web-catalog        Post DeRegulation Air Mail First Flights         Trans World Airlines

Aerodacious (Aviation + Audacious = Aerodacious) eMail: Aerodacious Page US035TransWorld (Revised 01/29/2008)

Background: The Airline Deregulation Act took effect of December 1, 1978. The main purpose of the Act was to remove government control from commercial aviation and expose the passenger airline industry to market forces. This Act changed the face of civil aviation in the US. Air Mail would continue to be carried by Air Carriers but the old system of CAM and FAM routes would evolve into Air Mail flown by individual US airlines to both domestic and foreign destinations.

        In 1928 Jack Frye and his partners founded Standard Airlines. In 1929 Standard Airlines merged with Western Air Express to form a powerful air express and transport company. Jack became Director in Charge of Operations. On July 15, 1930 Western Air merged with Transcontinental Airlines. Jack became part owner of the new company and on October 1, 1930 was appointed Vice President in Charge of Operations. Transcontinental & Western Air (TWA) was born.

        During WW-II TWA gained valuable international flying experience covering routes across the North and South Atlantic. FAM-27 was awarded to TWA and on February 5, 1946 it inaugurated flight service from Washington DC to Paris France. This was the beginning of a series of TWA first flights originating from Washington DC, Philadelphia PA, New York NY, Boston MA, Chicago IL and Detroit MI to Europe and onward. To signify its new status as an international carrier, Transcontinental and Western Air re-christened itself Trans World Airlines in 1950.

Boeing 727

TW-D1E	781215	Pittsburgh PA	Trans World Airlines		$83.00
TW-D1Ef	781215	Pittsburgh PA	Trans World Airlines		$83.00
TW-D2S	781215	Syracuse NY	Trans World Airlines		$225.00

TW-D3Sf

790120

Philadelphia PA

Trans World Airlines

$200.00

TW-D8Ef

790420

Pittsburgh PA

Trans World Airlines

$200.00

TW-D11E

790429

Colorado Springs CO

Trans World Airlines

$98.00

        TWA went private in 1988 burdening the airline with $540 million in debt. To offset its financial troubles, Carl Icahn who had a controlling interest in the airline began selling off TWA's routes to other airlines.

        TWA's losses continued and in 1992, it filed for bankruptcy but managed to continue to stay afloat. In early 2001 TWA was finally sold to American Airlines.

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