COMPANYHISTORIES
SIC 4510

Air Transportation, Scheduled

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

21companies1921–1993founding years17still active4no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedCorporación Internacional de Aviación, S.A. de C.V. (Cintra)
1921
FoundedNorthwest Airlines Corporation
1926
1927
TechnologyLindbergh flies the Atlantic solo, and aviation captures the public.
FoundedHawaiian Airlines, Inc.
1929
FoundedEgyptAir
1932
FoundedSociété Air France
1933
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
FoundedPhilippine Airlines, Inc.
1941
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
FoundedAir-India LimitedFoundedAloha Airlines, IncorporatedFoundedBritish World Airlines Ltd.FoundedFrontier Airlines, Inc.FoundedMalév Plc
1946
FoundedThai Airways International Public Company Limited
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
FoundedKorean Air Lines Co., Ltd.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedSingapore Airlines Ltd.FoundedSkyWest, Inc.
1972
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
FoundedJardine Matheson Holdings Limited
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
FoundedReno Air Inc.
1990
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
FoundedKiwi International Airlines Inc.
1992
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2000
TechnologyGPS opens to civilian use, turning location into a utility.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
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

Corporación Internacional de Aviación, S.A. de C.V. (Cintra) →
Active · founded 1921 · Mexico
Corporación Internacional de Aviación, S.A.
Northwest Airlines Corporation →
Defunct · founded 1926
Northwest Airlines Corporation is the holding company for Northwest Airlines, Inc., described as "America's oldest…
Hawaiian Airlines, Inc. →
Active · founded 1929
Hawaiian Airlines, Inc.
EgyptAir →
Active · founded 1932 · Egypt
EgyptAir is the second largest airline on the African continent (exceeded only by South African Airways) and is the…
Société Air France →
Active · founded 1933 · France
One of the world's largest airlines, Société Air France is trying to shake a somewhat troubled reputation and a…
Philippine Airlines, Inc. →
Active · founded 1941 · Philippines
Philippine Airlines, Inc.
Saudi Arabian Airlines →
Active · founded 1945 · Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabian Airlines (Saudia) is the national airline of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the largest airline in the…
Air-India Limited →
Active · founded 1946 · India
Air-India Limited operates passenger and cargo flights from Bombay to destinations in the United States, Europe, the…
Aloha Airlines, Incorporated →
Defunct · founded 1946
Aloha Airlines, Incorporated occupies a special place in the sun.
British World Airlines Ltd. →
Defunct · founded 1946 · United Kingdom
British World Airlines Ltd.
Frontier Airlines, Inc. →
Active · founded 1946
Frontier Airlines, Inc.
Malév Plc →
Active · founded 1946 · Hungary
Malév Plc operates one of Eastern Europe's most significant airlines.
Thai Airways International Public Company Limited →
Active · founded 1947 · Thailand
Thai Airways International Public Company Limited is one of the most influential companies in that emerging Asian…
El Al Israel Airlines Ltd. →
Active · founded 1949 · Israel
In its 50-year history El Al Israel Airlines Ltd.
Korean Air Lines Co., Ltd. →
Active · founded 1962 · Korea
Korean Air Lines Co., Ltd.
Singapore Airlines Ltd. →
Active · founded 1972 · Republic of Singapore
Singapore Airlines Ltd.
SkyWest, Inc. →
Active · founded 1972
SkyWest, Inc.
Jardine Matheson Holdings Limited →
Active · founded 1984 · Bermuda
Jardine Matheson is one of the oldest names in East Asia, and Jardine Matheson Holdings Limited is an international…
Reno Air Inc. →
Active · founded 1990
Probably the most distinguished of the several dozen low-fare start-up airlines that began flying regional U.S.
Kiwi International Airlines Inc. →
Active · founded 1992
Kiwi International Airlines Inc.
AirTran Holdings, Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1993
AirTran Holdings, Inc.
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