COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 48819

Other Support Activities for Air Transportation

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

26companies1920–1994founding years26still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedQantas Airways Ltd.FoundedQantas Airways Ltd.
1920
FoundedSabena S.A./N.V.
1923
FoundedLOT Polish Airlines (Polskie Linie Lotnicze S.A.)FoundedLOT Polish Airlines (Polskie Linie Lotnicze S.A.)
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression begins.
FoundedGrupo TACA
1931
1933
EconomyNew Deal reforms reshape banking and industry.
FoundedBritish Midland plc
1938
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
FoundedTAPFoundedTAP
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long postwar expansion begins.
FoundedAirborne Freight Corporation
1946
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented at Bell Labs.
FoundedPetroleum Helicopters, Inc.FoundedPetroleum Helicopters, Inc.
1949
FoundedPakistan International Airlines Corporation
1955
1956
EconomyThe Interstate Highway program remakes commerce.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
FoundedChina Airlines
1959
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedExecutive Jet, Inc.FoundedExecutive Jet, Inc.
1964
1970
EnvironmentThe EPA is founded; environmental regulation expands.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; Nasdaq opens.
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.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall 22% in a single day.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
FoundedShannon Aerospace Ltd.
1992
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
FoundedSterling European Airlines A/S
1994
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

Qantas Airways Ltd. →
Active · founded 1920 · Australia
Qantas Airways Ltd.
Qantas Airways Ltd. →
Active · founded 1920 · Australia
Qantas Airways Ltd.
Sabena S.A./N.V. →
Active · founded 1923 · Belgium
Sabena S.A./N.V.
Sabena S.A./N.V. →
Active · founded 1923 · Belgium
Sabena S.A./N.V.
LOT Polish Airlines (Polskie Linie Lotnicze S.A.) →
Active · founded 1929 · Poland
Polskie Linie Lotnicze S.A., or LOT Polish Airlines, was the first airline in Eastern Europe to ditch its fleet of old…
LOT Polish Airlines (Polskie Linie Lotnicze S.A.) →
Active · founded 1929 · Poland
Polskie Linie Lotnicze S.A., or LOT Polish Airlines, was the first airline in Eastern Europe to ditch its fleet of old…
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.
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…
TAP →
Active · founded 1945 · Portugal
Lisbon-based TAP--Air Portugal Transportes Aéreos Portugueses S.A.
TAP →
Active · founded 1945 · Portugal
Lisbon-based TAP--Air Portugal Transportes Aéreos Portugueses S.A.
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.
Petroleum Helicopters, Inc. →
Active · founded 1949
Petroleum Helicopters, Inc.
Petroleum Helicopters, Inc. →
Active · founded 1949
Petroleum Helicopters, Inc.
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…
China Airlines →
Active · founded 1959 · Taiwan
Although China Airlines (CAL) became something of a pariah when the United Nations recognized the People's Republic of…
China Airlines →
Active · founded 1959 · Taiwan
Although China Airlines (CAL) became something of a pariah when the United Nations recognized the People's Republic of…
Executive Jet, Inc. →
Active · founded 1964
Executive Jet, Inc.
Executive Jet, Inc. →
Active · founded 1964
Executive Jet, Inc.
Shannon Aerospace Ltd. →
Active · founded 1992 · Ireland
Shannon Aerospace Ltd.
Shannon Aerospace Ltd. →
Active · founded 1992 · Ireland
Shannon Aerospace Ltd.
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.
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