COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 481212

Nonscheduled Chartered Freight Air Transportation

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

74companies1840–2001founding years66still active8no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedDanzas Group
1840
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
1908
TechnologyThe Ford Model T brings the automobile to the middle class.
1913
EconomyThe Federal Reserve is created.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedCeské aerolinie, a.s.
1923
FoundedLan Chile S.A.
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression begins.
1933
EconomyNew Deal reforms reshape banking and industry.
FoundedAer Lingus Group plc
1936
FoundedIcelandair
1937
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long postwar expansion begins.
FoundedAirborne Freight CorporationFoundedBraathens ASA
1946
FoundedArrow Air Holdings Corporation
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented at Bell Labs.
FoundedSociété Tunisienne de l'Air-Tunisair
1948
FoundedAll Nippon Airways Co., Ltd.
1952
FoundedTAROM S.A.
1954
FoundedTransBrasil S/A Linhas Aéreas
1955
1956
EconomyThe Interstate Highway program remakes commerce.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
FoundedTAM Linhas Aéreas S.A.
1961
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.
FoundedAmtran, Inc.
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.
FoundedTower Air, Inc.
1982
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedHong Kong Dragon Airlines Ltd.
1985
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall 22% in a single day.
FoundedEVA Airways Corporation
1989
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
FoundedAir Sahara Limited
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

Danzas Group →
Active · founded 1840 · Switzerland
Danzas Group is one of Europe's leading logistics groups, the European leader in overland freight-forwarding and…
Danzas Group →
Active · founded 1840 · Switzerland
Danzas Group is one of Europe's leading logistics groups, the European leader in overland freight-forwarding and…
Stinnes AG →
Active · founded 1902 · Germany
Following its acquisition in 2002 by rail operator Deutsche Bahn AG, Stinnes AG has been repositioned as the lead…
Stinnes AG →
Active · founded 1902 · Germany
Following its acquisition in 2002 by rail operator Deutsche Bahn AG, Stinnes AG has been repositioned as the lead…
Ceské aerolinie, a.s. →
Active · founded 1923 · Czech Republic
Ceské aerolinie, a.s., also called Czech Airlines or CSA, flies to approximately 70 destinations in more than 40…
Ceské aerolinie, a.s. →
Active · founded 1923 · Czech Republic
Ceské aerolinie, a.s., also called Czech Airlines or CSA, flies to approximately 70 destinations in more than 40…
Finnair Oyj →
Active · founded 1923 · Finland
Based in Helsinki, Finnair Oyj is the national airline of Finland and the fifth oldest airline in the world.
Finnair Oyj →
Active · founded 1923 · Finland
Based in Helsinki, Finnair Oyj is the national airline of Finland and the fifth oldest airline in the world.
Lan Chile S.A. →
Active · founded 1929 · Chile
Four million passengers a year fly Lan Chile S.A., or LanChile as it has been styling itself since the mid-1990s.
Lan Chile S.A. →
Active · founded 1929 · Chile
Four million passengers a year fly Lan Chile S.A., or LanChile as it has been styling itself since the mid-1990s.
Grupo TACA →
Active · founded 1931 · El Salvador
Grupo TACA (Transportes Aéreas Centro-Americanos) is the third largest air carrier in Latin America.
Grupo TACA →
Active · founded 1931 · El Salvador
Grupo TACA (Transportes Aéreas Centro-Americanos) is the third largest air carrier in Latin America.
Aer Lingus Group plc →
Active · founded 1936 · Ireland
A relatively late starter among European flag carriers, Aer Lingus Group plc has grown quickly in its first few decades…
Aer Lingus Group plc →
Active · founded 1936 · Ireland
A relatively late starter among European flag carriers, Aer Lingus Group plc has grown quickly in its first few decades…
Air Canada →
Active · founded 1937 · Canada
Air Canada is the only national, full-service airline based in Canada.
Air Canada →
Active · founded 1937 · Canada
Air Canada is the only national, full-service airline based in Canada.
Icelandair →
Active · founded 1937 · Iceland
Icelandair (Fluglei'ir hf.), Iceland's largest publicly traded company, has played off its unique mid-Atlantic location…
Icelandair →
Active · founded 1937 · Iceland
Icelandair (Fluglei'ir hf.), Iceland's largest publicly traded company, has played off its unique mid-Atlantic location…
British Midland plc →
Active · founded 1938 · United Kingdom
British Midland plc, the second largest airline in the United Kingdom, flies more than six million passengers a year to…
British Midland plc →
Active · founded 1938 · United Kingdom
British Midland plc, the second largest airline in the United Kingdom, flies more than six million passengers a year to…
Airborne Freight Corporation →
Active · founded 1946
Airborne Freight Corporation is the third largest express delivery company in the United States.
Airborne Freight Corporation →
Active · founded 1946
Airborne Freight Corporation is the third largest express delivery company in the United States.
Antonov Design Bureau →
Active · founded 1946 · Ukraine
Ukraine-based Antonov Design Bureau, a scientific and technical complex named after Oleg Konstantinovich (O.K.)…
Antonov Design Bureau →
Active · founded 1946 · Ukraine
Ukraine-based Antonov Design Bureau, a scientific and technical complex named after Oleg Konstantinovich (O.K.)…
Braathens ASA →
Active · founded 1946 · Norway
Braathens ASA is Norway's largest airline.
Braathens ASA →
Active · founded 1946 · Norway
Braathens ASA is Norway's largest airline.
Bradley Air Services Ltd. →
Defunct · founded 1946 · Canada
Bradley Air Services Ltd.
Bradley Air Services Ltd. →
Defunct · founded 1946 · Canada
Bradley Air Services Ltd.
Arrow Air Holdings Corporation →
Active · founded 1947
Arrow Air Holdings Corporation owns Arrow Air, Inc., which is the fourth largest cargo airline in the United States and…
Arrow Air Holdings Corporation →
Active · founded 1947
Arrow Air Holdings Corporation owns Arrow Air, Inc., which is the fourth largest cargo airline in the United States and…
Société Luxembourgeoise de Navigation Aérienne S.A. →
Active · founded 1948 · Luxembourg
Société Luxembourgeoise de Navigation Aérienne S.A.
Société Luxembourgeoise de Navigation Aérienne S.A. →
Active · founded 1948 · Luxembourg
Société Luxembourgeoise de Navigation Aérienne S.A.
Société Tunisienne de l'Air-Tunisair →
Active · founded 1948 · Tunisia
Société Tunisienne de l'Air-Tunisair (Tunisair) is Tunisia's state-sponsored international airline.
Société Tunisienne de l'Air-Tunisair →
Active · founded 1948 · Tunisia
Société Tunisienne de l'Air-Tunisair (Tunisair) is Tunisia's state-sponsored international airline.
Petroleum Helicopters, Inc. →
Active · founded 1949
Petroleum Helicopters, Inc.
Petroleum Helicopters, Inc. →
Active · founded 1949
Petroleum Helicopters, Inc.
All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd. →
Active · founded 1952 · Japan
All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd.
All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd. →
Active · founded 1952 · Japan
All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd.
Bristow Helicopters Ltd. →
Active · founded 1953 · United Kingdom
Bristow Helicopters Ltd.
Bristow Helicopters Ltd. →
Active · founded 1953 · United Kingdom
Bristow Helicopters Ltd.
TAROM S.A. →
Active · founded 1954 · Romania
TAROM S.A.
TAROM S.A. →
Active · founded 1954 · Romania
TAROM S.A.
Pakistan International Airlines Corporation →
Active · founded 1955 · Pakistan
Pakistan International Airlines Corporation (PIA) is the flag carrier of Pakistan, whose government owns 85 percent of…
Pakistan International Airlines Corporation →
Active · founded 1955 · Pakistan
Pakistan International Airlines Corporation (PIA) is the flag carrier of Pakistan, whose government owns 85 percent of…
TransBrasil S/A Linhas Aéreas →
Active · founded 1955 · Brazil
TransBrasil S/A Linhas Aéreas, Brazil's third-largest airline, flies about three million passengers a year.
TransBrasil S/A Linhas Aéreas →
Active · founded 1955 · Brazil
TransBrasil S/A Linhas Aéreas, Brazil's third-largest airline, flies about three million passengers a year.
Evergreen International Aviation, Inc. →
Active · founded 1960
The "airline's airline," Evergreen International Airlines, Inc.
Evergreen International Aviation, Inc. →
Active · founded 1960
The "airline's airline," Evergreen International Airlines, Inc.
TAM Linhas Aéreas S.A. →
Active · founded 1961 · Brazil
TAM Linhas Aéreas S.A.
TAM Linhas Aéreas S.A. →
Active · founded 1961 · Brazil
TAM Linhas Aéreas S.A.
Air Mauritius Ltd. →
Active · founded 1967 · Mauritius
Air Mauritius Ltd.
Air Mauritius Ltd. →
Active · founded 1967 · Mauritius
Air Mauritius Ltd.
Amtran, Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1973
Amtran, Inc.
Amtran, Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1973
Amtran, Inc.
Lauda Air Luftfahrt AG →
Active · founded 1979 · Austria
Lauda Air Luftfahrt AG is a unit of Austrian Airlines Group specializing in charters and Far East travel.
Lauda Air Luftfahrt AG →
Active · founded 1979 · Austria
Lauda Air Luftfahrt AG is a unit of Austrian Airlines Group specializing in charters and Far East travel.
Tower Air, Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1982
Tower Air, Inc.
Tower Air, Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1982
Tower Air, Inc.
Mesa Air Group, Inc. →
Active · founded 1983
Five million passengers a year fly Mesa Air Group, Inc., although they may not know it by name: the company operates…
Mesa Air Group, Inc. →
Active · founded 1983
Five million passengers a year fly Mesa Air Group, Inc., although they may not know it by name: the company operates…
Hong Kong Dragon Airlines Ltd. →
Defunct · founded 1985 · Hong Kong
Hong Kong Dragon Airlines Ltd., better known as Dragonair, is Hong Kong's second largest airline.
Hong Kong Dragon Airlines Ltd. →
Defunct · founded 1985 · Hong Kong
Hong Kong Dragon Airlines Ltd., better known as Dragonair, is Hong Kong's second largest airline.
China Eastern Airlines Co. Ltd. →
Active · founded 1988 · China
China Eastern Air Co.
China Eastern Airlines Co. Ltd. →
Active · founded 1988 · China
China Eastern Air Co.
EVA Airways Corporation →
Active · founded 1989 · Taiwan
EVA Airways Corporation, or EVA Air, is Taiwan's second largest airline.
EVA Airways Corporation →
Active · founded 1989 · Taiwan
EVA Airways Corporation, or EVA Air, is Taiwan's second largest airline.
Atlas Air, Inc. →
Active · founded 1992
Atlas Air, Inc.
Atlas Air, Inc. →
Active · founded 1992
Atlas Air, Inc.
Air Sahara Limited →
Active · founded 1993 · India
Air Sahara Limited is a leading private airline in India, owned by the diversified Sahara India Parivar group.
Air Sahara Limited →
Active · founded 1993 · India
Air Sahara Limited is a leading private airline in India, owned by the diversified Sahara India Parivar group.
Sterling European Airlines A/S →
Active · founded 1994 · Denmark
Sterling European Airlines A/S (SEA) is Scandinavia's leading low-fare airline.
Sterling European Airlines A/S →
Active · founded 1994 · Denmark
Sterling European Airlines A/S (SEA) is Scandinavia's leading low-fare airline.
Société d'Exploitation AOM Air Liberté SA (AirLib) →
Active · founded 2001 · France
Société d'Exploitation AOM Air Liberté SA (AirLib) is France's second largest airline.
Société d'Exploitation AOM Air Liberté SA (AirLib) →
Active · founded 2001 · France
Société d'Exploitation AOM Air Liberté SA (AirLib) is France's second largest airline.
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