THE HISTORY OF CENTRAL AIRLINES THROUGH ITS TIMETABLES

CENTRAL AIRLINES (1944-1967)

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Up to 1978, The C.A.B ,the Airline watchdog  wanted to stabilize the industry in the light of the  end of  WW2 and return to normalcy and economic expansion. in this respect, the agency created  a new class of airlines known as " The Feeder and  Local Service Airlines "' in order to extend air travel  to as many people possible as an airport would bring economic prosperity to towns and cities poorly served rail or by roads. The CAB in extending rights would  privilege  those new airlines rather than the old established ones that had no commercial or traffic incentive to serve these communities

Central Airlines was founded by Keith Kahle in 1944 to operate charter and fixed base services . The CAB issued a certificate on November 15, 1946. These certificates were valid for a period of 3 years.

In these times and despite the victory of the USA, capital was scarce and to put it mildly commercial aviation was a risky business then. Keith Kahle could not find enough financial backing to buy the DC3 he desperately wanted to launch its airline as they cost $ 1000000 but ultimately would find a dozen Bonanzas that cost roughly $250,000 .

Services began on September 15, 1949, a couple of months before the expiration of the certificate. The first routes was stretching from Fort Worth (where the company was headquartered) to Oklahoma city on a route which I would call "tortuous" 

For the first time  many cities  saw  regular air services.

However the Beechcraft Bonanza A35 were not fitted for the routes and the expectations of the owner for further development. DC3s were acquired and  entered  in service in late 1950 . The timetable dated 30/12/1950 shows the routes operated by the DC3 (in red)  and  Central's Bonanzas in violet)

Source : www.timetableimages.com/Bjorn Larsson collection

Beginnings for Central Airlines were difficult and hard as the cities served had very limited traffic potential and relied heavily on subsidies and mail .

The Timetable dated December 1, 1953 reveals that the airline has reverted to an all DC3 fleet  and compared to December 1950 timetable some changes  services to

Source : www.timetableimages.com/Bjorn Larsson collection

Texarkana, Holdenville, Durant, Pampa, Gainesville,Okmulgee, Sherman/Denison were eliminated  but new services to Muskogee, McAlester, Stillwater and Borger were flown

On May 19, 1955, president Eisenhower signs a new legislation by which the CAB is to grant permanent certificate instead of the temporary ones renewable every 3 years to the locals (Public Convenience and Necessity Services). This new law will give a new impetus to the locals as the temporary status was hindering investments and fleet renewal.

With the timetable dated June 1955, Services were widely expanded to the East to Little Rock (via Muskogee , Hot Springs) and to the North to Kansas City (via Fayetteville/Fort Smith , Joplin)

Source : www.timetableimages.com/Bjorn Larsson collection

Another boost for the industry was the signature of the Guarantee loan act passed in 1957 by which the CAB would guarantee loans to the Locals for the purchase of new equipment. This comes at the right moment as the DC3 was getting obsolete and the "majors" abandoned more than 100 short-haul services (during the period 1959-1963) shedding away a large number of Martins 202/404 (e.g Northwest) and Convairs 240/340/440.

Source : www.timetableimages.com/Bjorn Larsson collection

The company continues its expansion with the addition of Saint Louis via Harrison , Topeka to Wichita and Kansas City, Liberal to Guymon and Wichita, Services from Amarillo are extended to Lubbock via Plainview , Central Airlines flies to Denver, Colorado Springs , Lamar and Sherman-Denison is re-instated .

The timetable dated October 1,1961 

Source : www.timetableimages.com/Bjorn Larsson collection

brings 2 important events the introduction of the convair 240 and many new destinations shed by Continental Airlines : Great  Bend,Hutchinson, Salina, Dodge City, Garden City .Other new destinations include Manhattan,Fort Leonard,,Goodland, Hays....

The convair was introduced on the following routes

CN170 : Fort Worth-Dallas-Fort Smith-Fayetteville-Fort Leonard-Saint Louis 

CN112&147 : Fort Worth-Dallas-Lawton-Oklahoma City

CN142 : Fort Worth-Dallas-Paris-Fort Smith-Fayetteville-Joplin-Kansas City-Topeka-Salina-Denver

In 1964, 

The compnay sheds its services to Ada, Ardmore and Lubbock via Plainview

It introduces a new scheme on its Convair 600

One of the last timetable issued by the company on July 1,1967 shows the following

Source : www.timetableimages.com/Bjorn Larsson collection

Routes served by the Convairs 240/600

Routes served by the DC3

LIST OF CONVAIRS 240/600 USED BY CENTRAL AIRLNES

The acquisition of Central Airlines was not on Lew Dymond's highest priorities. Frontier Airlines was expanding with  new services from Denver to Kansas City and Denver-Saint Louis  following the hearing of the Pacific Northwest Southwest case and the airline was emerging from a free subsidy airline whereas Central Airlines was still stuck into serving small cities and low yielding routes . Furthermore, the airline would bring in its dowry a fleet of DC3 that Frontier did not wanted and was in the process of withdrawing  from its fleet and the Convair 600 that did not really fit with Frontier's fleet of Convairs.The merger was authorized by the CAB on August 2, 1967 and was Central Airlines was merged on September 1.1967. Frontier Airlines became at that date the largest local airlines in the USA.

The pre-merger network of Frontier Airlines 

Stations served 70

States 11

The post-merger network of Frontier Airlines  

Stations served 114

States 14