Airline History Blog - YESTERDAY'S AIRLINES

Pariah No More: SAA’s 747-400s

28/1/2020

Apartheid made South Africa an international pariah and its national airline unwelcome across most of Africa. The purchase of 747SPs allowed SAA to continue long-haul flights that were at least slightly competitive, however as the 1980s drew to a close and the international backlash against apartheid grew countries like the USA and Australia withdrew landing rights. Both South Africa and SAA needed change and fortunately for both the 90s would bring it.

Jumbo Stopgap: Eastern's 747s

3/1/2020

At the end of the 60s the age of the widebody was fast approaching and all the major US airlines were on a new equipment binge. The 747 was the first new widebody and everyone felt they had to have some or suffer the consequences of being left behind. In fact all the trunk airlines operated Jumbos (except for Northeast and Western) although, considering only Pan Am, Northwest and TWA had international routes, they mostly lacked sensible ways to utilise them. Eastern, unusually, went down a more considered path than everyone else but still ended up with 747s for a time.

Parrot Jumbo: Air Gabon’s 747

1/12/2019

The history of African flag carriers is something I always find interesting. Not only are they exotic but they often had lovely liveries and tended to operate small numbers of widebodies, making them rare visitors to select European locations. Plus of course, on the less impressive but just as interesting side, they often have histories rife with state interference, graft and civil war. Air Gabon certainly ticks many of these boxes.

Air India’s Revolution: Jetley’s Sun 1987-90

31/1/2019

As with many developing nation's national carriers, that have had long glorious histories, Air India is today a model of mismanagement, inefficiency and financial disaster. There have been many attempts to change the airline and probably the most effective of these was during the tenure of Rajan Jetley from 1987-1990. Unfortunately, his successful reforms did not long survive his departure and the airline lurched back into its old patterns all too quickly.

Bleeding Edge: Oasis Hong Kong

19/1/2019

There’s no doubt that low cost airlines have radically altered the face of the industry within the last twenty years, but primarily these have been narrowbody operators with A320s and 737s. In recent years the movement has been into long haul low cost and it appears to be working for more carriers. Unfortunately, being on the cutting edge leaves you open to bleeding, something that the second long-haul low-cost airline (after Laker Airways), Oasis Hong Kong, learnt to its cost.

Alia Pt2: Hashemite Crown 1976-1990

16/1/2019

It is perhaps in bad taste to say so but Alia benefited from the disintegration of Lebanon into civil war since it effectively ruined the previously strong transfer hub status of Beirut and provided an impetus for Jordan’s national carrier to fill the void. This is all the more ironic since it was the banishment of the Palestinian forces from Jordan and their subsequent arrival in Lebanon which did so much to bring about the Lebanese Civil War.

National Goes International: MIA-LHR 1970

15/12/2018

During the regulated era of US aviation the realm of long-haul international flights was primarily the domain of Pan Am and TWA. Braniff had a strong South American operation and Northwest reached across into the Pacific but for flights to Europe and beyond to Asia and Africa it was PA or TW all the way, until that is out of nowhere National won the route award for Miami to London Heathrow.

Cathay Cargo Pt2: 747-8Fs for the Future

18/8/2018

Cathay Pacific Cargo was in a strong position in 2007 and in November placed its largest ever direct order with Boeing. This incuded 7 extra Boeing 777-300ERs but more importantly a commitment to 10 747-8Fs with 14 further purchase rights. At the time CX Cargo still had 6 747-400ERFs and a pair of 747-400BCFs on order. The idea at the time was to use the 747-8Fs for growth and to replace the 747-200Fs but the global financial crisis changed all that and instead the 200s were replaced largely by the 400ERFs.

Minerve Magic: French Deregulation Pioneer

17/5/2018

Charter airlines have come and gone regularly and many barely merit a mention. Some however deserve recognition and Minerve definitely falls into that category. It was a pioneer in opening up the tightly regulated French market. Not only was it first in France to operate the MD-80, it was also the first French charter 747 operator, first to challenge Air France in the overseas territories and Air Inter domestically.

Cathay Cargo: Global Jumbo Freighters

14/4/2018

Cathay Pacific has been in the cargo business since it began operations in 1946 when it uplifted 15 tonnes. It has grown that modest result into one of the largest airfreight businesses in the world, largely off the backbone of the Boeing 747-400F. Success and expansion have gone hand in hand at least until the Global Financial Crisis negatively impacted the air cargo marketplace.

Jumbo Troubles: TWA's 747s in the 70s

6/11/2017

The Boeing 747 signalled a step change in the size and cost of the airline industry. Eagerly acquired by the world's major airlines the huge jet help cause levels of indigestion during the 1970s that almost killed both Pan Am and TWA. Nonetheless it proved itself in service and throughout its career with TWA saw four different liveries grace its form, as it carried the failing airline through to the end of the 1990s.

New Life to Old Jumbos: 747-400BCF and BDSFs

17/7/2017

The concept of converting used passenger jets to freighters is an old tradition that has been going since the Second World War ended. Douglas types especially the DC-7 and DC-8 saw a major trade in conversions but rarely were conversion programmes led by the original manufacturer. The 747 has proven an excellent freighter and both Bedek and Boeing directly have tried to tap into the market for P2F 747s.

Suriname's Trusted Wings: SLM's 747-300

29/8/2016

Ask someone to name a South American nation and few would name Suriname, however the former Dutch colony has much to recommend itself. It also has a long aviation history with its national airline providing an all important connection to the Netherlands. This was interrupted during the 1990s but in 2004 Surinam Airways reinstated long-haul services in its own right with a colourful Boeing 747-300.

Northwest Jumbo 400s Pt2: Shoes to Widgets Across the Pacific

5/2/2016

Northwest had traded as Northwest Orient since the 1950s. Although the Pacific network was the cornerstone of its success to improve its relevance in the domestic market, which its purchase of Minneapolis competitor Republic Airlines had dramatically grown, it returned to being known as just Northwest Airlines. Even with this change the 'thermometer' scheme's time was limited as moving into the 90s Northwest adopted the 'bowling shoe' at the same time as its new 747-451s began to take the strain across the world's largest ocean.

Northwest Jumbo 400s Pt1: Orient Launch Customer

3/2/2016

Unlike its international US major contemporaries (Pan Am, TWA and Braniff) Northwest Airlines steered its way through deregulation successfully and built upon its extensive long-haul network so that it was in a good position to renew its long-haul fleet when needed. Northwest was famed for taking on well looked after secondhand frames and did so with both 747-200s and DC-10-30s but that didn't stop it being one of only two US majors to operate Boeing's much improved version of the 747 - the series 400.