer than it was then too. Doesn't so so bad to me.

[@diabeticalien3584]

@@gerardmoran9560 Thats a good point.

[@米空軍パイロット]

And domestic first class tickets in the US can be as cheap as $500. We live in a pretty good time for air travel where you can still choose good service or choose to travel on a shoestring

[@BobbyGeneric145]

The industry only recently recovered from Deregulation.

[@johnplaninac9980]

Another great and informative video

[@jimandlindaready448]

Mike, you've done it again... excellent video.... looking back, I didn't realize that deregulation was the reason for the demise of so many successful air carriers.... your comments and timeline explains it so well.... kudos!....

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Many thanks!

[@mrbyzantine0528]

Amazing video! As someone who came of age at the very tail end of the consolidation period, do you have any links to other videos or articles that examine this topic? I've always been an aviation nerd and adore studying liveries and airline history.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Thanks for your comment, and yes, you might enjoy this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f2nddmmcetdporM

[@JuanGarcia-vb3du]

Hughes Airwest was acquired by Republic Airlines. Delta gained western USA routes when it merged with Western Airlines. Love your videos.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Yes, absolutely correct. Sorry for the error.

[@bcshelby4926]

...noted that as well before I saw this post.

[@paulrom446]

I worked Ground and Underwing for Continental Express back in the early 2000's.. It was a good ride I had lots of fun. I changed careers in the mid 2000's several years before United pirated our Globe Logo! Glad I didn't have to go through the Merger and possibly lose my seniority with COEX! Things happen for a reason!

[@kenty2831]

First class production, I always learn and remember content after your videos. It takes an artist, you, to eloquently put 70 years in focus

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Appreciate the comment, thanks!

[@byrondot]

Very, very nice video! Thanks!

[@MM_in_Havasu]

Interesting video! I stopped flying in commercial airliners in 1999 after a nightmarish flight from Denver to Phoenix(plane was late because of "weather") and then to Burbank, plane was 15 min. late getting into PHX and, by the time we schlepped our 3 year old son and his attendant stuff all the way to the other side of the f'n' airport only to find that they just closed the boarding gate......I told them to find me another flight out of there or I would turn my son loose in the terminal and pull all those little red handles on the wall(fire alarms). This was after they threatened to call police on me because I got vocal about their shortcomings as an airline(America West). I would have been arrested and on a no-fly list today for standing up for myself. We got another flight out about 3 hours later and this put us home at 11:30 pm, had to go to work the next morning at 4:30 am. I will never fly anywhere ever again unless it is a dire life-threatening emergency of biblical proportions. I just drive wherever I need to go now, works for me. The airlines can keep their overgrown sardine cans.

[@misterwhipple2870]

Did you say "schlepped"? You should have flown El Al . . .

[@adamhay2798]

Thanks for that detailed overview, Mike! You're right when you say that technology has made airline travel safer and more stress free for flight crews. However, I feel that flight attendants in today's climate have a miserable job. It used to be a career of prestige and being the "face" of the airline in terms of customer comfort and satisfaction. Fast forward to today and it's more like being a server in a a roadhouse...you know the one with the band playing behind a cage! Having experienced the regulated era, it's really sad to see how air travel has ended up.

[@ScumfuckMcDoucheface]

the one with the band behind the cage hahaha oh too true man, could not have said it better, really sad in a way, I often wish I had been born at a time to have experienced and enjoyed the height of airline travel and prestige (as well as ships, i.e. the Titanic and such)

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Agreed on all points, thanks Adam!

[@captainemeritus5927]

Great Vid, Mike!

[@Crabby303]

Thanks for the video, very interesting and informative. I'm surprised to learn that routes used to be tightly regulated in the US. I think a piece on the various big manufacturer mergers leading to the current situation would be fascinating.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Neat idea, thanks!

[@billmiller4550]

Love it ! Thank you for all the information !

[@pierolovatto6044]

Great video!, thanks Mike.

[@Tordogor]

In the 1970s, Branniff flew to Buenos Aires, Argentina. As a child, I loved the gaudily paint schemes of its airliners. When Branniff went down, I really felt bad about it; I had the hope of flying to the USA with Branniff as an adult. Very nice video, as usual ... 👍

[@glennweaver3014]

Another excellent presentation Mike. Glad you covered this topic, as it was good to learn who acquired who is all the mergers of deregulation. I sure miss the nice assortment of attractively painted aircraft from that era, but at the same time, I'm grateful for the technological advances we have today.

[@betamax5674]

Flew on a few of those fallen flags. Another interesting feature!

[@josephpalmieri3095]

When I was working I would fly from LA to the Space Coast aboard United. Talk about a 'cattle car' experience. Don't miss the attitude of the flight crew. Take away the competition and there's no need to work hard for your business.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Agreed!

[@RobMiami787]

I enjoy your videos so much, You are so thorough and knowledgeable! But did you miss mention of Republic airlines??

[@airlineratings5525]

Superb Mike as always....

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Many thanks!

[@jonathanlander3631]

Really enjoying your knowledge and insider perspective. I've now watched several of your videos. Speaking of merged airlines, my first trip was in 1966/67 as a boy on an Eastern Airlines B727 EWR>MIA. Not sure if Eddie Rickenbacker was still with the company by then but my father, a WW2 Vet, spoke of him with awe. Other airlines I've had the pleasure of flying - Northwest (when it was still branded Norwest Orient), PAA, TWA, National, Continental, Midwest Express, USAir and Braniff.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Appreciate the comment, thanks!

[@TheStimpy60]

Fascinating as always Mike. Being a big fan of Douglas ( and the DC-3 ), I always like hearing stories of your time there. My brother-in-law used to be an engineer at Lockheed, working at the Skunk Works on the U2/TR-1. He said that the merger of McDonnell and Douglas was very contentious, and that the company issued pencils with the two original companies names printed at either end. The Douglas guys would break off or sharpen the end with McDonnell off and only use the Douglas end, and vice versa

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Hadn't heard the pencil story, but yes, I can just see those guys doing that! And of course, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and even Fairchild Republic back in the day. Thanks!

[@RK-xv9rp]

The evolution of the logo is a neat story in itself.

[@tpajay]

You could actually fly more than one airline between the same two airports even before deregulation. If flying between CLE-LAX in 1968 NONSTOP, you could choose between AA B707 or UA DC8 service. Each airline offered 3 nonstop roundtrips each day. Even smaller cities could have competing routes as long as they were government approved. Again, using 1968 time because those are the timetables I grabbed. Wheeling WV had 2 nonstops to PIT with F27s & Lake Central had 2 nonstops on same route using Nord 262s.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Yes, that's correct, and thanks for the extra details. I remember booking a trip from JFK to BWI in the 1960s, and my choice was a United Boeing 720 or Delta Convair 880. (Couldn't resist the 880!)

[@larrydee8859]

As Always; Great Work Mike! I Remember back in the early 60s, seeing a lot of these different airlines flying over my house in the Bronx heading probably toward LaGuardia. Thanks for sharing, your very informative Airline merger video!

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Thanks Larry, and yes, you would have seen many "legacy airlines" flying into LaGuardia back then - Allegheny, Mohawk, Eastern, Northeast, and National, just to name a few.

[@larrydee8859]

@@celebratingaviationwithmik9782 Your right Exactly, Mike. Back in the early 60s, I remember a lot of different airlines flying overhead; Many so low, I recall actually smelling Kerosene, a few moments after they passed overhead. (Earlier, when I was quite young, I remember many propliners, like DC3s ,4s, 6s, 7s, as well as Constellations, and Locked Electra's! At least three times, during these early years, I recall, aircraft circling around, with engine trouble with irregular engine prop sounds). It was great sight seeing).

[@forresthinkle6781]

Not sure if you are correct about Hughes Airwest being acquired by DL in 1980. If my memory is correct, North Central and Southern merged to form Republic. Shortly after that , they acquired Hughes Airwest. Yes, DL did eventually acquire Hughes, but via The Northwst merger that previously had acquired Republic.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Yes, you are absolutely correct. Sorry for the error.

[@Duececoupe]

Just sitting and looking at a kits for a Douglas DC-4 and The Great Silver Fleet from Eastern Airlines, NC88706 #713, only for that last number....713, I've got a soft spot for 13! But then again....that Monogram 1/48 Douglas DC-3 from the same airline, what a beauty! You and Max have a lot to answer for! 😉😆😂 Excellent video again, as always!

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Many thanks!

[@johannesbols57]

I think it's time to sit down and compose a little term paper about my memories of flying commercial beginning in 1968... but I'm commenting here in response to your final comment about service during COVID. In 1970 I was an unaccompanied minor flying HOU - JFK on Easter Airlines. The 727 went tech so I was transferred to a Delta CV-880 in First Class. I remember looking back into coach and seeing the 3x2 config. Dinner was filet mignon on real china with salad with Green Goddess dressing. I sat next to a businessman and we had a conversation lasting the entire flight. Incidentally we flew into LGA.

[@fhwolthuis]

Great video, Mr Machat 👍👍

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Many thanks!

[@RK-xv9rp]

I never flew on Ozark, but I always admired the logo on their tails.

[@finlayfraser9952]

Mike where do you get all those wonderful display models from?

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Thanks for asking, and those models are a combination of my own and several other private collections.

[@scpatl4now]

When I was little I used to always ask for playing cards when I flew (to collect not use). I still have a deck of Braniff and Piedmont cards (unopened) as well as multiple Delta cards that featured cities they served...wonder what they are worth...lol (doesn't matter, I would never sell them)

[@TroysMilitaryHistory]

A brief history of all the US airlines would be a great series (big project I know!). Hail Mike! PS - when are you getting a Patreon account?

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Good suggestion on thhose airline histories, and we are looking into the Patreon account option, thanks.

[@lancerevell5979]

In 1976, I flew a DC-9 from Tallahassee, Fl. to San Antonio, Tx. to go to USAF bootcamp at Lackland AFB, then two months later to Champaign/Urbana, Ill. for tech school at Chanute AFB. Later in the early 1980s, my second hitch was in the Navy, I flew a Boeing 727 from Norfolk, Va. to Charleston, SC. to pick up my car, after my ship left shipyard at Charleston and homeported back to NorVa. For some odd reason, that jetliner went down to Savannah, Ga. before swinging up to SC. I was worried I'd end up in the wrong city! 😎

[@jameswaters3939]

I think Republic included Hughes AirWest along with Ozark and North Central. Mohawk and Allegheny were merged to form USAir, later US Airways, which later acquired Piedmont.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Yes, that is correct, and apologies for the error. Republic was composed of Hughes Air West, North Central, and Southern, and was acquired by Northwest. Ozark went to TWA.

[@jameswaters3939]

@@celebratingaviationwithmik9782 Thanks. I'd forgotten that it was TWA that took over Ozark. Makes sense as they were both KSTL based, I think.

[@tpajay]

Allegheny & Lake Central merged in 1968 & Allegheny & Mohawk merged in 1972. Allegheny changed their name to USAir seven years later in October, 1979. USAir merged PSA into system in 1988 & Piedmont in 1989. We changed our name to USAir in 1979 because people still thought of us as a local carrier & not the major carrier we had become. US CEO Stephen Wolf (1996-98) changed the brand name to USAirways in 1996.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

@@tpajay Great information to have, thanks!

[@mitch8367]

Great job of recounting the numerous mergers in the U.S. airline industry. One small correction: Hughes Air West was purchased in 1980 by Republic Airlines, not be Delta. However, through the merger of Republic with Northwest which was later acquired by Delta, Hughes Air West is now a part of the Delta family tree.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Thanks for the correction!

[@norherman]

Republic was North Central Southern and Hugh's Airwest

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Yes, that's absolutely correct. Sorry for the error.

[@Chilly_Billy]

As a Pittsburgh yinzer born and bred, I remember the days of Eastern quite well.

[@ShakespeareCafe]

Bring back Transglobal...Their Golden Argosy non-stop service to Rome was the best

[@iannarita9816]

With or without VanHeflin?

[@davidgreer8385]

12:20 Delta acquired Hughes Air West in 1980? Hughes Air West became part of Republic.

[@cityofabscissae]

That Northwest Orient MD-11 must be an artist rendering since Northwest had already dropped Orient from their name long before the MD-11 ever flew and never flew that type of aircraft.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Good catch! Yes, that airbrush concept rendering was from a proposal to Northwest for the MD-100 (predecessor to the MD-11), presented to the airline in Summer 1983.

[@marcman844]

There is an error here; Delta did not acquire Hughes Airwest; Hughes Airwest was acquired by Republic which was acquired by Northwest and then Delta.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Yes, that is correct, thanks!

[@alexbellotti3087]

Mike, I hope you don't mind getting teased. But you look like Ron Burgundy in the pics. Can you please say: "Stay Classy San Diego"? P.S. i realiy do enjoy all your videos and hearing your first hand knowledge and insight!

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Love it!

[@jetsons101]

I remember the "deregulation" chaos, it was a mess like you said. How could one president make such a mess of things..... It got to a point that one would never know the name of the airline they were flying on and there were "fees" for every little thing. At work we would refer Sorthwest as "sorthworst." My longest most complex flight was from LAX to East Millinocket Maine. Again Mike you really outdid yourself, another great watch.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Appreciate the comment, thanks!

[@jetsons101]

@@celebratingaviationwithmik9782 Since I started watching your channel I have built 8 or 9 models, "with painting" Thanks for getting me back in the hobby.

[@FLT111]

McDonnell Aircraft management had no idea about "looking into the future". That's why the Airbus left them way behind.

[@RK-xv9rp]

Air West was acquired by Republic in 1980 and Republic was merged into Northwest about 1985.

[@michaelf5034]

Good video, but Delta did not acquire Hughes Airwest. Hughes, Southern and North Central merge$ to form Republic, which was merged into Northwest. Obviously Hughes did end up with Delta, but not as a direct merger

[@RapideWombaticus]

Brilliant

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Many thanks!

[@auntbarbara5576]

I was an Eastern girl from way back. I recall flying on one of the first L10-11s and lovely A300.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

My all-time favorite airline back in the day!

[@hughofIreland]

You’re 💯% correct that service has suffered. Even though fingers could be pointed at Southwest, I refer to it as the Ryanairification of the industry. 😅

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Interesting point, thanks!

[@stevenlemieux7220]

Delta backed out of the Pan Am deal. Nobody bought Pan Am, Eastern, or Braniff that is why they all made a 2nd come back. Braniff even had a 3rd. TWA can't have a come back because American purchased the brand name. I bet there is a loophole somewhere. Maybe if TWA was registered in foreign country it might work.

[@pastorjerrykliner3162]

My dad worked for United... Going to the airport used to be fascinating: so many liveries, different types of aircraft...a simple trip from Newark (EWR) to Denver (Stapleton, DEN) was enough to keep me glued to the windows, counting various types of aircraft and airlines. Now? Going to the airport is drudgery. All twin-jets, largely wing mounted. No more Tri-Jets: 727's, L1011's, DC10s... No more Fokkers, BAE 111's, BAE 146's. The rare 747 freighter. All Airbuses and Boeings...usually 737's or A320's. The only carriers are Delta, American, and United-Continental. It sucks. Thank God American is doing the "Heritage Livery" for their A320's: I actually shout when I see one painted in the old PSA or Piedmont (via USAir) liveries. I miss the old days: the United "sunset" stripe and "tulip U," the "Flying Colors" of Branniff, the natural, polished aluminum of American... All gone and never coming back, I know. Sigh.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Great comment, thanks, and I agree 100%!

[@teenagerinsac]

from 1968- My first jetliner trip to Oklahoma City- You had to be dressed like you were church bound, NO exceptions.... No proper attire??? NO Ticket for YOU, folks! Today...... It's Vagrancy central, with the Dregs of Humanity in clothes selectivity...... What a difference 3 generations worth of peoples lives make, with norms compared now to then.... :(

[@teenagerinsac]

Also- my very first airplane flight involved Noerheast Airlines and the Yellowbirds- 1966- FH-227C N377NE and a charity flight benefitting the Dana-Farber Cancer Center/ Jimmy Fund which was memorable.

[@dingo8babym20]

You missed Central>Frontier>Continental>United

[@lunes-1]

What happened with ✈Panam Airlines?

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Good question Cristina. Pan Am was a classic example of a once-great airline no longer able to compete after deregulation. A major problem as so many new low-cost airlines took over, was that Pan American never had domestic U.S. routes, and depended on other airlines to feed passengers to their main hubs on the east and west coasts connecting with the international flights. They bought National Airlines to solve that problem, but it was too late. Having very senior highly-paid personnel, plus runaway debt, an aging fleet, and fares that were no longer competitive finally led to the Delta acquisition in 1991. Thanks for the question.

[@lunes-1]

@@celebratingaviationwithmik9782 good explanation,thanks Mike. very sad.i miss the golden era of quality flying on the 80ts. Great food,comfortable seats and pleasant travellers.this days is awful,like cattle.

[@johnwatson3948]

I remember in the 1970’s when American got all those Caribbean routes by taking over Trans-Caribbean with its blue and orange palm tree 727’s.

[@scottnichols3685]

Nice video. However, Hughes AirWest merged with Republic which, in turn, merged with Northwest Orient, which, in turn, merged with Delta. Republic was the merger product of North Central and Southern. In turn, Republic merged with Hughes AirWest, Delta did not directly merge with Hughes AirWest. Sad that you didn’t mention AA’s merger with Trans Caribbean which gave AA a strong foothold in the Caribbean. Within 3 years of that merger, Pan Am abdicated its historic position in the Caribbean. Also, Delta did not acquire Pan Am,. They acquired some Pan Am assets and route authorities. United purchased the remainder, ie Latin America’.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Yes, that's correct and apologies for the error.

[@Agwings1960]

Holy cow.... ordering 20 jets over the phone, is an incredible thing to ponder. Also after deregulation pilots and mechanics took a beating in regards to their pay scales.

[@cruzcontrol1504]

",,,this is Jim Dooley,,,C'mon DOWN to Sunny Florida on NORTHEAST AIRLINES !!! "

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Love it!

[@cruzcontrol1504]

@@celebratingaviationwithmik9782 I figured it was hard to forget that guy !

[@stuartlee6622]

What happened to Jim Dooley?

[@johnpinckney4979]

Today, 5/17/2022, is the 57th anniversary of my first flight, a TWA 707-331, IAD-LON (as LHR was back then). the "promise" of competition from deregulation was not kept. On most routes, you have less choice, at higher fares, and worse service than before 1978. The airlines themselves have suffered as tehy are no longer regarded as "prestige" employers. Along with the poorer service, the clientele has also changed. People used to get "dressed-up" to fly. Not anymore. And, they behave that way, as well.

[@jimmbbo]

Great video, Mike... IMO deregulation has major yin/yang overtones... Ticket prices are lower which in part is responsible for the disappearance of the fun of air travel as cost control becomes the mantra of the airlines. Toss in the coarsening of society and we get what we see on the airlines today. The romance is certainly gone, and airliners have become Greyhound busses with wings. On the flip side, on a very selfish level it is extremely remote that I would have been able to have a 35 year career as an airline pilot under the old CAA rules. A down side of that opportunity is that I know of only a handful of pilots who have not been furloughed or had their airline fail, driving them to seek the lowest position on another airline's seniority list... Yin meet yang...

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Great comment, thanks!

[@fredguth6080]

Some additional info on how PanAm came apart is in order. Delta may have purchase or merged with PA corporately but all that DL got was PA's continental European network. The rights to London/LHR, the Caribbean, Central American and S. Amer. networks were parsed out separately. United got most of those entities. Delta had to build their networks one route at a time to those other areas. DL was forced to settle for routes to London/Gatwick initially. While UL & AA my have split some of the Miami rights, AA already had or would eventually acquire Eastern's south bound International business. DL wanted Eastern's business but the gov't. didn't allow them to have it. In a way DL got the last laugh on that. Eastern's wide bodies were mostly L-10s and some Airbuses. DL already had a sizable fleet of L10s. AA wanted no part of the Eastern L10s. So DL was able to buy them for a mere $4 million apiece, refurb them and made a fortune with them. AA had to eat the Airbuses. Another interesting story is when UL got PA's Pacific business they discovered that the PA 747s were in such decrepit shape that they grounded all of them. And when AA absorbed TWA, the only asset of real value was TWA's rights to London/LHR. St. Louis to Honolulu? Hooray for that! Oh, and TWA had a few L10s. They may have had to eat them too.

[@scpatl4now]

Interesting story...I was flying back to ATL from Sydney on American (before Delta went there) and it was a couple of months after the TW merger was announced. My routing was SYD-LAX-STL-ATL on my return and the LAX-STL was on a fairly new TW 767 that was still in TW livery. It was laid out for international travel and since I was flying business, it was probably the most spacious cabin I had flown on.

[@kealapuaonetamureamoreno8301]

Delta did not buy Northwest Airlines , both Companies decided to a MERGER the new Company then issued new Corporate stock in order to buyout the Employee and NWA Unions stake in the new Company, however a majority of former NWA employees decided to exchange their NW stock for the new DL stock at a rate of one to one and half of the new Cporporation stock!

[@alantoon5708]

If one wants to loose a lot of money, get into the airline business.

[@bcshelby4926]

..if you were in the northern tier (Seattle, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Detroit) it was primarily Northwest. We used to call Northeast's jets "Banana Jets". Hughes Airwest was actually bought out by Republic in 1980 which was acquired by Northwest in 1986 which in turn was acquired by Delta in 2008. Yeah, deregulation was supposed to foster more competition in the industry, but ended up doing the opposite due the airlines acting like kids let loose in a candy store. Over saturation and duplication of services, over expansion of routes and fleets, market driven rather than mileage based fares (it costs about 40$ less to fly to Los Angeles from Seattle today than it is From Portland OR even though the latter is 130 miles closer), and the cutthroat fare wars in the 90s all played a role in the demise of the industry that once prided itself on quality service and dependable performance.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Great info as always, thanks, and apologies for not getting the Hughes Air West/Republic/Northwest/Delta story right.

[@bcshelby4926]

@@celebratingaviationwithmik9782 ...no problem. the situation changed so rapidly back then one pretty much needed a scorecard to keep track of who was still flying, who was new, who merged with whom, and who folded. One casualty I was saddened by was the demise of Western Airlines. I had move to the Pacific Northwest (Seattle) in 1980 and they were a major carrier here until 1986. I remember being at an airshow in Everett Washington where the 757 and 767 were being shown one of which was intended for Delta which also bore the Western Airlines logo on the forward fuselage touting the merger. Western was one of the last operators of Connies for passenger service in the US (2 model 749s of which they had through the acquisition of Pacific Northern) which were used on Alaska services from Seattle until late 1968. Eastern (the other remaining operator) had retired their 1049 Super Constellations the same year which at the time were relegated to backup aircraft for their popular east Coast Air Shuttle (I remember seeing a couple in the "hockey stick" livery parked at the terminal at LaGuardia when I landed there in February 1968). Eastern was another sad departure. They were one of the classiest airlines in the nation but were run into the ground in the 1980s by Frank Lorenzo who also owned (and ruined) Continental at the same time. That was another issue of deregulation, hostile takeovers by other carriers and wealthy individuals. TWA also suffered a serious decline in quality under Carl Icahn which they never really recovered from. I remember being on an L-1011 to Portland, the interior of which looked as if it hadn't been cleaned in days. Deregulation may have looked good on paper 43 years ago, but in reality it is pretty much why air travel here in the states is so horrid these days (TSA notwithstanding).

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

@@bcshelby4926 Agreed 100%!

[@RA-dd5mg]

Deregulation, nice subject for a video but a sore subject just the same. I grew up in the tidewater area of VA our neighbor was an Eastern Airlines pilot who tinkered with corvettes in his garage he would let me help him on small stuff but he touted a career in the airline industry. I paid attention and went into the AF and was a C130 crew chief. Punched out of the military with an A/P and applied to every airline and couldn’t get a job because of all the chaos of deregulation

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Appreciate the comment, and I tried to tread lightly on the emotional trauma and impact to airline personnel during this turbulent era. Had a good friend who flew Skyraiders in 'Nam and hired into Flying Tigers in 1973 on the DC-8-63F. Advanced to 747F Captain, then lost half his seniority in the FedEx takeover. Thank you for your service!

[@RA-dd5mg]

@@celebratingaviationwithmik9782 I actually typed out that comment and decided to erase it but fat fingered the send button instead it sounds like I was whining I recon I was a little . Don’t feel bad for me I’ve had a great 40 year career as an auto tech I really feel bad for the guys that had 15/20 years in on the flight line and had their jobs/pensions butchered by these mergers and deregulation. I’m a free market guy and I get what the government was trying to do to make fares cheaper but I believe our mass transit systems need regulation to keep quality personnel at the controls and in the maintenance facilities for safety if nothing else thanks for doing the channel I dig it

[@charlesferry2092]

@@celebratingaviationwithmik9782 fyi every tiger pilot would make captain in less then three years if they wanted. best merger ever for every tiger employee.

[@richardwillett]

Pan Am [even with there globe logo] is now a rail road in New England!

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Wow - never knew that!

[@finlayfraser9952]

749 or 049? Check the engine cowlings. Not complaining, just having fun.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Good catch!

[@daleamcallister284]

North Central/REPUBLIC acquired Hughs Air West

[@scpatl4now]

If you are going to nitpick...North Central/Southern/REPUBLIC

[@daleamcallister284]

@@scpatl4now Thank You!

[@scpatl4now]

@@daleamcallister284 np 🙂

[@stuartlee6622]

Now awful Spirit will either be part of JetBlue or Frontier.

[@celebratingaviationwithmik9782]

Heard about that, and one would think Frontier and Spirit would be the more logical match. Thanks for watching!

[@stuartlee6622]

It's now going to be Jet Blue. Who's Major Investor just happens to be The America Hating George Soros.

[@scottmanning8739]

I flew on Reno Air which got swallowed up by American.