List of defunct airlines of the United States

This is a list of airlines in the United States that are no longer operating. However, some of these airlines have changed identities and/or FAA certificates and are still operating under a different name (e.g. America West took on the US Airways identity in 2005).

A

• AAXICO Airlines (1946 - 1965, to Saturn Airways)
• Access Air (1998 - 2001)
• ADI Domestic Airlines
• Aeroamerica (1974 - 1982)
• Aero Coach (1983 - 1991)
• Aero International Airlines
• Aeromech Airlines (1951 - 1983, to Wright Airlines)
• AeroSun International
• AFS Airlines (Arcata Flying Service)
• Air America (owned and operated by the CIA in Southeast Asia)
• Air America (1980s)
• Air Astro
• Air Atlanta (1981 - 88)
• AirAtlantic Airlines
• Air Bama
• Air Berlin, Inc. (Air Berlin USA) (1978-1990 [reconstituted as Air Berlin GmbH & Co. Luftverkehrs KG under German company law in 1990])
• Airborne Express (1946 - 2003, to DHL)
• Air California, later AirCal (1967 - 87, to American Airlines)
• Air Carolina
• Air Central (Michigan)
• Air Central (Oklahoma) (to Trans-Central Airlines)
• Air Chaparral (1980 - 82)
• Air Chico
• Air Colorado
• Air Cortez (1977 - 86)
• Air Florida (1972 - 84)
• Air Gemini
• Air General
• Air Great Lakes
• Air Hawaii (1960s) (1960s)
• Air Hawaii (ceased operations in 1986)
• Air Hyannis
• Air Idaho
• Air Illinois (1970 - 1984)
• Air Iowa
• Airlift International (1946 - 81)
• Air Kentucky (1974 - 1989)
• Air L.A. Inc. (ceased operations 1995)
• Air-Lift Commuter
• Air Lincoln
• Air Link Airlines
• Air Link Airways
• Air Metro
• Air Miami (to North American Airlines)
• Air Michigan
• Air Mid-America
• Air Midwest (1965 - 2008)
• Air Missouri
• Air Molokai (1980s)
• Air Molokai (1990s)
• Air Molokai-Tropic Airlines
• Air Nebraska
• Air Nevada (1974 - 1998, to Pacific Wings)
• Air New England (1975 - 81)
• Air New Orleans (1981 - 88)
• Air Niagara (ceased operations 1984)
• Air North (Alaska)
• Air North (1963 - 1983, to Brockway Air)
• Air O'Hare
• Air Olympia
• Air Oregon (1979 - 1981, to Horizon Air)
• Air One (1990s)
• AirPac
• Air Pacific (USA) (1979 - 1981, to Golden Gate Airlines)
• Air Pennsylvania (1976 - 1982)
• Air Resorts Airline
• Air Sierra
• Air Solutions
• Air South (1968 - 1975, to Florida Airlines;
• Air South (1981-1982)
• Air South (1986-1987)
• Air South (1994-1997)
• Air Speed (1974)
• Air Spirit
• Air Sunshine (1970s)
• Air Sunshine (1980s)
• Air Texana
• Air Texas
• Air Trails
• Air 21
• Air US
• Air Utah
• AirVantage Airlines
• Air Vegas (1971 - 2004)
• Air Vermont (1981 - 1984)
• Air Virginia
• Airways of New Mexico
• Air West
• Alaska Air Transport (1935 to 1939) to Alaska Coastal Airlines
• Alaska Coastal Airlines (1939 - 1968) to Alaska Airlines
• Alaska Coastal-Ellis Airlines
• Albany Air
• All American Aviation (became Allegheny Airlines)
• Allegheny Airlines (became USAir)
• Aloha Airlines (1946 - 2008, passenger operations ceased, now a cargo only airline)
• America West Airlines (1981 - 2005, merged with US Airways)
• American Central Airlines
• American Export Airlines (1937 - 1945, merged the transatlantic division of American Airlines to form American Overseas Airlines)
• American Flyers Airline (1949 - 1971, to Universal Airlines)
• American International Airways (1984 - 1997, to Kitty Hawk International)
• American Overseas Airlines (1945 - 1950, merged into Pan American World Airways)
• Arista International Airlines
• Arizona Airways (1942 - 1950, to Frontier Airlines)
• Arizona Airways (1993-1996) (1993 - 1996, to Arizona Airways Express)
• Aroostook Airways (1970s)
• Arrow Air (1947 - 2010)
• Aspen Airways (1952 - 1990)
• Aspen Mountain Air (1996 - 1998) see Lone Star Airlines
• ATA Airlines (1973 - 2008)
• Atlantic Coast Airlines (1989 - 2006, to Independence Air)
• Atlantic Gulf Airlines (1983 - 1986)
• Austin Express (1997 - 2000)

B

• Bar Harbor Airlines (1971 - 1992)
• Big Apple Airlines (circa 1986)
• Big Sky Airlines (1978 - 2008)
• Boeing Air Transport (1927 - 1930, to United Airlines)
• Bonanza Air Lines (1945 - 1968, to Hughes Airwest)
• Braniff (1991 - 1992)
• Braniff Inc. (1983 - 1990)
• Braniff International Airways (1928 - 1982)
• Britt Airways (1976 - 1987, to People Express)
• Brockway Air (1984 - 1989, to Metro Air)
• Burlington Airways
• Business Express Airlines (1985 - 2000, to American Eagle)

C

• California Central Airlines
• CalPac (California Pacific) (1993 - 1995 to Mesa Airlines)
• Cal Sierra Airlines (1980)
• Cal State Airlines
• Cape Smythe Air (1975 - 2005, to Frontier Flying Service)
• Capital Air Service (1966 - 1980s)
• Capital Airlines (1936 - 1961, to United Airlines)
• Capitol Air Lines (1970s - 1980s)
• Capitol Airways (1946 - 1982)
• Cargo 360 (2005 - 2008, to Southern Air)
• Cardinal Airlines
• Caribbean Sun (2002 - 2007)
• Carnival Air Lines (1988 - 1998, to Boston-Maine Airways)
• Cascade Airways (1969 - 1986)
• Catalina Airlines (1940 - 1969)
• CCAir (1987 - 2002)
• Centennial Airlines (1981 - 1987)
• Central Airlines (1944 - 1967)
• Challenge Air Cargo (1978 - 2001)
• Champion Air (1995 - 2008; ceased operations on May 31, 2008)
• Chicago Air (1985 - 1986)
• Chicago and Southern Air Lines (1934 - 1953)
• Chicago Express Airlines (1993 - 2005)
• Coastal Airways (1929 - 1930)
• Cochise Airlines (1971 - 1982)
• Colgan Airways (1971 - 1986, to Presidential Airways, revived 1991, and currently operating as Continental Express, United Express, and US Airways Express: see http://www.colganair.com)
• Colonial Air Transport (1926 - 1930)
• Command Airways
• Conquest Airlines (1988 - 1997)
• Conquest Sun Airlines (to AirTran Airways)
• Continental Airlines (1934 - 2012, to United Airlines)
• Continental Micronesia (1968 - 2011, to United Airlines)
• Crown Airways (1969 - 1992 to Mesa Airlines)
• Curtiss Flying Service (1929 - 1932)

D

• Delta Express (1996 - 2003: replaced by Song; folded back into Delta Air Lines)
• Desert Sun Airlines (1995 - 1997 to Mesa Airlines)
• Discovery Airways (1989 - 1990)

E

• Eastern Air Lines (1926 - 1991)
• Eastwind Airlines (1995-1999)
• Ellis Airlines (1936 to 1962) to Alaska Coastal Airlines
• Emerald Air (1978 - 1991)
• Emery Worldwide Airlines (1977 - 2003)
• Empire Airlines (1976 - 1985, to Piedmont Airlines)
• Eos Airlines (2004 - 2008; passenger operations ceased April 27, 2008; currently charter only)
• Eureka Aero (c. 1976 - 1979)
• Exec Express (1984 - 1998) see d/b/a Lone Star Airlines

F

• Falcon Air Express (1995 - 2007)
• Far West Airlines (1984 - 1984)
• Far West Airlines (1994 - 1994)
• Fine Air (1989 - 2004)
• Florida Airlines (1960 - 1982)
• Florida Coastal Airlines (ceased operations 2006)
• Florida Commuter Airlines (1980 - 1981)
• Florida Express (merged with Braniff, Inc.)
• FloridaGulf Airlines (1991 - 1997, to Air Midwest)
• Flying Tiger Line (1945 - 1988, to Federal Express)
• FlyHawaii Airlines
• Focus Air Cargo (2004 - 2008)
• Freedom Airlines (2002 - 2010)
• Freelandia
• Friedkin Airlines (Predecessor to Pacific Southwest Airlines)
• Frontier Airlines (1950 - 1986)

G

• Galaxy Airlines (? - 1986)
• Gem State Airlines (1979, to Golden Gate Airlines)
• Gemini Air Cargo
• Global International Airways (1981 - 1984)
• Golden Gate Airlines (1980 - 1981)
• Golden Pacific Airlines (1969 - 1973)
• Golden Pacific Airlines (1981 - 1988)
• Golden West Airlines
• Great Plains Airlines (2001 - 2004)
• Great Western Aviation Company (to AirVantage Airlines)
• Gulf Air Transport (1979 - 1990, renamed Trans Ocean Airways)

H

• Hawkeye State Airlines (1972-1992)
• Heartland Airlines (1998-2001)
• Pace Airlines d/b/a Hooters Air (2003 - 2006)
• Hughes Airwest (1968 - 1980, to Republic Airlines)

I

• Imperial Airlines (1964 - 1986)
• Independence Air (2004 - 2006)
• Independent Air (1966 - 1990)
• Indigo Airlines (1998 - 2004)
• Intermountain Airlines (? - 1975, to Evergreen International Aviation)
• Irving Airways (1936, to Alaska Air Transport)
• Island Pacific Air (to Air Hawaii)

J

• Jet 24 (1981 - 1986)
• Jet America Airlines (1980-1987)
• Jet Express
• JetAmerica (2007-2009)
• JetWest (1969 - 1970) absorbed by Frontier Airlines

K

• Key Airlines
• Key West Airlines (1980 - 1988)
• Kitty Hawk Airways (1978)
• Kitty Hawk International (? - 2000, to Kalitta Air)
• Kiwi International Air Lines (1992 - 1999)

L

• L.A.B. Flying Service (1956 - 2008)
• L'Express Airlines (1989 - 1992)
• Lake Central Airlines (1949 - 1968, to Allegheny Airlines)
• Lakeland Airlines (1980 - 1984)
• Las Vegas Airlines (1973 - 1987)
• Legend Airlines (1996 - 2000)
• Leisure Air (1992 - 1995)
• Liberty Express Airlines ((1994 - 1997, to Air Midwest)
• Lone Star Airlines (1960) & (1984 - 1998)
• Lynx Air International (1989 - 2009)

M

• Mackey Airlines (1957 - 1981)
• Maddux Air Lines (1927 - 1929, to Transcontinental Air Transport)
• Mahalo Air (1993 - 1997)
• Mall Airways (1973 - 1989, to Business Express)
• Marine Airways (1936 to 1939) to Alaska Coastal Airlines
• MarkAir (1947 - 1995)
• Marquette Airlines (1930s - 1940s, to Trans World Airlines)
• MAXjet (2005 - 2007)
• Mayflower Airlines (1936 - 1945)
• McClain Airlines (1987-1987)
• Mesaba Airlines (1942 - 2012)
• MetroJet (1998 - 2001)
• Mexus Airlines
• MGM Grand Air (1987 - 1995, to Champion Air)
• MidAtlantic Airways (2002 - 2006)
• Mid-Continent Airlines (1928 - 1952, to Braniff)
• Mid Pacific Air (1981 - 1988)
• Mid-State Airlines (1964 - 1989, to Sentry Airlines)
• Midway Airlines (1979 - 1991 and 1993 - 2003)
• Midwest Airlines (1948-2010 to Frontier Airlines)
• Mississippi Valley Airlines (1969 - 1985)
• Modern Air Transport (1946-1975)
• Mohawk Airlines (1952 - 1988, to Allegheny Airlines)
• Morris Air (1992 - 1994, to Southwest Airlines)
• Mountain Air Express (1996 - 1998, to Air Wisconsin)
• Mountain West Airlines-Idaho (1979-1981)
• Mountain West Airlines (1995 - 1997 to Mesa Airlines)
• Muse Air (1982 - 1985, to Southwest Airlines)

N

• National Airlines (1929 - 1980, to Pan American World Airways)
• National Airlines (1983 - 1986)
• National Airlines/Private Jet Expeditions (1994 - 1995)
• National Airlines (1999 - 2002)
• National Air Transport Inc (1926 - 1930)
• Nations Air Express (1994-1998)
• Nationwide Airlines Southeast
• New England & Western Air Transportation Co. (1930)
• New York Air (1980 - 1986, to Continental Airlines)
• New York Airways (1949 - 1979)
• New York, Rio, and Buenos Aires Line (to Pan American World Airways)
• North Central Airlines (1939 - 1979)(merged with Southern Airways to become Republic)
• Northcoast Executive Airlines (1990 - 1991)
• Northeast Airlines (1940 - 1972, to Delta Air Lines)
• Northeastern International Airways (1980 - 1986)
• Northwest Airlines (1927 - 2010, to Delta Air Lines)

O

• Ortner Airways (1949 - 1971)
• Overseas National Airways (1950 - 1978)
• Ozark Airlines (1943 - 1986, to Trans World Airlines)

P

• Pace Airlines (-2009)
• Pacific Air Lines (1958 - 1968, to Hughes Airwest)
• Pacific Air Transport (1926 - 1927)
• Pacific Alaska Airways (1973 - 1986)
• Pacific East Airlines (ceased operations 1984)
• Pacific Express (1982 - 1984)
• Pacific Nevada Airlines
• Pacific Southwest Airlines (PSA) (1945 - 1988, to USAir)
• Pan American Airways (1996-1998)
• Pan American Airways (1998-2004)
• Pan American-Grace Airways (Panagra) (1928 - 1967, to Braniff International Airways)
• Pan American World Airways (1927 - 1991)
• Pan Am Express (the airline purchased by Pan Am formerly known as Ransome Airlines. Note: this is different from the codeshare marketing brand alliance operating for Pan Am as Pan Am Express)
• Paradise Island Airlines (1989 - 1997)
• Pennsylvania Central Airlines
• People Express (1981 - 1987, to Continental Airlines)
• Piedmont Airlines (1940 - 1989, to USAir)
• Pilgrim Airlines
• Pioneer Airlines (1946 - 1955, merged with Continental Airlines)
• Planet Airways (????- June 8, 2005, speculation only at this point in time)
• Potomac Air
• Presidential Airways (1985 - 1989)
• Primaris Airlines (2002-2009)
• Private Jet Expeditions (1989 - 1995)
• Pride Air (August 1985 - November 1985)
• Pro Air (1997 - 2000)
• Provincetown-Boston Airlines (1949 - 1989)

R

• Ransome Airlines (1967 - 1986)
• Rahm Rescue (?-1971)
• Red Baron Airlines (1979 - 1980)
• Red Carpet Airlines
• Red Dodge Aviation
• Reeve Aleutian Airways (1932 - 2001)
• Regent Air
• RegionsAir (1996 - 2007)
• Reno Air (1990 - 99, to American Airlines)
• Republic Airlines (1979 - 1986, to Northwest Airlines)
• Rich International Airways (1971 - 1996)
• Riddle Airlines (1945 - 1965, to Airlift International
• Rio Airways (1970 - 1987)
• Robertson Air Service (1927 - 1933)
• Rocky Mountain Airways (1964 - 1986)
• Russia Jet Direct (2005)

S

• Samoa Air (American Samoa, 1987 to 2003)
• Saturn Airways (1960 - 76, to Trans International Airlines)
• Seaboard World Airlines (1946 - 80, to Flying Tiger Line)
• Shawnee Airlines (1968 - 1977)
• Shuttle by United and United Shuttle (1994 - 2001)
• Skybus Airlines (2007 - 2008, ceased operations 5 Apr 2008)
• SkyTrain Airlines (to Air Great Lakes)
• SkyValue (2006 - 2007)
• Skyway Airlines
• Slick Airways (1946 - 1965, to Airlift International)
• SMB Sedalia Marshal Booneville
• Song (2003 - 2006, Merged back in with its parent company, Delta Air Lines)
• South Pacific Island Airways (SPIA) (American Samoa, ceased operations in 1987)
• Southeast Airlines (1992 - 2004)
• Southern Air Transport (1929 & 1947 - 1998, to Southern Air)
• Southern Airways (1943 - 1979, to Republic Airlines)
• Southern Jersey Airways
• Southwest Airways (1946 - 58, renamed Pacific Air Lines)
• Standard Air Lines (1926 - 30) 1927 subsidiary of Aero Corp. of Ca., In 1930, bought by Western Air Express, thru merger with TAT became TWA, Transcontinental & Western Air, Trans World Airlines
• Standard Airlines (1947 - 1949) non-scheduled airline ordered to cease operations for violations after fatal crash
• Standard Airways (1960s)
• StatesWest Airlines (1986 - 1993)
• Stol Air Commuter (1974 - 1979, renamed WestAir Airlines)
• Sunbird Airlines (1979 - 1987 to CCAir)
• SunCoast Airlines (? - 1988)
• Sun West Airlines (c. 1980 - c. 1985)
• Sunworld International Airlines (? - 2004)
• Sunworld International Airways (1983 - 1988)
• Superior Airlines (1993 - 1995 to Mesa Airlines
• Swift Aire Lines (1969 - 1981, merged with Golden Gate Airlines)

T

• TAG Airlines (c. 1957 - 1970)
• Tahoe Air (1999)
• Tamir Transport (? - 1971)
• TAT - Maddux Air Lines (1928 - 30, to Transcontinental & Western Air)
• Ted (2003 - 2009) (operations merged back into parent company United Airlines)
• Tempelhof Airways (1981 - 1990)
• Tennessee Airways (1978 - 1987)
• Texas Air
• Texas Trans Air
• Texas International Airlines (1944 - 1986, to Continental Airlines)
• The Hawaii Express (1982 - 1983)
• Tower Air (1983 - 2000)
• Trans Air (1979 -1985)
• Transamerica Airlines (1948 - 1986)
• Trans-California Airlines
• Trans-Central Airlines
• Transcontinental Air Transport (1928 - 1929, merged with Maddux Air Lines)
• TransMeridian Airlines (1995 - 2005)
• Transocean Airlines (1946-1962)
• Trans Ocean Airways (1979 - 1990)
• Trans International Airlines (1947 - 1986)
• TranStar Airlines (1981 - 1987)
• Trans-Colorado Airlines (1980 - 1987)
• Trans-Texas Airways (1947 - 1969, to Texas International Airlines)
• Trans World Airlines (1930 - 2001, to American Airlines)
• Trans World Express (? - 1995)
• Trump Shuttle (1989 - 1991, to USAir Shuttle)

U

• UltrAir (1993)
• United States International Airlines
• Universal Airlines (US Cargo Operator 1966 - 1972, to Trans International Airlines)
• US Air (1979-1996; renamed US Airways)
• USA3000 Airlines (Ceased operations in 2012)

V

• ValuJet Airlines (1993 - 1997, to AirTran Airways)
• Vance International Airways (1949 - 1970, renamed McCulloch International Airlines)
• Vanguard Airlines (1994 - 2002)
• Varney Air Lines (1926 - 1934, to United Air Lines)
• Vintage Props and Jets (1991 - 2008)

W

• WestAir Commuter Airlines (1978 - 1992)
• West Coast Airlines (1940s - 1968, to Hughes Airwest)
• Western (2007)
• Western Airlines (1925 - 1987, to Delta Air Lines)
• Western Express Air (? - 2007)
• Western Pacific Airlines (ceased operations 1998)
• Westward Airways (2002 - 2005)
• Wien Air Alaska
• Wilmington - Catalina Air Line
• WinAir Airlines (1998 - 1999)
• Wings Airways
• Wright Airlines (1966 - ?)

Z

• Zantop Air Transport (1962 - 1966, to Universal Airlines)
• Zantop Flying Service (1946 - 1962, to Zantop Air Transport)
• Zantop International Airlines (1972 - 2000?)

See also

• List of airlines of the United States