Central Airlines
A defunct American local-service airline that connected cities across the south-central United States from 1949 until its 1967 merger into the original Frontier Airlines.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Central Airlines was an American local-service carrier whose scheduled network linked smaller and midsize communities in the south-central and central United States. The airline was founded in 1944 by Keith Kahle, initially with the intention of providing charter operations and fixed-base services in Oklahoma. It received an operating certificate from the Civil Aeronautics Board in November 1946 for commercial service in Oklahoma and Texas, but regulatory and operational delays prevented it from beginning scheduled flights immediately. The CAB later required the company to commence service or risk losing its certificate. Central announced in August 1949 that it had acquired eight Beechcraft Bonanzas, and its first scheduled flight operated on September 15, 1949, from Fort Worth to Oklahoma City with intermediate stops in Dallas and Gainesville. The airline began with small piston aircraft and a regional operating model typical of carriers regulated and subsidized by the CAB. During its first year of scheduled service, it carried 8,122 passengers. In November 1950, Central introduced Douglas DC-3 aircraft and began replacing its Bonanzas as traffic and route requirements grew. Its network expanded steadily: by August 1953, the timetable covered 19 airports; by 1955, Central served much of Oklahoma and had extended to destinations including Amarillo, Dallas–Fort Worth, Little Rock, and Kansas City; and by April 1957, it served 29 airports. The airline's principal role was to provide scheduled air links between communities that were not necessarily large enough to attract major trunk carriers. Central moved its head office in 1961 from Meacham Field to Amon Carter Field in Fort Worth, later renamed Greater Southwest International Airport. That year it carried its millionth passenger. By 1962, the fleet consisted of six Convair aircraft and 18 DC-3s, while monthly traffic was approximately 24,000 passengers. The company later modernized part of its fleet with Convair 240 aircraft converted into Convair 600 turboprops by replacing their piston engines with Rolls-Royce Dart engines. These turboprops allowed Central to improve speed and operating performance while continuing to serve short- and medium-haul regional routes. Like other local-service airlines subject to CAB regulation, Central depended substantially on federal support. In 1963, it reported operating revenue of $10.7 million, including a $4.5 million federal subsidy. Financial pressure ultimately shaped the company's final years. Central petitioned the CAB in September 1966 to merge with Ozark Air Lines, proposing that the combined carrier operate under the Ozark name. The companies ended those discussions by mutual agreement in November 1966, citing continuing financial difficulties. Central subsequently reached an agreement with the original Frontier Airlines. The acquisition and merger became effective on October 1, 1967. At the time, Central operated Convair CV-600 turboprops and 16 Douglas DC-3s. It had announced plans to introduce Douglas DC-9-10 jet service, but the jets were never delivered before the merger. Frontier continued to operate some former Central equipment for a period and later used newer Convair 580s and Boeing 737-200s to serve several communities that had previously been part of Central's network. Central therefore disappeared as an independent airline, but many of its routes and regional-market functions continued through successor carriers.
History
Central Airlines originated in 1944 when Keith Kahle established the company to provide charter and fixed-base services in Oklahoma. The business was intended to become a scheduled local-service carrier, but it had to obtain regulatory authority before beginning commercial operations. The Civil Aeronautics Board awarded Central a certificate on November 27, 1946, authorizing service in Oklahoma and Texas. Even after receiving the certificate, the airline had not started flights by March 1949. The CAB therefore set a deadline requiring Central to begin service or surrender its authority. Kahle announced in August 1949 that Central had acquired eight Beechcraft Bonanzas. The airline finally launched scheduled operations on September 15, 1949, with a Fort Worth–Oklahoma City flight routed through Dallas and Gainesville. Central carried 8,122 passengers during its first year. In November 1950, it began operating three Douglas DC-3s and planned to replace its smaller Bonanza fleet as additional DC-3s became available. The company expanded its route structure throughout the 1950s. It served 19 airports by August 1953 and, by 1955, covered most of Oklahoma while reaching cities such as Amarillo, Dallas–Fort Worth, Little Rock, and Kansas City. Its schedule included 29 airports in April 1957. Central's backers and directors included Fort Worth oilman F. Kirk Johnson, former city councilman R. E. Harding Jr., Don Earhart, and actor James Stewart. Lamar Muse also served as president before later moving to other airlines and eventually founding Muse Air. In 1961, Central transferred its headquarters from Meacham Field to Amon Carter Field in Fort Worth. The same year, it carried its millionth passenger. By 1962, it operated six Convairs and 18 DC-3s and carried roughly 24,000 passengers per month. Its Convair 240 aircraft were converted from piston power to Rolls-Royce Dart turboprops beginning in 1965, becoming Convair 600s. This gave Central a more modern aircraft type while preserving the economics and capacity appropriate to regional routes. The airline operated within the CAB's local-service system, in which federal subsidies supported service to communities that might not otherwise have received scheduled air connections. Central's 1963 operating revenue was reported as $10.7 million, of which $4.5 million came from federal subsidy. Financial difficulties became increasingly important in the company's strategic planning. On September 20, 1966, Central asked the CAB to approve a merger with Ozark Air Lines. The proposed combination would have been one of the larger local-service carriers and would have used the Ozark name. Negotiations ended on November 9, 1966, by mutual agreement. Central subsequently joined the original Frontier Airlines. The merger was completed on October 1, 1967, when Central was operating Convair CV-600 turboprops and 16 Douglas DC-3s. Central had advertised a forthcoming Douglas DC-9-10 service, but no DC-9s were delivered before the merger. Frontier temporarily continued to use some Central aircraft and later replaced them with Convair CV-580 turboprops and, eventually, Boeing 737-200 jets on routes serving communities formerly connected by Central. Central's independent corporate and operating identity therefore ended in 1967, although its regional routes continued under successor airlines. Central's safety record was an important part of its historical reputation. It received four consecutive National Safety Council aviation safety awards covering 1950 to 1953. Recorded incidents in the 1960s included a serious flight-attendant injury caused by clear-air turbulence in 1964, a gear-up landing by a Convair CV-240 in 1965, and evasive action to avoid an unidentified aircraft in 1966. These events caused injuries or aircraft damage in particular cases, but the available historical record states that no passenger was seriously injured or killed aboard a Central flight from 1962 through 1968.
- 1967
Merged into Frontier Airlines
[1]Central's acquisition and merger into the original Frontier Airlines took effect on October 1.
- 1965
Convair aircraft converted to turboprops
[1]Central began converting Convair 240 aircraft into Convair 600s with Rolls-Royce Dart turboprop engines.
- 1961
Headquarters moves to Amon Carter Field
[1]The airline moved its head office to Amon Carter Field in Fort Worth and carried its millionth passenger.
- 1950
DC-3 fleet introduced
[1]Central began operating Douglas DC-3 aircraft and started replacing its Bonanzas.
- 1949
Scheduled service begins
[1]Central's inaugural scheduled flight operated on September 15 from Fort Worth to Oklahoma City via Dallas and Gainesville.
- 1946
CAB grants operating certificate
[1]The Civil Aeronautics Board authorized Central to operate commercial service in Oklahoma and Texas.
- 1944
Company founded
[1]Keith Kahle founded Central Airlines to pursue charter and fixed-base operations in Oklahoma.
Products and positioning
A regulated local-service airline focused on connecting smaller and midsize communities in Oklahoma, Texas, and neighboring states to larger regional centers.
Passenger aviation · 1949
Scheduled regional passenger service
Central's core offering was scheduled passenger transportation between smaller and midsize cities in Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, and Colorado. The network connected local communities with regional centers such as Fort Worth, Dallas, Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Kansas City, Denver, and St. Louis. As a CAB-regulated local-service carrier, Central's role was to maintain dependable links that were not always commercially attractive to larger trunk airlines.
Aircraft-based service · 1950
Douglas DC-3 service
Introduced in 1950, the Douglas DC-3 became a major part of Central's post-launch fleet. Its greater capacity and established short-haul operating characteristics supported the airline's expansion beyond its initial Bonanza operations. Sixteen DC-3s were still in Central's fleet when the company merged into Frontier in 1967.
Aircraft-based service · 1965
Convair CV-600 service
Central operated Convair 240 aircraft and began converting them into Convair CV-600 turboprops in 1965. The conversion replaced the original piston engines with Rolls-Royce Dart engines, providing a faster and more modern regional aircraft for the carrier's established network. The CV-600 was part of the fleet transferred or retained during the Frontier merger.
Aircraft-based service · 1949
Beechcraft Bonanza service
Central acquired eight Beechcraft Bonanzas before launching scheduled service in 1949 and initially used the type for its small-scale operations. The company later announced that its Bonanzas would be phased out as DC-3 aircraft entered service and fleet capacity increased.
Planned jet service
Douglas DC-9-10 planned service
Central advertised an intended Douglas DC-9-10 introduction in the Official Airline Guide. The aircraft were never delivered because the airline merged into Frontier before the planned jet operation began.
Brand decisions
1967
Merger into Frontier AirlinesM&ABackground
Central remained under financial pressure after the unsuccessful Ozark discussions and was operating a regional fleet of Convair CV-600s and DC-3s.
Action taken
The original Frontier Airlines acquired Central and completed the merger on October 1, 1967.
Aftermath
Central ceased to operate as an independent airline. Frontier continued some Central routes and later served several former Central communities with Convair 580 and Boeing 737 aircraft.
1966
Petition to merge with Ozark Air LinesM&ABackground
Central cited financial difficulties when it sought Civil Aeronautics Board approval for a merger with Ozark Air Lines. The proposed company would have operated under the Ozark name.
Action taken
Central filed its merger petition on September 20, 1966. The two airlines ended discussions by mutual consent on November 9, 1966.
Aftermath
The Ozark transaction did not occur. Central later pursued and completed its combination with the original Frontier Airlines.
1965
Conversion of Convair 240s to Convair 600sGeneration changeBackground
Central needed more capable aircraft for its expanding local-service network while continuing to operate regional routes.
Action taken
Beginning in 1965, the airline converted Convair 240 aircraft from piston propulsion to Rolls-Royce Dart turboprop power, redesignating them as Convair CV-600s.
Aftermath
The turboprops formed part of Central's fleet at the time of its merger into Frontier.
Recent events
- 1967
Central Airlines merges into Frontier Airlines[1]
M&A
Central was acquired by and merged into the original Frontier Airlines on October 1, ending its independent operations.
- 1966
Central Airlines proposes merger with Ozark Air Lines[1]
M&A
Central petitioned the Civil Aeronautics Board to merge with Ozark Air Lines, but merger discussions ended by mutual consent later that year.
- 1953
Central Airlines receives consecutive aviation safety awards[1]
Other
Central received four consecutive National Safety Council aviation safety awards for operating without an accident or passenger or crew injury from 1950 through 1953.
- 1950
Central Airlines introduces Douglas DC-3 operations[1]
Product generation
The airline began operating DC-3 aircraft and planned to phase out its Beechcraft Bonanzas as the fleet expanded.
- 1949
Central Airlines begins scheduled service[1]
Other
Central operated its inaugural scheduled flight from Fort Worth to Oklahoma City, stopping at Dallas and Gainesville.
Sources1 sources
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