Once a powerhouse of American aviation, US Airways was a notable success story of the 20th century. What started as a small airmail service evolved into a major airline, expanding across the US and beyond. But despite its success, the brand ultimately disappeared\u2014so what happened?<\/p>\n
From pioneering codeshare agreements to surviving bankruptcies and mergers, US Airways<\/a> had a colorful history. The dream finally ended in 2015 when its merger with American Airlines<\/a> saw the brand dropped for good. Nevertheless, its influence on modern aviation is far from forgotten.<\/p>\n US Airways\u2019 history stretches right back to 1937, when a company by the name of All American Aviation was founded in Pennsylvania. Commencing operations in 1939, the company used small aircraft like the Stinson Reliant to deliver mail throughout the Ohio River valley.<\/p>\n\n In the late 1940s, the airline switched from airmail to passenger service, rebranding as All American Airways in the process. In 1953, the airline rebranded again, this time to Allegheny Airlines, a name that would stay in place for 26 years.<\/p>\n In order to run passenger services across Pennsylvania, Allegheny invested in turbine airliners including the Convair 540, Fairchild F-27 and DC-3. In 1965, it received its first jet \u2013 a Douglas DC-9-10, which was later followed by Boeing 727s<\/a>, DC-9-30s and DC-9-50s.<\/p>\n As Allegheny grew, it began soaking up smaller airlines. Lake Central Airlines was absorbed in 1968, then Mohawk Airlines in 1972, making Allegheny one of the largest airlines in the northeast US.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n Even in these early days, this former incarnation of US Airways was breaking boundaries. Allegheny formed an agreement with Henson Airlines, a predecessor to Piedmont Airlines<\/a>, which is considered to be the industry\u2019s first codeshare agreement.<\/p>\n When deregulation came about, Allegheny changed its name to USAir to reflect its greater reach. It was the launch customer for the Boeing 737, which allowed the airline to expand into the south of the States.\u00a0<\/p>\n It changed its name to US Airways in 1997, introducing a new, fresh corporate identity. By the turn of the millennium, it was operating widebodies to Europe and was one of the biggest airlines in the US. It had established a low-cost carrier, \u2018MetroJet\u2019, and had bought the remains of Trump Shuttle for further expansion.<\/p>\n\n But with the new millennium came new problems.<\/p>\n Contrary to popular belief, US Airways did not shut down as such. Although it was suffering financially, it took the proactive step of consolidating with another airline, which ultimately saw its name and brand retired. Nevertheless, the post-millennial years were not kind to US Airways.\u00a0<\/p>\nA brief history of US Airways<\/h2>\n
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Why did US Airways shut down?<\/h2>\n
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