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One of our favorite airlines that served Tyler's Pounds Airport over the years was Texas' own Trans Texas Airways (TTA).
 Trans Texas Airways route map circa 1952, (click to enlarge) |
Its roots date to 1944 when it was founded in Houston as Aviation Enterprises. Upon receiving its air mail
and passenger carrying charter from the Civil Aeronautics Board in 1947, it changed its name to Trans Texas Airways and began service from from Houston to Dallas, San Antonio and El Paso.
Initially, it used a small fleet of DC-3 aircraft purchased from American Airlines. Many of us from that era will recall the airline's nicknames: "Tree Top Airlines" and "Tinker Toy Airlines".
 Trans Texas Airways DC-3 at Tyler Pounds Airport |
During the 1950s and 1960s, TTA operated a small fleet of about 25 Convair 240 and Convair 600 aircraft, as well as DC-3s. As with the DC-3s, the Convair airliners were purchased from American Airlines, whose maintenance records indicated the aircraft were in extremely good condition.
Major airports served included Hobby in Houston, Love Field in Dallas, and Amon Carter Field - Greater Southwest International Airport in Fort Worth.
In 1967 TTA purchased a fleet of McDonnell Douglas DC-9 jets, nineteen of the Series-10 model and seven of the longer Series-30 aircraft.
The company remained under the TTA name until 1969 when it became Texas International Airlines (TIA), and evolved into a regional airline serving 66 cities in 6 states, and Mexico.
In 1972, after suffering annual losses of up to $3 million, Texas International was purchased by Jet Capital Corporation under the leadership of businessman and entrepreneur Frank Lorenzo.
When Lorenzo took control, TIA was near financial collapse, having lost money since 1966. But by 1978, a restructured and revitalized TIA reported net income of over $13 million.
 Texas International Airlines McDonnell Douglas DC-9 |
Lorenzo restructured TIA further in 1980, forming a holding company called Texas Air Corp, and in July of 1982, Continental Airlines and Texas Air approved a "financial merger" of the companies.
Although Texas Air remained the parent company, the combined companies began operating under the Continental name and colors. The legacy of Trans Texas Airways and Texas International Airlines was over, but not forgotten.
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