web-catalog        Post DeRegulation Air Mail First Flights         Western Air Lines

Aerodacious (Aviation + Audacious = Aerodacious) eMail: Aerodacious Page US038WesternA (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.

        Western Air Transport broke off from TWA's structure and in 1934 changed its name to General Airlines. In 1941 General changed its name to Western Air Lines. WAL was awarded AM-63 and on May 1, 1944 began flight service between Los Angeles and San Francisco CA.

Boeing 727

WA-D1E	790615	Seattle WA	Western Air Lines	William Hill	$5.50
WA-D1Ef	790615	Seattle WA	Western Air Lines	William Hill	$5.50
WA-D2E	790615	Billings MT	Western Air Lines	William Hill	$4.50
WA-D4E	790615	Saint Paul MN	Western Air Lines	Don Lykins	$4.50
WA-D4Ef	790615	Twin Cities MN	Western Air Lines	Don Lykins	$5.50
WA-D5W	790615	Washington DC	Western Air Lines	Frank Hansen	$5.50
WA-D5Wf	790615	Washington DC	Western Air Lines	Frank Hansen	$5.50
WA-D6E	790615	Spokane WA	Western Air Lines	Frank Hansen	$5.50
WA-D6Ef	790615	Spokane WA	Western Air Lines	Frank Hansen	$4.50

        On September 9, 1986 Western Airlines was purchased by Delta Air Lines and was fully merged into Delta on April 1, 1987.

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