note
Company was founded by George T. Baker in St Petersburg Florida and begun operating mail flights between St. Petersburg, Tampa, Orlando and Daytona Beach Florida on October 15, 1934 using used Ryan aircraft. Company was incorporated as National Airlines in 1937. In 1939 its offices were moved to Jacksonville, FL. This route was extended along the Gulf Coast to New Orleans during the 1940s and was called "Buccaneer route". In 1944 National operated first non-stop New York - Miami scheduled passenger service using DC-4s.
Its first international destination was Havana in 1946. National pioneered New York - Miami service over water which shortened flight by 1 hour once the pressurized DC-6s joined the fleet with inauguration on July 1st 1947. First jet service was inaugurated in December 10, 1958 between New York and Miami which was also first domestic jet service in the USA using leased Boeing 707 aircraft. Service to Havana was suspended in 1961 for political reasons. In March 1962 L. B. Maytag, president of Frontier Airlines, purchased controlling interest in National and became its president at the same time he resigned from Frontier Airlines
By 1964 National was first all jet airline in United States. In 1968 National Airlines retired its last Lockheed Electra and became first all pure jet airline in the USA operating fleet of DC-8s and Boeing 727s.
On October 2nd 1970, National inaugurated 747 service between Miami and New York and later that month service to Los Angeles was added.
On June 16th 1970 National flew its first transatlantic flight serving London from Miami using a DC-10. Paris was added in 1977 and Amsterdam and Frankfurt in 1978. National Airlines was very well run airline with little debt which attracted buyers. Placing winning bid in 1980, Pan American acquired National Airlines.
founded - demised (age)
1934 - January 7 1980 (46)
headquarters
, Miami, FL
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current /stored fleet (0)
