Piedmont Airlines (1948–1989)

Piedmont Airlines
Company type	Private
Industry	Airline
Founded	1948
Founder	Thomas Henry Davis
Defunct	1989
Fate	Merged into USAir
Headquarters	Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States
Area served	Eastern United States, later expanded to West Coast and international destinations
Key people	Thomas Henry Davis (founder)
Products	Passenger air service
Number of employees	22,000 (1989)

Piedmont Airlines operated as a regional carrier within the United States from 1948 until its integration with USAir in 1989. Its main offices were located at One Piedmont Plaza in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, a site now occupied by Wake Forest University. By April 1989, the airline employed approximately 22,000 individuals. As of September 1988, Piedmont connected 95 airports across the eastern United States through its hubs, while its commuter partners flew turboprop aircraft to an additional 39 destinations under code-sharing arrangements.

History

Established by Thomas Henry Davis (1918–1999) in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Piedmont originated in 1940 as Camel City Flying Service before adopting the name Piedmont Aviation. Initially, the company concentrated on aircraft maintenance and pilot instruction as part of the War Department Civilian Pilot Training Program. In 1944, Davis sought authorization to commence passenger air service. Following regulatory hurdles and legal disputes, Piedmont launched its first passenger flight on February 20, 1948, operating between Wilmington, North Carolina and Cincinnati.

Davis, a native of Winston-Salem and an aviation aficionado, balanced his pre-medical studies at the University of Arizona with work as a flight instructor. His entrepreneurial insight and leadership were instrumental in establishing Piedmont’s foothold and expansion within the regional airline sector.

Foundation

Prior to airline deregulation, Piedmont did not utilize hub operations. The carrier operated jet services to smaller markets and linked less traditional city pairs such as Kinston, North Carolina to Florence, South Carolina; Roanoke, Virginia to Asheville, North Carolina; Lynchburg, Virginia to LaGuardia Airport in New York City; Chicago O'Hare to the tri-city area of Bristol/Kingsport/Johnson City in Tennessee; and Winston-Salem, North Carolina to Lynchburg. Initial routes extended northwest from Wilmington, North Carolina to Cincinnati, Ohio with all flights conducted using Douglas DC-3 aircraft.

Growth

Starting its fleet with Douglas DC-3s, Piedmont expanded by adding Fairchild F-27 turboprops in late 1958 and Martin 4-0-4 piston aircraft in early 1962. In 1967, FH-227B models replaced the F-27s while NAMC YS-11A turboprops were introduced a year later in 1968. The number of airports served increased from 26 in August 1953 to 47 by May 1968. As a Local Service carrier, Piedmont benefited from government subsidies; for instance, in 1962 it reported operating revenues of $18.2 million which included $4.8 million derived from public service support.

The jet age

Piedmont entered the era of jet-powered flight in March 1967 by deploying Boeing 727-100 aircraft on routes such as Atlanta–Asheville–Winston-Salem–Roanoke–New York LaGuardia. The Boeing 737-200 was introduced in 1968; between 1977 and thereafter six more Boeing 727-100s were added. The larger Boeing 727-200 joined the fleet in June 1981. The airline fully transitioned to turbine-powered planes after retiring its Martin 4-0-4 piston engines in 1972 and completed this shift by phasing out NAMC YS-11 turboprops by 1982. Later additions to the fleet included Fokker F28 Fellowship jets alongside Boeing models such as the 737-300, -400 series and wide-body 767-200ERs. Of historical note is one Boeing 727-100 previously acquired from Northwest Orient Airlines that was involved in the notorious D. B. Cooper hijacking incident.

Route network growth

By 1949, Piedmont's service area stretched from Cincinnati and Louisville eastward to Norfolk and the southern United States. Over the next two decades, the airline extended its destinations to include Knoxville (1951–52), Columbus and Washington DC (1955), Atlanta and Baltimore (1962), New York La Guardia (1966), Nashville and Memphis (1968), and Chicago Midway (1969).

Operating under ongoing federal route oversight, Piedmont expanded in 1978 to serve Boston, Denver, and Miami. The following year, Dallas/Ft. Worth and Tampa were added, with Houston joining in 1980 and New Orleans in 1982. The mid-1980s brought further expansion to Los Angeles and San Francisco (1984), Minneapolis/St. Paul (1985), as well as Montreal and Ottawa through the 1986 acquisition of Empire Airlines. By 1987, Seattle, Phoenix, and San Diego were also incorporated into the network. International service commenced in 1988 with flights to Nassau in the Bahamas, followed by Bermuda in 1989. Direct flights linked West Coast cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, Phoenix, and Seattle with numerous East Coast destinations. Just prior to its 1989 merger with USAir, Piedmont maintained hubs at Baltimore, Charlotte, Dayton, and Syracuse—the latter inherited via Empire Airlines.

Airline deregulation impact

Following the deregulation of the airline industry in the late 1970s, Piedmont swiftly broadened its operations centered around a principal hub at Charlotte/Douglas International Airport. The purchase of Empire Airlines in 1985 expanded its fleet with Fokker F28 jets and increased regional reach. By 1987, passenger-miles had surged nearly nine times compared to a decade earlier.

Additional key hubs were developed at Baltimore/Washington International, Dayton International, and Syracuse Hancock airports. In 1984, Piedmont introduced nonstop West Coast flights from Charlotte utilizing Boeing 727-200 aircraft—the first jets equipped with first-class cabins on the airline. The introduction of Boeing 767-200ER wide-body jets in 1987 enabled nonstop service from Charlotte to London Gatwick and Los Angeles, strengthening Piedmont’s position in both transcontinental and international markets. Prior to merging with USAir, Piedmont distinguished itself by committing to equip its entire fleet with the Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), underscoring its leadership in aviation safety technology.

Regional affiliates and commuter partnerships

Piedmont partnered with several regional and commuter airlines through code-sharing arrangements to channel passengers into its mainline network. These included Britt Airways, Brockway Air, CCAir, Henson Airlines, and Jetstream International Airlines. Operating under various brands such as Piedmont Commuter System, Piedmont Shuttle Link, and The Piedmont Regional Airline, these affiliates utilized turboprop aircraft including Beechcraft 99, Beechcraft 1900C, BAe Jetstream 31, de Havilland Canada DHC-7 Dash 7 and DHC-8 Dash 8, Fokker F-27-600, Saab 340, Short 330, and Short 360.

Integration into USAir

Piedmont’s growing route system, dedicated customer following, and consistent profitability made it an attractive acquisition target. On August 5, 1989, it was merged into USAir (formerly Allegheny Airlines), forming one of the largest carriers on the East Coast. USAir subsequently rebranded as US Airways before merging with America West Airlines in 2007. In 2015, US Airways combined with American Airlines but retained the American brand name. The Charlotte hub originally developed by Piedmont continues today as American Airlines’ second-largest operational base.

The Piedmont Airlines name (originating from Henson Airlines) remains active within American Airlines as part of the American Eagle regional brand.

Historical fleet

Boeing 727-100 and 727-200 models
Boeing 737 series: -200, -300, and -400 variants
Boeing 767-200ER, which facilitated nonstop service to London Gatwick
Douglas DC-3 aircraft
Fairchild F-27 and Hiller FH-227 planes
Fokker F28 Fellowship, acquired through Empire Airlines
Martin 4-0-4 airplanes
NAMC YS-11 turboprops

Accidents

On October 30, 1959, Flight 349 crashed near Charlottesville, Virginia, attributed to a navigational mistake; 26 out of the 27 passengers lost their lives.

Flight 22, operating a Boeing 727-100, collided mid-air with a Cessna over Hendersonville, North Carolina on July 19, 1967; the accident resulted in the death of all 82 individuals aboard the jet.

During an approach to Charleston-Kanawha County Airport on August 10, 1968, Flight 230 impacted trees amid heavy fog conditions; the NTSB determined that pilot spatial disorientation caused by limited ground references was a contributing factor. Thirty-five of the 37 passengers perished.

External links

Piedmont Aviation Historical Society
Carolinas Aviation Museum – Home to the Piedmont Airlines DC-3 (previously operated by Piedmont Airlines and USAir)
Story of Piedmont
Piedmont Timetables
"Sole survivor: Wreck of Flight #349"