Republic Airlines (1979-1986)
Encyclopedia
Republic Airlines was an airline
formed on July 1, 1979 by the merger of North Central Airlines
, Southern Airways
, and Hughes Airwest
. Its headquarters were located on the grounds of Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and in what is now Fort Snelling
in unincorporated
Hennepin County
, Minnesota
.
and Southern Airways
. The new airline's headquarters was at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport
though its largest and main hub was at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport
. At the time of its formation, Republic was the sixth largest airline in the United States. In 1980
, following its buyout of Hughes Airwest
, Republic became the largest airline in the United States
by destinations served. The route network was served with the world's largest Douglas DC-9
fleet and also Boeing 727
s.
On January 23, 1986, Northwest Orient Airlines
announced that it would purchase Republic for $884 million in response to United Airlines
' purchase of the Pacific routes of Pan American World Airways
and in order to provide the domestic feed it required to compete effectively. The merger was completed on October 1, 1986 with Northwest dropping the word Orient from its brand name after the merger. Republic operated hubs at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport
, Memphis International Airport
, and Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport
. These airports became the backbone of Northwest's domestic route network.
Despite Northwest's efforts to remove all remaining presence of any Republic-branded imagery, as of now it is still possible to find a few old Republic logos around Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport
and Memphis International Airport
. The logos can no longer be seen at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport
because Northwest's old terminal has been demolished. Northwest subsequently merged with Delta Air Lines
, with Delta to be the surviving brand.
Airline
An airline provides air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines lease or own their aircraft with which to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for mutual benefit...
formed on July 1, 1979 by the merger of North Central Airlines
North Central Airlines
North Central Airlines was founded as Wisconsin Central Airlines in 1944 in Clintonville, Wisconsin. It was headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota.-Early history:...
, Southern Airways
Southern Airways
Southern Airways was a regional airline operating in the United States from its founding by Frank Hulse in 1949 until 1979 when it merged with North Central Airlines to become Republic Airlines, which on October 1, 1986, became part of Northwest Airlines, which in 2008 became a part of Delta Air...
, and Hughes Airwest
Hughes Airwest
Hughes Airwest was an airline that was backed by Howard Hughes. Hughes Airwest flew routes around the western United States and to certain points in Mexico and Canada. The airline was purchased by Republic Airlines on October 1, 1980...
. Its headquarters were located on the grounds of Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and in what is now Fort Snelling
Fort Snelling, Minnesota
Fort Snelling, originally known as Fort Saint Anthony, was a military fortification located at the confluence of the Minnesota River and Mississippi River in Hennepin County, Minnesota...
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...
Hennepin County
Hennepin County, Minnesota
Hennepin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota, named in honor of the 17th-century explorer Father Louis Hennepin. As of 2010 the population was 1,152,425. Its county seat is Minneapolis. It is by far the most populous county in Minnesota; more than one in five Minnesotans live...
, Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
.
History
Republic Airlines came to being in 1979 with the merger of North Central AirlinesNorth Central Airlines
North Central Airlines was founded as Wisconsin Central Airlines in 1944 in Clintonville, Wisconsin. It was headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota.-Early history:...
and Southern Airways
Southern Airways
Southern Airways was a regional airline operating in the United States from its founding by Frank Hulse in 1949 until 1979 when it merged with North Central Airlines to become Republic Airlines, which on October 1, 1986, became part of Northwest Airlines, which in 2008 became a part of Delta Air...
. The new airline's headquarters was at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport
Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport
Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport is the largest and busiest airport in the five-state upper Midwest region of Minnesota, Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin.-Overview:...
though its largest and main hub was at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport , usually called Detroit Metro Airport, Metro Airport locally, or simply DTW, is a major international airport covering in Romulus, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. It is Michigan's busiest airport....
. At the time of its formation, Republic was the sixth largest airline in the United States. In 1980
1980 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1980:-Events:* Summer 1980 – The British Aerospace Sea Harrier enters operational service with the Fleet Air Arm, providing the British Royal Navy with its first high-performance fixed-wing aircraft capability since the retirement of the aircraft...
, following its buyout of Hughes Airwest
Hughes Airwest
Hughes Airwest was an airline that was backed by Howard Hughes. Hughes Airwest flew routes around the western United States and to certain points in Mexico and Canada. The airline was purchased by Republic Airlines on October 1, 1980...
, Republic became the largest airline in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
by destinations served. The route network was served with the world's largest Douglas DC-9
McDonnell Douglas DC-9
The McDonnell Douglas DC-9 is a twin-engine, single-aisle jet airliner. It was first manufactured in 1965 with its maiden flight later that year. The DC-9 was designed for frequent, short flights. The final DC-9 was delivered in October 1982.The DC-9 was followed in subsequent modified forms by...
fleet and also 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...
s.
On January 23, 1986, Northwest Orient Airlines
Northwest Airlines
Northwest Airlines, Inc. was a major United States airline founded in 1926 and absorbed into Delta Air Lines by a merger approved on October 29, 2008, making Delta the largest airline in the world...
announced that it would purchase Republic for $884 million in response to United Airlines
United Airlines
United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees (which includes the entire holding company United Continental...
' purchase of the Pacific routes of Pan American World Airways
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...
and in order to provide the domestic feed it required to compete effectively. The merger was completed on October 1, 1986 with Northwest dropping the word Orient from its brand name after the merger. Republic operated hubs at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport
Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport
Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport is the largest and busiest airport in the five-state upper Midwest region of Minnesota, Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin.-Overview:...
, Memphis International Airport
Memphis International Airport
Memphis International Airport is a joint civil-military public airport located three miles south of the central business district of Memphis, a city in Shelby County, Tennessee, United States....
, and Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport , usually called Detroit Metro Airport, Metro Airport locally, or simply DTW, is a major international airport covering in Romulus, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. It is Michigan's busiest airport....
. These airports became the backbone of Northwest's domestic route network.
Despite Northwest's efforts to remove all remaining presence of any Republic-branded imagery, as of now it is still possible to find a few old Republic logos around Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport
Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport
Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport is the largest and busiest airport in the five-state upper Midwest region of Minnesota, Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin.-Overview:...
and Memphis International Airport
Memphis International Airport
Memphis International Airport is a joint civil-military public airport located three miles south of the central business district of Memphis, a city in Shelby County, Tennessee, United States....
. The logos can no longer be seen at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport , usually called Detroit Metro Airport, Metro Airport locally, or simply DTW, is a major international airport covering in Romulus, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. It is Michigan's busiest airport....
because Northwest's old terminal has been demolished. Northwest subsequently merged with Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines, Inc. is a major airline based in the United States and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The airline operates an extensive domestic and international network serving all continents except Antarctica. Delta and its subsidiaries operate over 4,000 flights every day...
, with Delta to be the surviving brand.
Historical fleet
- 133 - Douglas DC-9-14; Douglas DC-9-15; Douglas DC-9-31; Douglas DC-9-32; Douglas DC-9-51
- 22 - Boeing 727-025; Boeing 727-2M7; Boeing 727-2S7; Boeing 727-277Boeing 727The 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...
- 8 - McDonnell Douglas MD-82
- 6 - Boeing 757-2S7Boeing 757The Boeing 757 is a mid-size, narrow-body twin-engine jet airliner manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Passenger versions of the twinjet have a capacity of 186 to 289 persons and a maximum range of , depending on variant and cabin configuration...
- 2 - Convair CV-580
External links
- Fleet and code information
- Fleet information
- Republic Airlines historical artifacts - inventory list of items stored at the Minnesota Historical Society