Western Airlines
A defunct American scheduled airline that operated a broad network across the western United States and beyond before merging with Delta Air Lines in 1987.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
Western Airlines was a major American scheduled airline and trunk carrier whose identity was closely associated with the western United States, California, the Mountain West, Alaska, and Hawaii. Its corporate origins lay in Western Air Express, established by Harris Hanshue in the mid-1920s to operate Contract Air Mail Route 4 between Salt Lake City and Los Angeles. The first mail flight took place on April 17, 1926, and passenger service followed soon afterward. The company developed during the formative period of United States commercial aviation, when mail contracts supplied the economic foundation for many early airlines. Western's early corporate history was unusually complex. It reincorporated as Western Air Express Corporation in 1928 and acquired Standard Air Lines in 1930. That transaction contributed to a merger with Transcontinental Air Transport, creating Transcontinental & Western Air, the carrier later known as Trans World Airlines. Western Air Express was separated from that organization in 1934, briefly operated under the name General Air Lines, and then returned to the Western Air Express identity. In 1937 it absorbed National Parks Airways, extending its network northward toward the northern Rocky Mountain region and Canada. In 1941 the company adopted the Western Air Lines name and subsequently became known as Western Airlines. During the 1940s and 1950s Western expanded from a regional network into a broader trunk-line system. It acquired control of Inland Air Lines in 1944 and absorbed that operation in 1952. Its routes connected California, the Pacific Northwest, the Intermountain West, the Great Plains, Alaska, and Canada. The carrier also developed links to Mexico and, later, Hawaii. Western's growth was shaped by the route-award system administered by the Civil Aeronautics Board, and the company at times struggled to obtain new routes at the pace achieved by larger competitors. A reported dispute involving president Terrell “Terry” Drinkwater and President Dwight D. Eisenhower became part of the airline's corporate folklore and reflected the political and regulatory pressures surrounding fleet and route decisions. Western entered the jet age in 1960 with Boeing 707 service. It subsequently operated Boeing 720Bs, Boeing 727-200s, Boeing 737-200s, and wide-body McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10 aircraft. The company marketed its DC-10 cabins as “DC-10 Spaceships” and used the type on long domestic services, including Los Angeles–Miami, as well as routes involving Hawaii and international destinations. Western also operated an extensive network of smaller-city services, often using Boeing 737s and earlier Lockheed Electra turboprops. Its destinations at different times included cities throughout California, Alaska, the Mountain West, Canada, Mexico, Hawaii, the eastern United States, and limited services to London and Nassau. Investor Kirk Kerkorian became an important shareholder and board-level influence from 1968 until 1976. His involvement brought management changes and contributed to the cancellation of Boeing 747 orders, a decision that limited Western's exposure to the excess capacity affecting the airline industry during the early 1970s. Western also pursued or considered several combinations with other carriers. A proposed merger with American Airlines was rejected by the Civil Aeronautics Board in 1972. A proposed combination with Continental Airlines in 1978 collapsed after a dispute over the name of the merged airline, reportedly settled through a coin toss before Continental's Bob Six abandoned the transaction. The Airline Deregulation Act of 1978 changed Western's competitive environment. The carrier reduced its collection of smaller hubs and concentrated its network primarily at Salt Lake City International Airport and Los Angeles International Airport. It expanded service to additional eastern and central U.S. cities while maintaining a strong western network. In 1986 Western created Western Express code-sharing arrangements with SkyWest Airlines and South Central Air, allowing commuter aircraft to connect smaller communities with Western's mainline system. Western agreed to merge with Delta Air Lines in September 1986. The United States Department of Transportation approved the transaction in December, shareholders approved it later that month, and Western became a wholly owned Delta subsidiary. The workforces and operations were fully integrated on April 1, 1987. The Western brand was retired, its aircraft were repainted in Delta's livery, and its remaining network and assets were incorporated into Delta. Delta retained Western's Salt Lake City and Los Angeles hubs, although the role of Los Angeles changed over time. Western Airlines therefore survives as a historical predecessor within Delta's corporate and network history rather than as an active independent brand.
History
Western Airlines developed from Western Air Express, an airline created by Harris Hanshue during the expansion of the United States airmail system. It was awarded Contract Air Mail Route 4 between Salt Lake City and Los Angeles, and its first scheduled mail flight took place on April 17, 1926, using a Douglas M-2. Passenger service began the following month. The company also operated or developed airport facilities in Southern California and briefly maintained a seaplane operation serving Catalina Island. The carrier changed corporate form and identity several times during its first decade. It became Western Air Express Corporation in 1928 and acquired Standard Air Lines in 1930. Western Air Express then participated in the formation of Transcontinental & Western Air with Transcontinental Air Transport. In 1934 the Western operation was separated from that organization, briefly adopting the name General Air Lines before returning to Western Air Express. The company merged with National Parks Airways in 1937, extending its route system toward the northern Rocky Mountains and Canada. In 1941 it changed its name to Western Air Lines and later adopted the Western Airlines name. Western expanded significantly during and after the Second World War. It began Los Angeles–San Francisco service in 1943 and acquired control of Inland Air Lines in 1944, later absorbing Inland in 1952. Its network formed a broad western pattern linking California, Utah, Colorado, the Pacific Northwest, the Great Plains, Alaska, and western Canada. The airline added Mexico City service in 1957 and progressively developed routes to additional Canadian and Mexican destinations. Regulatory route awards remained important, and Western sometimes faced difficulty expanding while larger competitors received more extensive route authority. The transition to jets began in 1960 with Boeing 707 service. Western later used Boeing 720B, 727-200, and 737-200 aircraft, replacing many turboprops and expanding service to smaller western communities. Pacific Northern Airlines was acquired in 1967, strengthening the carrier's presence in Alaska. Western began Hawaii service in the late 1960s and operated an “Islander” network from several mainland cities. In 1973 it introduced McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10 aircraft, which were used on long domestic routes and selected international services. During the late 1960s, investor Kirk Kerkorian gained substantial influence, reshaped the board and management, and helped cancel planned Boeing 747 orders. Western considered several mergers. Discussions with American Airlines in 1969 led to a proposed combination that the Civil Aeronautics Board rejected in 1972. A proposed merger with Continental Airlines in 1978 failed amid disagreement over the name of the combined company. After deregulation, Western adjusted its network and concentrated its principal hubs at Los Angeles International Airport and Salt Lake City International Airport, while continuing to serve a large collection of western, Alaskan, Hawaiian, Canadian, Mexican, eastern, and central U.S. destinations. In 1986 Western established Western Express code-sharing relationships with SkyWest Airlines and South Central Air. These partnerships linked smaller communities to Western's mainline network. The same year, Western and Delta Air Lines reached a merger agreement. The transaction received federal approval and shareholder authorization in December 1986. Western became a wholly owned Delta subsidiary, and full workforce and aircraft integration occurred on April 1, 1987. The Western name and livery disappeared, although Delta retained important elements of Western's network, particularly the Salt Lake City operation.
- 1987
Integration into Delta Air Lines
[1]Western's independent brand and workforce were fully integrated into Delta on April 1, 1987.
- 1986
Delta merger agreement and Western Express partnerships
[1]Western agreed to merge with Delta and introduced commuter code-sharing arrangements under the Western Express name.
- 1978
Deregulation changes the network
[1]The Airline Deregulation Act altered Western's competitive environment and encouraged concentration around Los Angeles and Salt Lake City.
- 1973
McDonnell Douglas DC-10 fleet added
[1]Western introduced nine DC-10-10 aircraft for wide-body domestic and international flying.
- 1967
Pacific Northern Airlines acquisition
[1]The transaction expanded Western's Alaska and Seattle operations.
- 1960
Boeing 707 introduction
[1]Western began scheduled Boeing 707 services on key Pacific Northwest and California routes.
- 1944
Inland Air Lines investment
[1]Western acquired a controlling interest in Inland Air Lines, which was eventually absorbed in 1952.
- 1941
Name changes to Western Air Lines
[1]Western Air Express adopted the Western Air Lines identity and later became Western Airlines.
- 1937
National Parks Airways merger
[1]The merger extended Western's route network northward from Salt Lake City toward Montana and Canada.
- 1930
Standard Air Lines acquisition
[1]Western Air Express acquired Standard Air Lines, contributing to the subsequent formation of Transcontinental & Western Air.
Products and positioning
A western-U.S.-centered trunk carrier combining dense regional coverage with long-haul domestic, Hawaii, Alaska, Mexico, Canada, and selected international services. The airline emphasized network breadth, jet operations, and a distinctive western identity, using the slogan “Western Airlines...The Only Way to Fly!”
Air transportation · 1926
Scheduled passenger services
Western's principal offering was scheduled passenger transportation across a network centered on the western United States. The airline served major cities, smaller regional communities, and long-distance destinations using a succession of piston, turboprop, narrow-body jet, and wide-body aircraft. Its schedule combined short regional sectors with transcontinental and long-haul domestic routes.
Hawaii air service · 1969
Islander service
Western used the Islander concept to market direct and connecting services between Hawaii and numerous mainland cities. The network included Honolulu, Kahului, Kona, and Hilo, with nonstop or one-stop links from cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland, San Diego, San Jose, Anchorage, Las Vegas, Minneapolis–Saint Paul, Phoenix, Sacramento, and Salt Lake City.
Wide-body passenger service · 1973
DC-10 Spaceships
Western's McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10 service represented its wide-body offering. The aircraft were configured with a first-class cabin, a larger coach cabin, and a lower-level galley arrangement. Western used the aircraft on major domestic sectors, including Los Angeles–Miami, and on selected routes involving Hawaii and international destinations.
Regional code-share service · 1986
Western Express
Western Express connected commuter-airline operations with Western's mainline network. SkyWest Airlines used Embraer EMB-120 Brasilias and Fairchild Swearingen Metroliners, while South Central Air served communities in southern Alaska. Connections were available through hubs and focus cities including Salt Lake City, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Phoenix, San Diego, and Anchorage.
Marketing campaigns
- The Only Way to Fly
United States · Canada · Mexico · Hawaii · Alaska
Western's long-running brand slogan was “Western Airlines...The Only Way to Fly!” It reinforced the carrier's distinctive western identity while promoting its scheduled passenger network.
Outcome. The slogan remained associated with the airline throughout its independent history and disappeared when the brand was retired after the Delta merger.
Brand decisions
1986
Merger with Delta Air LinesM&ABackground
Western faced the strategic pressures of post-deregulation competition and sought a larger partner while maintaining important hubs at Los Angeles and Salt Lake City.
Action taken
Western and Delta signed a merger agreement on September 9, 1986. The Department of Transportation approved it on December 11, and shareholders approved it on December 16.
Aftermath
Western became a wholly owned Delta subsidiary, and the workforce, aircraft, brand, and operations were fully integrated on April 1, 1987.
1978
Abandoned Continental Airlines mergerM&ABackground
Western and Continental agreed in principle to combine after the U.S. airline industry entered the deregulation era.
Action taken
A dispute over whether the combined carrier should be called Western-Continental or Continental-Western reportedly led to a coin toss, after which Continental's Bob Six called off the merger.
Aftermath
The companies remained separate, and Western later pursued and completed a merger with Delta.
1973
Introduction of DC-10 wide-body aircraftProduct launchBackground
Western sought to modernize its fleet and compete on high-volume, long-distance routes during the wide-body expansion of the 1970s.
Action taken
The airline added nine McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10 aircraft and marketed their cabins as DC-10 Spaceships.
Aftermath
The aircraft operated important domestic, Hawaii, and selected international services, although Western later avoided Boeing 747 expansion.
1969
Pursuit of an American Airlines mergerM&ABackground
Western Airlines and American Airlines explored a merger during a period of consolidation in the regulated U.S. airline industry.
Action taken
The proposed transaction faced opposition from competitors and the Department of Justice Antitrust Division and was rejected by the Civil Aeronautics Board in July 1972.
Aftermath
Western continued operating independently until it merged with Delta Air Lines more than a decade later.
- Continental Airlines — Continental opposed the proposed American–Western combination.
Recent events
- 1987
Western Airlines brand retired after Delta integration[1]
M&A · Leadership change
Western became part of Delta and its employees and aircraft were fully integrated on April 1, ending independent Western Airlines operations.
- 1986
Western Airlines and Delta Air Lines agree to merge[1]
M&A
Western and Delta announced a merger plan in September 1986. Regulatory and shareholder approvals followed in December.
- 1978
Western Airlines and Continental Airlines merger attempt collapses[1]
M&A
A proposed merger ended after the two companies disputed the name of the combined airline; a coin toss was reportedly used during the disagreement before the deal was abandoned.
- 1973
Western Airlines launches DC-10 operations[1]
Product launch · Product generation
Western added nine McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10 aircraft and promoted their wide-body cabins as “DC-10 Spaceships.”
- 1967
Western Airlines acquires Pacific Northern Airlines[1]
M&A
The acquisition strengthened Western's Alaska network and added Pacific Northwest routes and aircraft operations.
- 1960
Western Airlines enters the jet age[1]
Product generation
The airline introduced Boeing 707 service on routes linking Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, and Seattle.
- 1926
Western Airlines begins scheduled air-mail operations[1]
Other
Western Air Express began operating Contract Air Mail Route 4 between Salt Lake City and Los Angeles, establishing the foundation of the future airline.
Sources4 sources
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