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Airlines Operation Svc history
Airlines Operation Svc company history timeline
The modern age of powered flight began in 1903 when Orville Wright made the first sustained, powered flight on December 17 in a plane he and his brother Wilbur built.
With roots in the late 19th century, European laboratories set the pace in theoretical aeronautical research, but the NACA, established in 1915, soon evolved as one of the world’s leading aeronautical centres.
Under the auspices of the United States Post Office, an airmail operation was launched in 1918 as a wartime effort to stimulate aircraft production and to generate a pool of trained pilots.
By 1924, coast-to-coast airmail service had developed, using light beacons to guide open-cockpit planes at night.
1925: Huff Daland Dusters, the predecessor of Delta, is founded in Macon, Ga., before moving to Monroe, La., a few months later.
Having established a workable airmail system and a considerable clientele, the Post Office yielded to congressional pressures and, with the Contract Air Mail Act of 1925, turned over the mail service to private contractors.
The Air Mail Act of 1925 facilitated the creation of a profitable commercial airline industry, and airline companies such as Pan American Airways, Western Air Express, and Ford Air Transport Service began scheduled commercial passenger service.
On April 15, 1926, Charles Lindbergh flew the first American Airlines flight – carrying United States mail from St Louis, Missouri, to Chicago, Illinois.
The German government also gave its blessing to the expansionist plans of Deutsche Luft Hansa (now Deutsche Lufthansa Ag), formed in 1926.
In 1928, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) announced its famous cowling for radial engines.
1929: Delta operates its first passenger flight from Dallas, Texas, to Jackson, Miss., with stops in Shreveport and Monroe, La.
The Curtiss-Wright Corporation (formed from the merger of Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company and Wright Aeronautical in 1929) produced a series of Whirlwind and Cyclone radial engines; Pratt & Whitney Aircraft launched its Wasp designs.
1930: Service expands to Atlanta and Fort Worth.
Initially just a flight school, Star Air Service commercial operations began in earnest in 1933.
Largely owing to airline rivalry, American technology had already taken a major step forward with the introduction of the Boeing Company Model 247 airliner, which cruised at about 180 miles (290 km) per hour and entered service with United Airlines, Inc., in 1933.
1934: Delta receives Air Mail Route 24 from United States Post Office; resumes passenger service.
In 1934, the Department of Commerce renamed the Aeronautics Branch the Bureau of Air Commerce to reflect the growing importance of aviation to the nation.
1935: Delta offers first night service with the Stinson Model A; first Delta aircraft with two pilots.
In 1935, Mac McGee sold his airline’s assets to Star Air Service, but would later return to manage Star Air Service twice.
To ensure a federal focus on aviation safety, President Franklin Roosevelt signed the Civil Aeronautics Act in 1938.
By 1939, with superior seat capacity, performance, and ancillary refinements, DC-3 transports already were carrying 90 percent of the world’s airline traffic.
In 1939 Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt, smashed a bottle of champagne over the bow of an imposing Yankee Clipper flying boat to launch scheduled airmail and luxury passenger service across the Atlantic to Europe.
Late in the conflict, it was joined by the Lockheed L-049 Constellation (instantly identifiable by its triple vertical fins), originally designed in 1939 as a commercial airliner that blended a pressurized fuselage, tricycle landing gear, and other state-of-the-art features.
1940: Douglas DC-2 and DC-3 service introduced.
After 1945, Douglas introduced its pressurized DC-6 to match the Lockheed Constellation on domestic and international routes.
1945 Delta is first airline to fly living vegetable plants (160,000 tomato plants).
1946: Delta starts regularly scheduled cargo service.
1946 Delta is first airline to fly nonstop Chicago-Miami, initially with Douglas DC-4 planes.
1949: Delta’s first coach service starts: discounted-fare night flights between Chicago and Miami.
The British Overseas Aircraft Corporation introduced the first commercial jet service in 1952.
1953: Chicago and Southern Air Lines merger brings Delta its first international routes - to the Caribbean and Caracas.
1954 First airline to supplement visual inspection of aircraft parts with a portable x-ray machine to examine interior structures.
1957 First airline to begin jet training of personnel (March 12).
On May 21, 1958, Senator A. S. "Mike" Monroney (D-OK) introduced a bill to create an independent Federal Aviation Agency to provide for the safe and efficient use of national airspace.
On November 1, 1958, retired Air Force General Elwood "Pete" Quesada became the first Federal Aviation Agency Administrator.
1959: Delta is first airline to launch Douglas DC-8 jet service.
1960: First airline to launch Convair 880 jet service.
1961: Flies first nonstop service from Atlanta to Los Angeles.
1961 Flies first nonstop service from Atlanta to Los Angeles.
1961 Delta links California and the Caribbean with first jet service from California to Montego Bay and Caracas.
In 1961, for example, the first series of aircraft hijackings in the United States occurred.
In March 1962, Attorney General Robert Kennedy swore in FAA's first "peace officers," as special United States deputy marshals.
1962 A Delta DC-8 is the first commercial plane to fly Los Angeles-Atlanta in less than 3 hours (02:57:11).
1965 Delta is first airline to launch Douglas DC-9 service.
1966 Delta is first with Lockheed L-100 Hercules all-cargo planes.
In January 1968, New York controllers formed an employee organization, the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization, or PATCO. Within six months, PATCO had a national membership of over 5,000 controllers.
To highlight difficult working conditions and growing national airspace system (NAS) congestion, in July 1968, the PATCO chairman announced "Operation Air Safety," which he described as a campaign to maintain FAA prescribed separation standards between aircraft.
Opened in April 1970, the new facility collected and correlated systemwide air traffic and weather data, detected potential trouble spots, and suggested solutions.
The Airport and Airway Development Act of 1970 placed the agency in charge of a new airport aid program funded by a special aviation trust fund and made FAA responsible for safety certification of airports served by air carriers.
1971: W.T. Beebe becomes Chairman and CEO. Delta Dash (cargo service for small packages) begins.
FAA and NAATS concluded an agency-wide collective bargaining agreement on June 1, 1972, the first such contract between FAA and a national labor organization.
1973 First airline to simultaneously operate three of the first generation wide-bodies jets—the L-1011, Douglas DC-10 and Boeing 747.
1975: First airline to offer its own air express service, a new high priority, guaranteed cargo service called Delta Air Express.
The Airline Deregulation Act, signed on October 24, 1978, created a highly competitive airline industry.
1979 First airline in the world to board one million passengers in one city in one month (Atlanta in the month of August).
1979: Delta celebrates its 50th year of service; begins flights to Frankfurt, West Germany.
1980 First airline to make a major move from film to video in-flight entertainment, equipping its entire transatlantic L-1011 fleet in the early 1980s.
In January 1982, FAA publicly released the first annual National Airspace System (NAS) Plan, a comprehensive 20-year blueprint for a state-of-the-art traffic control and air navigation system to accommodate projected growth in air travel.
1983 First major United States carrier to meet new federal standards reducing flyover noise in airport neighborhoods.
1984: Delta strengthens ties to regional airline partners through its Delta Connection program.
FAA and PASS concluded their first national labor agreement during fiscal year 1984.
Pocatello, Idaho (PIH) is opened by Ron Reber (it will become the largest SkyWest market by 1984).
1987: Western Airlines merges with Delta, which becomes the fourth-largest United States carrier and fifth-largest world carrier.
Our airline expanded methodically throughout the West Coast and in 1987 joined forces with two carriers similarly committed to outstanding customer service—Horizon Air and Jet America.
Capacity increase is slowed to 15%, which is down from the 40% growth in 1987.
1990: Delta is the first airline to offer MD-11 jet service in the United States Delta, Northwest Airlines and TWA combine reservation systems, forming WORLDSPAN Travel Information Services.
In February 1991, FAA replaced the NAS Plan with the more comprehensive Capital Investment Plan.
1991: Delta purchases substantially all of Pan Am's trans-Atlantic routes and the Pan Am Shuttle, the largest acquisition of flights in airline history.
1991 Delta is first to offer MD-11 jet service in United States
1991 First online aircraft maintenance information system in the airline industry, called Technical Operations Publishing System (TOPS).
1992 First United States airline with moving maps in the cabin showing aircraft’s position and route.
1993 Delta Connection is the first program to use regional jets in North America.
1993 First airline to publish business events immediately throughout its enterprise, such as passenger checking in, bag being scanned at each point of its travel, a flight pulls out from the gate, or a flight arrives.
1994 Introduces Rapid Redemption, the airline industry's first program allowing frequent flyers to instantly redeem mileage for free tickets or upgrades.
1994 First airline with extensive use of robotic technology for handling cargo when Delta's new international cargo building opened in Atlanta.
1995 Introduces the airline industry’s first seasonal menus.
1996 Delta is the first airline to offer in-seat power.
1997 Leo F. Mullin is named President and CEO. Delta is the first airline to board more than 100 million passengers in a year.
In June 1998, FAA began testing a new compensation plan called core compensation, which replaced the traditional grade and step base pay method with a structure of pay bands, the value of which were determined by comparison with similar jobs in government and private industry.
1998: Delta and SwissCargo forge the first international cargo alliance.
1998 First airline to install automatic defibrillators on board all of its aircraft.
In April 2000, President Clinton signed into law the Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century, which contained a provision mandating the appointment of a chief operating officer.
2000: Launches SkyTeam, a global alliance, partnering with Aeromexico, Air France and Korean Air.
2000 Develops a new Customer Care system for gates and boarding processes, based on a new Cornerstone Gate Processing software application, which receives a Computerworld Smithsonian Award.
2002: Delta sponsors 2002 Olympic Winter Games at its Salt Lake City hub.
In June 2003, FAA selected its first ATO Chief Operating Officer (COO), Russell Chew.
On November 18, 2003, the Secretary of Transportation announced initial details of the new ATO business structure.
2003 First United States airline with prerecorded audio flight information at the gate.
2003 Delta’s Technical Operations in Atlanta is first in the airline industry to achieve OSHA Star status for exemplary record of occupational employee safety and health.
The ATO officially began operations on February 8, 2004.
On December 15, 2004, DOT unveiled the Integrated Plan for the Next Generation Air Transportation System, which laid out goals, objectives, and requirements necessary to create the NextGen system.
2004 First airline to offer mileage gift cards.
In line with other agency efforts to improve efficiency, in December 2005, the COO restructured ATO administrative and support functions in the field.
2005: "Operation Clockwork" is the largest single-day schedule redesign in aviation history.
Delta is National Safety Council's 2006 Occupational Industry Leader—the first airline recognized.Business Traveler readers name Delta "Best Frequent Flyer Program," "Best Airline Web Site" and "Best Airport Lounge." Song operates its last flight on April 30.
2006 First major airline with in-seat, on-demand movies, games and live TV on a large portion of its domestic fleet, beginning with flights between JFK and the West Coast.
With the ATO structure in place, the agency's first COO resigned from FAA on February 23, 2007.
2007 First United States airline to offer customers the opportunity to help offset carbon emissions associated with air travel.
2007 First airline with a comprehensive onboard recycling program for aluminum cans, newspapers, snack containers and water bottles.
2008 First United States airline to announce In-flight Wi-Fi for its domestic mainline fleet; Wi-Fi goes live on Delta Shuttle flights on December 16.
2008: Delta acquires Northwest Airlines, creating a global airline with major operations in every region of the world.
In 2008, the ATO consolidated the service units and staff offices into four business units, each led by a senior vice president.
2009: Announces expanded trans-Atlantic joint venture with Air France-KLM. Becomes only United States airline to serve six continents with introduction of nonstop flights between Los Angeles and Sydney, Australia.
2010 First United States airline to offer real-time customer support through Twitter.
2010 Launches airline industry's first social media "ticket window," allowing customers to purchase tickets directly from Facebook and other social media sites.
The SkyWest Maintenance Department is awarded the 2010 AMT Employer Gold Award of Excellence from the FAA. More than 550 SkyWest mechanics earn individual AMT awards in 2010.
2011: Becomes first airline to offer mobile bag tracking, via Fly Delta app.
2011 First major carrier to allow customers to track their checked bags from check-in, aircraft loading and arrival at baggage claim.
2011 Delta Connection offers world’s first in-flight Internet service on regional aircraft.
By 2011, the department consists of more than 2,200 men and women who provide for the safety and service of SkyWest's millions of passengers each year.
2012: Delta purchases oil refinery in Trainer, Pa., to produce jet fuel for its fleet, names new subsidiary Monroe Energy.
In July 2013, SkyWest Airlines hit a new milestone by successfully operating more than 2,000 flights in one day.
2013 First to announce that customers can use their portable electronic devices below 10,000 feet on November 1.
2013: Acquires 49 percent stake in U.K. airline Virgin Atlantic, a partnership that increases Delta's access to the important London and trans-Atlantic markets.
2013 Delta Cargo launches Logistics Manager software for real-time tracking of all freight, an industry first for passenger airlines.
2014 First United States airline with full flat-bed seats and direct aisle access in BusinessElite on all widebody international flights
SkyWest, Inc. announces an agreement with Embraer for the purchase of 100 new E175 dual-class jet aircraft, with 40 firm deliveries anticipated in 2014-15.
2015: The airline introduces five differentiated on-board products, enhancing customer options: Delta One, First Class, Delta Comfort+, Main Cabin and Basic Economy.
2015 First United States airline to accept Apple Pay for ticket purchases via Fly Delta app.
17, SkyWest announced they would begin transitioning to an all-jet fleet by removing the 30-seat EMB 120 Brasilia from service by summer 2015.
2016 First United States airline to offer a spa at its airport lounge (Seattle in October, then New York-JFK in December)
In December 2016, Virgin America was acquired by Alaska Airlines to create the West Coast’s premier airline.
2016 First United States airline to deploy Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) baggage tracking technology, providing customers with improved real-time tracking of luggage throughout the travel experience.
2016 First United States airline to make in-flight entertainment free for all passengers on domestic flights.
1, 2016, Chip Childs succeeded Jerry Atkin as the President and CEO of SkyWest, Inc.
2017: Delta reports a company record adjusted pre-tax income of $6.1 billion.
2017 First United States airline to offer video chat with a Reservations team.
2017 First United States airline with an all-suite business class.
2017 First United States airline to fly the Airbus A350.
The 19 new Delta E175s bring the total number of the aircraft type at SkyWest to 63 with 41 more scheduled for delivery in 2017 for a total 104.
2018: Launches joint venture partnership with Korean Air with hub in Seoul.
2018 Delta is the first United States passenger airline to provide real-time tracking for all shipping containers, called unit load devices (ULDs). New Bluetooth tracking technology replaces manual tracking of ULDs that move cargo shipments, baggage and mail globally.
Additionally, SkyWest announces a new maintenance base and hangar in Oklahoma City and a new maintenance line station in Chattanooga, Tennessee to be opened in 2018.
2019 First airline to use Apple's Messages app with customers for on-the-go assistance.
2019 First United States airline to offer door-to-door parcel delivery nationwide with Delta Cargo's DASH Door-to-Door service.
2020 Delta launches innovative solution for pet travel with CarePod, a state-of-the-art pet travel carrier with many industry-leading features including real-time updates for customers throughout the journey and the world's first built-in hydration system for pet travel carriers.
2020 First airline to explore first-of-its-kind wearable robotic exoskeleton to bolster employee strength and safety.
2020 First United States airline to fly with cargo on the main deck of the aircraft by removing the seats of a Boeing 777-220ER, thus enabling more than 10,000 pounds of additional cargo capacity – an increase of more than 35% more weight per flight.
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