note
Southern began operations in 1947 from Miami International Airport with cargo services to the Bahamas. In 1960 it was purchased by the CIA and brought under the Pacific Corporation umbrella which managed the covert CIA flight operations. At the end of 1973 the airline was sold to Stanley Williams, who had acted as president of the airline since 1962. The airline continued to operate missions for the U.S. and other government agencies, as well as the UN, and had expertise in handling missions in troubled areas. One such famous mission involved a Southern employee being captured by Nicaraguan soldiers after parachuting from his crippled plane. This incident brought light to a weapons-for-hostages deal which was part of the Iran-Contra affair. The airline was sold again in 1979 to James Bastian, another former Pacific Corporation executive. After deregulation the airline was able to expand with large jet aircraft operating ACMI and cargo charters. The airlines finances declined in the 1990s and the airline was forced to file for bankruptcy on October 1, 1998. Some of its assets were sold in bankruptcy to owners of a new airline, to be called Southern Air.
founded - demised (age)
1947 - October 1998 (51)
headquarters
PO Box 328988, Columbus, OH 43232
web
base airports
related operators
current /stored fleet (0)
