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National Airlines (NA)
Encyclopedia
National Airlines was an airline founded in 1934 and was headquartered on the grounds of Miami International Airport
in unincorporated
Miami-Dade County
, Florida
, United States
near Miami
.
and Miami, Florida
. The airline was headquartered in St. Petersburg
at Whitted Airport and Jacksonville
before moving its home base to Miami.
Lucrative international service to Havana
, Cuba
, began in 1946, and was to continue until suspended in 1961.
The National Airlines route network expanded west to Houston, Texas
and north to Boston
, Massachusetts
in 1956.
On December 10, 1958, National became the first airline to introduce domestic jet
service in the United States
, with a flight between Miami
's International Airport
and Idlewild International Airport in New York City
. The first jet flight used a leased Pan Am Boeing 707
.flown by National flight crews.
Routes from Florida to California
via Houston, including the first non-stop transcontinental service from Miami, were added in 1961 in the CAB's Southern Tier service case.
In 1964 National became the United States' first all-turbine-powered trunk airline (Douglas DC-8s and Lockheed Electra prop-jets); in 1970 it became the third U.S. transatlantic passenger carrier with the inauguration of daily nonstop DC-8s between Miami and London
's Heathrow Airport.
In 1970, the company opened a terminal at John F. Kennedy International Airport
called the Sundrome
, in reference to "Sun King logo" which was part of National Airlines modern new branding. The Sundrome is now vacant following JetBlue Airways
's move to the new Terminal 5. It was designed by Pei Cobb Freed & Partners. By the late 1970s, National operated a large fleet of Boeing 727
and McDonnell Douglas DC-10
aircraft.
National was known by advertising slogans such as "The Buccanneer Route (1940s)", "Airline of the Stars (1950s-60s)," and, famously, its "Fly Me" campaign of the 1970s, where aircraft were given female names and flight attendants were featured in broadcast and print media campaigns. Some aircraft were named for celebrities, including Bob Hope
and Jerry Lewis
, in whose 1960 film The Bellboy
both National and Miami Beach's Fontainebleau Hotel
had featured roles.
Until losing the license in 1962, National also owned Miami television station and ABC
affiliate, WPST (Channel 10). The station continues today as WPLG
under the ownership of Post-Newsweek Stations
.
In the autumn of 1978, management of Texas International Airlines
, regional airline based in Houston under leadership of entrepreneur and corporate raider Frank Lorenzo
, attempted a tender offer acquisition of National Airlines. With its headquarters in Miami and hubs there and in New Orleans, Houston, and Los Angeles
, acquisition of National would have allowed tiny Texas International to expand substantially beyond its south-central U.S. area of service. National had strength in the north-south market along the east coast, and probably the strongest east-west routes along the southern tier..
National management and unions, however, fought the TI acquisition stubbornly, and finally consummated a merger with Pan Am
, who had emerged as a 'white knight' during the takeover battle. Texas International walked away from their foiled attempt with a multi-million dollar stock profit and was poised for Lorenzo's next ventures—a startup airline in the high-density East coast corridor (New York Air
), and subsequent acquisition of Continental Airlines
.
National was in the end acquired by Pan Am
in 1980 and its operations were merged into those of the larger carrier. Pan Am continued to utilize the former National Miami maintenance base and headquarters building until Pan Am itself ceased operations in December 1991. Much later, National's "Sun King" logo was sold and "repackaged" much like Pan Am's to appear upon the branding of start up "low cost carrier" Southeast Airlines
aircraft.
Most industry analysts believe that Pan Am paid too high a price for National, and was ill prepared to integrate National's domestic route network with Pan Am's own globe-girdling international network. The cultures of National and Pan Am also proved to be incompatible, making workforce integration difficult.
Revenue passenger traffic (scheduled flights only, domestic plus international, in millions of passenger-miles): 432 in 1951, 905 in 1955, 1041 in 1960, 2663 in 1965, 2643 in 1970 (126-day strike), 3865 in 1975.
The history of the original National Airlines spanned nearly fifty years and during that time it operated a variety of different types of aircraft. Besides the aircraft types listed above, the airline's fleet consisted of the following:
On January 14, 1951, a DC-4 crashed on landing at Philadelphia Airport with 7 fatalities.
On February 11, 1952, a DC-6 crashed near Newark Airport
, killing 29 out of 63 people on board.
On February 14, 1953, a DC-6 crashed into the Gulf of Mexico off Mobile, AL. 46 people were killed. The aircraft was crossing an area of severe weather and possibly flew into a waterspout. This was the worst accident in the 46-year history of National Airlines.
On November 16, 1959, National Airlines Flight 967
, en route from Tampa to New Orleans, disappeared over the Gulf of Mexico. The aircraft was a DC-7B flown on an interchange route with Delta Air Lines, in a Delta aircraft but with a National Airlines crew. A bomb was suspected, but never proven.
On January 6, 1960, a DC-6B National Airlines Flight 2511
, en route from New York to Miami was destroyed by a bomb near Bolivia, North Carolina
, killing all 34 on board. Suicide by a passenger holding large life insurance policies was the probable cause.
On May 1, 1961, Antulio Ramirez Ortiz hijacked a National Airlines flight from Miami International Airport
to Cuba.
On November 3, 1973, National Airlines Flight 27
, a DC-10 had an uncontained failure of Engine #3, as a result of flight crew experimentation, shrapnel penetrated other engines and fuselage, broke window, 1 seat-belted passenger was forced from the plane and killed.
In 1978 National Airlines Flight 193
, a Boeing 727 Trijet
, unintentionally landed in the waters of Escambia Bay near Pensacola, Florida after coming down short of the runway during a foggy approach. There were 3 fatalities among 52 passengers and 6 air crew members.
Miami International Airport
Miami International Airport , also known as MIA and historically Wilcox Field, is the primary airport serving the South Florida area...
in unincorporated
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
Miami-Dade County
Miami-Dade County, Florida
Miami-Dade County is a county located in the southeastern part of the state of Florida. As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 2,496,435, making it the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
near Miami
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
.
History
Under the leadership of its president and founder, George T. Baker, it operated primarily within Florida, the Gulf Coast and the southeastern United States until 1944, when it gained authorization to operate the route between New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and Miami, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. The airline was headquartered in St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. It is known as a vacation destination for both American and foreign tourists. As of 2008, the population estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau is 245,314, making St...
at Whitted Airport and Jacksonville
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
before moving its home base to Miami.
Lucrative international service to Havana
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
, Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, began in 1946, and was to continue until suspended in 1961.
The National Airlines route network expanded west to Houston, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
and north to Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
in 1956.
On December 10, 1958, National became the first airline to introduce domestic jet
Jet aircraft
A jet aircraft is an aircraft propelled by jet engines. Jet aircraft generally fly much faster than propeller-powered aircraft and at higher altitudes – as high as . At these altitudes, jet engines achieve maximum efficiency over long distances. The engines in propeller-powered aircraft...
service in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, with a flight between Miami
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
's International Airport
Miami International Airport
Miami International Airport , also known as MIA and historically Wilcox Field, is the primary airport serving the South Florida area...
and Idlewild International Airport in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. The first jet flight used a leased Pan Am Boeing 707
Boeing 707
The Boeing 707 is a four-engine narrow-body commercial passenger jet airliner developed by Boeing in the early 1950s. Its name is most commonly pronounced as "Seven Oh Seven". The first airline to operate the 707 was Pan American World Airways, inaugurating the type's first commercial flight on...
.flown by National flight crews.
Routes from Florida to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
via Houston, including the first non-stop transcontinental service from Miami, were added in 1961 in the CAB's Southern Tier service case.
In 1964 National became the United States' first all-turbine-powered trunk airline (Douglas DC-8s and Lockheed Electra prop-jets); in 1970 it became the third U.S. transatlantic passenger carrier with the inauguration of daily nonstop DC-8s between Miami and London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
's Heathrow Airport.
In 1970, the company opened a terminal at John F. Kennedy International Airport
John F. Kennedy International Airport
John F. Kennedy International Airport is an international airport located in the borough of Queens in New York City, about southeast of Lower Manhattan. It is the busiest international air passenger gateway to the United States, handling more international traffic than any other airport in North...
called the Sundrome
Sundrome
The Sundrome was the name for the terminal of National Airlines at John F. Kennedy International Airport. It was designed by I. M. Pei & Partners . Opened in 1970, it is now known as Terminal 6...
, in reference to "Sun King logo" which was part of National Airlines modern new branding. The Sundrome is now vacant following JetBlue Airways
JetBlue Airways
JetBlue Airways Corporation is an American low-cost airline. The company is headquartered in the Forest Hills neighborhood of the New York City borough of Queens. Its main base is John F. Kennedy International Airport, also in Queens....
's move to the new Terminal 5. It was designed by Pei Cobb Freed & Partners. By the late 1970s, National operated a large fleet of Boeing 727
Boeing 727
The Boeing 727 is a mid-size, narrow-body, three-engine, T-tailed commercial jet airliner, manufactured by Boeing. The Boeing 727 first flew in 1963, and for over a decade more were built per year than any other jet airliner. When production ended in 1984 a total of 1,832 aircraft had been produced...
and McDonnell Douglas DC-10
McDonnell Douglas DC-10
The McDonnell Douglas DC-10 is a three-engine widebody jet airliner manufactured by McDonnell Douglas. The DC-10 has range for medium- to long-haul flights, capable of carrying a maximum 380 passengers. Its most distinguishing feature is the two turbofan engines mounted on underwing pylons and a...
aircraft.
National was known by advertising slogans such as "The Buccanneer Route (1940s)", "Airline of the Stars (1950s-60s)," and, famously, its "Fly Me" campaign of the 1970s, where aircraft were given female names and flight attendants were featured in broadcast and print media campaigns. Some aircraft were named for celebrities, including Bob Hope
Bob Hope
Bob Hope, KBE, KCSG, KSS was a British-born American comedian and actor who appeared in vaudeville, on Broadway, and in radio, television and movies. He was also noted for his work with the US Armed Forces and his numerous USO shows entertaining American military personnel...
and Jerry Lewis
Jerry Lewis
Jerry Lewis is an American comedian, actor, singer, film producer, screenwriter and film director. He is best known for his slapstick humor in film, television, stage and radio. He was originally paired up with Dean Martin in 1946, forming the famed comedy team of Martin and Lewis...
, in whose 1960 film The Bellboy
The Bellboy
The Bellboy is a 1960 comedy film starring, written by and directed by Jerry Lewis. The film was released on July 20, 1960 by Paramount Pictures.-Plot:The movie opens with a movie studio executive introducing the movie...
both National and Miami Beach's Fontainebleau Hotel
Fontainebleau Hotel
The Fontainebleau Miami Beach or the Fontainebleau Hotel is one of the most historically and architecturally significant hotels on Miami Beach. Opened in 1954 and designed by Morris Lapidus, it was considered the most luxurious hotel on Miami Beach, and is thought to be the most significant...
had featured roles.
Until losing the license in 1962, National also owned Miami television station and ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
affiliate, WPST (Channel 10). The station continues today as WPLG
WPLG
WPLG, channel 10, is an ABC network affiliated television station located in Miami, Florida. WPLG is owned and operated by Post-Newsweek Stations, a subsidiary of the Washington Post Company. The station's studios are located in Pembroke Park, and its transmitter is located at the massive broadcast...
under the ownership of Post-Newsweek Stations
Post-Newsweek Stations
Post-Newsweek Stations is the official name of the broadcasting division of the Washington Post Company and is a self-contained corporation within that company...
.
In the autumn of 1978, management of Texas International Airlines
Texas International Airlines
Texas International Airlines was a United States airline, known from 1944 until 1947 as Aviation Enterprises, until 1969 as Trans-Texas Airways, and as Texas International Airlines until 1982, when it merged with Continental Airlines. It was headquartered near William P...
, regional airline based in Houston under leadership of entrepreneur and corporate raider Frank Lorenzo
Frank Lorenzo
Francisco Anthony "Frank" Lorenzo is an American businessman and philanthropist. He is most famous for his leadership of Texas International Airlines and its successor holding company Texas Air Corporation between 1972 and 1990, through which he formed or acquired a number of major U.S...
, attempted a tender offer acquisition of National Airlines. With its headquarters in Miami and hubs there and in New Orleans, Houston, and Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, acquisition of National would have allowed tiny Texas International to expand substantially beyond its south-central U.S. area of service. National had strength in the north-south market along the east coast, and probably the strongest east-west routes along the southern tier..
Pan American World Airways
Pan American World Airways, commonly known as Pan Am, was the principal and largest international air carrier in the United States from 1927 until its collapse on December 4, 1991...
, who had emerged as a 'white knight' during the takeover battle. Texas International walked away from their foiled attempt with a multi-million dollar stock profit and was poised for Lorenzo's next ventures—a startup airline in the high-density East coast corridor (New York Air
New York Air
New York Air was a 1980s startup airline owned by Texas Air Corporation and based at LaGuardia Airport in Flushing, Queens, New York City.-History:...
), and subsequent acquisition of Continental Airlines
Continental Airlines
Continental Airlines was a major American airline now merged with United Airlines. On May 3, 2010, Continental Airlines, Inc. and UAL, Inc. announced a merger via a stock swap, and on October 1, 2010, the merger closed and UAL changed its name to United Continental Holdings, Inc...
.
National was in the end acquired by Pan Am
Pan American World Airways
Pan American World Airways, commonly known as Pan Am, was the principal and largest international air carrier in the United States from 1927 until its collapse on December 4, 1991...
in 1980 and its operations were merged into those of the larger carrier. Pan Am continued to utilize the former National Miami maintenance base and headquarters building until Pan Am itself ceased operations in December 1991. Much later, National's "Sun King" logo was sold and "repackaged" much like Pan Am's to appear upon the branding of start up "low cost carrier" Southeast Airlines
Southeast Airlines
Southeast Airlines was a low fare public charter airline in the United States, headquartered in Largo, Florida, operating regular service to various vacation/leisure destinations using eight Douglas DC-9 and two McDonnell Douglas MD-80 aircraft...
aircraft.
Most industry analysts believe that Pan Am paid too high a price for National, and was ill prepared to integrate National's domestic route network with Pan Am's own globe-girdling international network. The cultures of National and Pan Am also proved to be incompatible, making workforce integration difficult.
Revenue passenger traffic (scheduled flights only, domestic plus international, in millions of passenger-miles): 432 in 1951, 905 in 1955, 1041 in 1960, 2663 in 1965, 2643 in 1970 (126-day strike), 3865 in 1975.
Fleet
In 1980, when Pan Am acquired National, there were 59 aircraft in National Airlines' fleet consisting of the following types:- 19 Boeing 727-100
- 24 Boeing 727-200
- 11 McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10
- 5 McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30
The history of the original National Airlines spanned nearly fifty years and during that time it operated a variety of different types of aircraft. Besides the aircraft types listed above, the airline's fleet consisted of the following:
- Boeing 747-100
- Curtiss-Wright C-46 Commando
- Convair CV-340
- Convair CV-440
- Douglas DC-4Douglas DC-4The Douglas DC-4 is a four-engined propeller-driven airliner developed by the Douglas Aircraft Company. It served during World War II, in the Berlin Airlift and into the 1960s in a military role...
- Douglas DC-6Douglas DC-6The Douglas DC-6 is a piston-powered airliner and transport aircraft built by the Douglas Aircraft Company from 1946 to 1958. Originally intended as a military transport near the end of World War II, it was reworked after the war to compete with the Lockheed Constellation in the long-range...
- Douglas DC-6BDouglas DC-6The Douglas DC-6 is a piston-powered airliner and transport aircraft built by the Douglas Aircraft Company from 1946 to 1958. Originally intended as a military transport near the end of World War II, it was reworked after the war to compete with the Lockheed Constellation in the long-range...
- Douglas DC-7BDouglas DC-7The Douglas DC-7 is an American transport aircraft built by the Douglas Aircraft Company from 1953 to 1958. It was the last major piston engine powered transport made by Douglas, coming just a few years before the advent of jet aircraft such as the Boeing 707 and Douglas DC-8.-Design and...
- Douglas DC-8-21/31/32/51/54/61Douglas DC-8The Douglas DC-8 is a four-engined narrow-body passenger commercial jet airliner, manufactured from 1958 to 1972 by the Douglas Aircraft Company...
- Lockheed Model 18 Lodestar
- Lockheed Super H ConstellationLockheed ConstellationThe Lockheed Constellation was a propeller-driven airliner powered by four 18-cylinder radial Wright R-3350 engines. It was built by Lockheed between 1943 and 1958 at its Burbank, California, USA, facility. A total of 856 aircraft were produced in numerous models, all distinguished by a...
- Lockheed L-188 ElectraLockheed L-188 ElectraThe Lockheed Model 188 Electra is an American turboprop airliner built by Lockheed. First flying in 1957, it was the first large turboprop airliner produced in the United States. Initial sales were good, but after two fatal crashes which prompted an expensive modification program to fix a design...
Incidents and accidents
On October 5, 1945, a Lockheed Lodestar crashed into a lake in Lakeland, Florida with two fatalities.On January 14, 1951, a DC-4 crashed on landing at Philadelphia Airport with 7 fatalities.
On February 11, 1952, a DC-6 crashed near Newark Airport
Newark Liberty International Airport
Newark Liberty International Airport , first named Newark Metropolitan Airport and later Newark International Airport, is an international airport within the city limits of both Newark and Elizabeth, New Jersey, United States...
, killing 29 out of 63 people on board.
On February 14, 1953, a DC-6 crashed into the Gulf of Mexico off Mobile, AL. 46 people were killed. The aircraft was crossing an area of severe weather and possibly flew into a waterspout. This was the worst accident in the 46-year history of National Airlines.
On November 16, 1959, National Airlines Flight 967
National Airlines Flight 967
National Airlines Flight 967, registration N4891C, was a Douglas DC-7B aircraft which disappeared over the Gulf of Mexico en route from Tampa, Florida to New Orleans, Louisiana on November 16, 1959...
, en route from Tampa to New Orleans, disappeared over the Gulf of Mexico. The aircraft was a DC-7B flown on an interchange route with Delta Air Lines, in a Delta aircraft but with a National Airlines crew. A bomb was suspected, but never proven.
On January 6, 1960, a DC-6B National Airlines Flight 2511
National Airlines Flight 2511
National Airlines Flight 2511, registration N8225H, was a Douglas DC-6B aircraft which exploded over Bolivia, North Carolina en route from New York International Airport, New York City, New York, to Miami, Florida on January 6, 1960...
, en route from New York to Miami was destroyed by a bomb near Bolivia, North Carolina
Bolivia, North Carolina
Bolivia is a town in Brunswick County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 148 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Brunswick County, and is named after the South American nation of the same name....
, killing all 34 on board. Suicide by a passenger holding large life insurance policies was the probable cause.
On May 1, 1961, Antulio Ramirez Ortiz hijacked a National Airlines flight from Miami International Airport
Miami International Airport
Miami International Airport , also known as MIA and historically Wilcox Field, is the primary airport serving the South Florida area...
to Cuba.
On November 3, 1973, National Airlines Flight 27
National Airlines Flight 27
On November 3, 1973, a National Airlines DC-10-10 aircraft was operating as a scheduled passenger flight between Miami and San Francisco with intermediate stops at New Orleans, Houston, and Las Vegas ....
, a DC-10 had an uncontained failure of Engine #3, as a result of flight crew experimentation, shrapnel penetrated other engines and fuselage, broke window, 1 seat-belted passenger was forced from the plane and killed.
In 1978 National Airlines Flight 193
National Airlines Flight 193
National Airlines Flight 193, registration N4744NA, Donna, was a Boeing 727-235 en route from Miami, Florida to New Orleans, Louisiana on May 8, 1978. It was scheduled with stops at Melbourne, Tampa, Pensacola and Mobile, Alabama. The accident occurred at night in low visibility from fog...
, a Boeing 727 Trijet
Trijet
A Trijet is an aircraft powered by three jet engines. Early twin-jet designs were limited by the FAA's "60-minute rule", whereby the flight path of twin-engined jetliners was restricted to within 60 minutes' flying time from a suitable airport, in case of engine failure. In 1964 this rule was...
, unintentionally landed in the waters of Escambia Bay near Pensacola, Florida after coming down short of the runway during a foggy approach. There were 3 fatalities among 52 passengers and 6 air crew members.
See also
- Pan American World AirwaysPan American World AirwaysPan American World Airways, commonly known as Pan Am, was the principal and largest international air carrier in the United States from 1927 until its collapse on December 4, 1991...
- National Airlines (1983)National Airlines (1983)The second airline to be named National Airlines was owned by United Air Carriers.- History :The airline was created when officials of supplemental airline Overseas National Airways formed a FAR Part 129 leasing company known as United Air Carriers on July 21, 1977...
- National Airlines (N7)National Airlines (N7)National Airlines was a Las Vegas based low fare airline, and the third United States-based airline to use the name. The airline was created to bring tourists to Las Vegas. As a result, it offered service to a limited number of cities with high traffic to Las Vegas...
External links
- National Airlines (1934-1980) Former Flight Attendants Organization
- National Sundowners Flights of Memories 1937-1980
- Otto T. Richter Library, Special Collections Division, University of Miami Libraries
- Pan Am Heritage Web Site (Pan Am Historical Foundation)
- http://timetableimages.com/ttimages/na.htm has several National timetables from 1937-67, showing where they flew, how often, how long it took and how much it cost.