COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 4512

Air Transportation-Scheduled

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

28companies1926–1993founding years24still active4no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedNorthwest Airlines CorporationFoundedNorthwest Airlines Corporation
1926
FoundedHawaiian Airlines, Inc.
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression begins.
1933
EconomyNew Deal reforms reshape banking and industry.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long postwar expansion begins.
FoundedAloha Airlines, IncorporatedFoundedFrontier Airlines, Inc.FoundedFrontier Airlines, Inc.FoundedMalév Plc
1946
FoundedThai Airways International Public Company Limited
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented at Bell Labs.
FoundedEl Al Israel Airlines Ltd.
1949
1956
EconomyThe Interstate Highway program remakes commerce.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
FoundedKorean Air Lines Co., Ltd.FoundedKorean Air Lines Co., Ltd.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
1970
EnvironmentThe EPA is founded; environmental regulation expands.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; Nasdaq opens.
FoundedSingapore Airlines Ltd.FoundedSkyWest, Inc.
1972
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins with the Altair.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedJardine Matheson Holdings LimitedFoundedJardine Matheson Holdings Limited
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall 22% in a single day.
FoundedReno Air Inc.
1990
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
FoundedKiwi International Airlines Inc.
1992
FoundedAirTran Holdings, Inc.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2001
EconomyThe September 11 attacks; a recession follows.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 begin to take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

Northwest Airlines Corporation →
Defunct · founded 1926
Northwest Airlines Corporation is the holding company for Northwest Airlines, Inc., described as "America's oldest…
Northwest Airlines Corporation →
Defunct · founded 1926
Northwest Airlines Corporation is the holding company for Northwest Airlines, Inc., described as "America's oldest…
Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. →
Active · founded 1929
Hawaiian Airlines, Inc.
Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. →
Active · founded 1929
Hawaiian Airlines, Inc.
Aloha Airlines, Incorporated →
Active · founded 1946
Aloha Airlines, Incorporated occupies a special place in the sun.
Aloha Airlines, Incorporated →
Active · founded 1946
Aloha Airlines, Incorporated occupies a special place in the sun.
Frontier Airlines, Inc. →
Active · founded 1946
Frontier Airlines, Inc.
Frontier Airlines, Inc. →
Active · founded 1946
Frontier Airlines, Inc.
Malév Plc →
Active · founded 1946 · Hungary
Malév Plc operates one of Eastern Europe's most significant airlines.
Malév Plc →
Active · founded 1946 · Hungary
Malév Plc operates one of Eastern Europe's most significant airlines.
Thai Airways International Public Company Limited →
Active · founded 1947 · Thailand
Thai Airways International Public Company Limited is one of the most influential companies in that emerging Asian…
Thai Airways International Public Company Limited →
Active · founded 1947 · Thailand
Thai Airways International Public Company Limited is one of the most influential companies in that emerging Asian…
El Al Israel Airlines Ltd. →
Active · founded 1949 · Israel
In its 50-year history El Al Israel Airlines Ltd.
El Al Israel Airlines Ltd. →
Active · founded 1949 · Israel
In its 50-year history El Al Israel Airlines Ltd.
Korean Air Lines Co., Ltd. →
Active · founded 1962 · Korea
Korean Air Lines Co., Ltd.
Korean Air Lines Co., Ltd. →
Active · founded 1962 · Korea
Korean Air Lines Co., Ltd.
Singapore Airlines Ltd. →
Active · founded 1972 · Republic of Singapore
Singapore Airlines Ltd.
Singapore Airlines Ltd. →
Active · founded 1972 · Republic of Singapore
Singapore Airlines Ltd.
SkyWest, Inc. →
Active · founded 1972
SkyWest, Inc.
SkyWest, Inc. →
Active · founded 1972
SkyWest, Inc.
Jardine Matheson Holdings Limited →
Active · founded 1984 · Bermuda
Jardine Matheson is one of the oldest names in East Asia, and Jardine Matheson Holdings Limited is an international…
Jardine Matheson Holdings Limited →
Active · founded 1984 · Bermuda
Jardine Matheson is one of the oldest names in East Asia, and Jardine Matheson Holdings Limited is an international…
Reno Air Inc. →
Active · founded 1990
Probably the most distinguished of the several dozen low-fare start-up airlines that began flying regional U.S.
Reno Air Inc. →
Active · founded 1990
Probably the most distinguished of the several dozen low-fare start-up airlines that began flying regional U.S.
Kiwi International Airlines Inc. →
Active · founded 1992
Kiwi International Airlines Inc.
Kiwi International Airlines Inc. →
Active · founded 1992
Kiwi International Airlines Inc.
AirTran Holdings, Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1993
AirTran Holdings, Inc.
AirTran Holdings, Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1993
AirTran Holdings, Inc.
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