Central Airlines
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Airline |
| Founded | 1944 |
| Founder | Keith Kahle |
| Defunct | 1967 |
| Fate | Acquired by Frontier Airlines |
| Headquarters | Fort Worth, Texas , United States |
Area served | Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas |
Key people | F. Kirk Johnson (board member), R.E. Harding, Jr. (board member), Don Earhart (board member), James Stewart (board member), Lamar Muse (president) |
| Products | Scheduled passenger air service |
Central Airlines operated as a scheduled passenger airline serving Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas between 1949 and 1967. Established in 1944 by entrepreneur Keith Kahle to provide charter and fixed-base operations in Oklahoma, the airline obtained its air operator's certificate in 1946 but commenced scheduled services later. Its headquarters were located at Meacham Field in Fort Worth, Texas. Eventually, Central was acquired by the original Frontier Airlines, which broadened its route network.
History
Among the initial board members were Fort Worth oil magnate F. Kirk Johnson, ex-City Councilman R.E. Harding, Jr., Don Earhart, and actor/businessman James Stewart, who maintained a long-standing position on the board. Lamar Muse held the presidency before advancing to leadership roles at Universal Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and founding Muse Air.
Passenger traffic experienced substantial growth, rising from 5 million revenue passenger-miles in 1951 to 91 million by 1965.
On , the Civil Aeronautics Board granted Central an operating certificate authorizing commercial flights in Oklahoma and Texas. Despite initial postponements, Central launched its first scheduled service on September 15, 1949, connecting Fort Worth and Oklahoma City with intermediate stops including Dallas. By the end of that year, the airline had transported over 8,000 passengers.
In November 1950, Central introduced Douglas DC-3 aircraft into its fleet, gradually retiring Beechcraft Bonanzas. Throughout the 1960s, Convair CV-240s were incorporated and subsequently converted into CV-600 turboprops powered by Rolls-Royce Dart engines.
By August 1953, Central's network included 19 airports; this expanded to 29 airports across Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, and Kansas by April 1957. At the time of its merger in October 1967, Central connected 40 cities spanning from Denver to St. Louis and extending southward to Dallas-Fort Worth.
In 1961, the airline relocated its headquarters to Amon Carter Field in Fort Worth. That same year marked the carriage of its millionth passenger; by 1962, its fleet comprised six Convairs and eighteen DC-3s, facilitating approximately 24,000 passengers monthly.
As a federally regulated "local service" carrier, Central received government subsidies; in 1963, of its $10.7 million operating revenue, $4.5 million derived from federal support.
In September 1966, Central submitted a merger proposal with Ozark Air Lines due to financial challenges; however, negotiations ceased by November as financial concerns remained unresolved.
Upon acquisition by Frontier on October 1, 1967, Central operated Convair CV-600 turboprops alongside sixteen Douglas DC-3s. Plans to introduce Douglas DC-9 jets were discontinued following the merger. Frontier maintained Convair aircraft operations before transitioning to Convair CV-580 turboprops and eventually Boeing 737 jets serving former Central destinations such as Fort Smith (AR), Joplin (MO), Lawton (OK), Manhattan (KS), Pueblo (CO), Salina (KS), and Topeka (KS). Frontier merged into Continental Airlines in 1986; Continental later merged with United Airlines in 2010.
Central was recognized with four consecutive National Safety Council aviation safety awards from 1950 through 1953 for maintaining accident-free operations. According to NTSB records, no major passenger injuries or fatalities occurred on Central flights between 1962 and 1968.
Destinations
When Central Airlines commenced operations in late 1949 and early 1950, it served a variety of important regional locations including Ada, Amarillo, Ardmore, Arkansas City, Bartlesville, Dallas (Love Field), Durant, Enid, Fort Worth (Meacham Field), Gainesville, Greenville, Holdenville, Oklahoma City, Okmulgee, Pampa, Paris, Ponca City, Shawnee, Sherman (Sherman Municipal Airport), Texarkana, Tulsa, Wichita, and Woodward.
By July 1, 1967, shortly before its merger with Frontier Airlines, Central had broadened its route system to cover additional vital destinations such as Borger, Colorado Springs, Denver, Dodge City, Fayetteville, Fort Leonard Wood, Fort Smith, Garden City, Goodland, Great Bend, Guymon, Harrison, Hays, Hot Springs, Hutchinson, Joplin, Kansas City (Municipal Airport), Lamar, Lawton, Liberal, Little Rock, Manhattan, McAlester, Muskogee, Parsons, Pueblo, St. Louis, Salina, Stillwater, Topeka, and Wichita Falls. The airline continued to prioritize key markets within Texas and Oklahoma throughout its network expansion.
During this phase of growth and market penetration, Central Airlines operated a fleet consisting of Convair 600 turboprops alongside Douglas DC-3 aircraft. This combination supported its regional feeder strategy aimed at serving the Midwestern and Southern United States.
Fleet
The aircraft operated by Central Airlines included:
- Beechcraft Bonanza (model A35)
- Convair 240
- Convair 600 (a modified Convair 240 fitted with Rolls-Royce Dart turboprop engines)
- Douglas DC-3
Although there were intentions to introduce Douglas DC-9-10 jets into the fleet, none were delivered prior to the company’s integration with Frontier Airlines.
Accidents and incidents
- On 20 July 1964: A flight attendant sustained serious injuries due to clear-air turbulence aboard a Douglas DC-3 (registration N91003). Passengers and other crew members experienced either no or only minor injuries; the aircraft remained undamaged.
- On 8 January 1965: Flight 168 involving a Convair CV-240 (registration N74850) conducted a controlled belly landing at Tulsa International Airport after the landing gear became stuck. The aircraft suffered significant damage; however, all nine passengers and three crew members avoided serious harm.
- On 27 June 1966: A Convair CV-600 (registration N74856) performed evasive action near Hot Springs, Arkansas to prevent a mid-air collision. One crew member was seriously hurt while others had minor or no injuries. The airplane did not sustain any damage.
See also
External links
- Central Airlines website
- Central Airlines Collection website
- Central Airlines photographs
- Collection of Central Airlines memorabilia
- Old Frontier Airlines – history of Frontier Airlines and its predecessors
- Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture - Central Airlines
- Short description with empty Wikidata description
- Defunct airlines of the United States
- Airlines established in 1949
- Airlines disestablished in 1967
- Companies based in Fort Worth, Texas
- Defunct companies based in Texas
- American companies established in 1949
- Airlines based in Texas
- Companies of the United States by year of establishment