Southern Airways
| Company type | Regional airline |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aviation |
| Founded | 1944 |
| Founder | Frank Hulse |
| Defunct | 1979 |
| Fate | Merged with North Central Airlines to form Republic Airlines |
| Headquarters | Atlanta, Georgia , United States |
Area served | South-central United States, southeastern United States, limited national and one international destination (Grand Cayman) |
Key people | Frank Hulse (founder) |
| Products | Passenger air transport services |
Southern Airways was a regional airline in the United States that operated from 1949 until its 1979 merger with North Central Airlines, resulting in the creation of Republic Airlines. Based in Atlanta and primarily operating out of Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Southern concentrated on serving the south-central region of the U.S.
Following its combination with North Central, Southern transitioned into Republic Airlines, which subsequently merged with Northwest Airlines in 1986, and ultimately became part of Delta Air Lines in 2010.
History
Established by businessman Frank Hulse in 1944, Southern Airways began flight operations in 1949 as a local service carrier. By the mid-1950s, it operated routes connecting Memphis to New Orleans and extending eastward to cities such as Charlotte and Jacksonville. The airline’s network grew significantly, expanding from 29 airports in 1953 to 50 by 1967, focusing on regional destinations within the southern United States.
Southern’s operational model was supported by federal subsidies common among local-service carriers; in 1962, $5.35 million of its $14 million operating income derived from public service revenues. By May 1968, its route system stretched from Tennessee’s Tri-Cities area southward to New Orleans and Jacksonville, Florida, and eastward to Myrtle Beach and Charleston, South Carolina. That year also marked the introduction of northern routes using Douglas DC-9 jets, linking Columbus, Georgia, with Washington D.C. and New York.
Initially equipped exclusively with Douglas DC-3 aircraft, Southern modernized its fleet beginning in 1961 by acquiring used Martin 4-0-4 planes from Eastern Air Lines—pressurized aircraft offering increased passenger capacity. The final DC-3 flight took place in 1967.
In line with its growth strategy, Southern incorporated Douglas DC-9 series jets starting in 1967 with the series 10 models and added larger series 30 jets by 1969. The airline purchased both new and pre-owned DC-9s, including aircraft formerly flown by Delta Air Lines and Eastern Air Lines, enhancing its competitive position through jet service. Unlike many competitors at the time, Southern did not operate turboprop aircraft such as the Convair 580 or Fairchild F-27 but transitioned from Martin planes to Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner "Metro II" turboprops before merging with North Central.
Southern Airways’ emphasis on regional markets, investment in jet technology over turboprops, and establishment of an Atlanta hub made it a significant presence in the southern U.S. aviation sector prior to its integration into Republic Airlines.
1970s
By 1971, Southern had broadened its route network to include major cities like New York City, Chicago, Orlando, and Miami. Due to federal regulations limiting nonstop flights from New York or Washington, DC to Atlanta, the airline operated flights with multiple stops at intermediate locations such as Columbus, Georgia, Dothan, Alabama, and Mobile, Alabama. Several flights included as many as five or six stops along their paths.
With an expanded fleet predominantly composed of DC-9 jets, Southern replaced many propeller aircraft on various routes, linking smaller communities to hubs including Atlanta and Memphis. Notable routes included:
- Columbus, Georgia to Washington, DC and New York City
- Meridian, Mississippi to Birmingham and Laurel/Hattiesburg
- Tuscaloosa, Alabama to Atlanta and Columbus, Mississippi
- Muscle Shoals/Florence to Memphis and Huntsville/Decatur
- Greenville, Mississippi to Memphis and Monroe with onward connections to Baton Rouge and New Orleans
- Columbia, South Carolina to Greenville/Spartanburg and Charleston
- Albany, Georgia to Atlanta, Valdosta, Dothan, and Columbus
One particular DC-9-14 operated a multi-stop "milk run" flight from Miami through several southern cities en route to Chicago Midway Airport—a journey lasting approximately fourteen hours.
By the mid-1970s, Southern's route system extended further north and west to cities such as St. Louis, Detroit, Ft. Lauderdale, and included its sole international destination at that time: Grand Cayman. In 1978, the airline expanded westward from Memphis reaching destinations like Wichita and Denver.
Marketing itself as the "Route of the Aristocrats," Southern promoted the slogan "Nobody's Second Class on Southern," reflecting its customer service philosophy. The airline gained recognition for distributing collectible promotional shot glasses annually—items now prized by aviation memorabilia collectors.
In 1972, Southern Airways Flight 49 was hijacked during a flight from Memphis to Miami. The hijackers demanded a $10 million ransom and threatened to crash the plane into nuclear facilities. After circling various U.S. cities and traveling to Havana, Cuba, they accepted a reduced ransom of $2 million during a refueling stop in Chattanooga. Cuban authorities detained the hijackers but returned both aircraft and passengers to the United States while retaining the ransom funds.
Southern recorded this $2 million sum as a receivable from Cuba on its financial statements. Subsequently, as diplomatic relations improved between Cuba and the U.S., the Cuban government reimbursed this amount.
Challenges and consolidation
By the end of the 1970s, Southern Airways encountered considerable difficulties. Its safety image suffered due to two tragic crashes: Southern Airways Flight 932 in 1970 and Flight 242 in 1977. Improvements in highway systems and travelers’ readiness to journey farther for superior service or more affordable fares caused many routes to lose profitability. Additionally, the 1973 oil embargo drove up jet fuel expenses, further undermining the economic feasibility of certain flights.
On July 1, 1979, Southern Airways combined with North Central Airlines to create Republic Airlines, marking the conclusion of the "Route of the Aristocrats." Republic subsequently acquired Hughes Airwest before being absorbed by Northwest Airlines in 1986, which continued operations from Southern’s Memphis base. Northwest itself merged with Delta Air Lines in 2008.
Destinations
Southern Airways operated flights to a wide range of cities mainly across the southeastern United States, with primary hubs located in Atlanta and Memphis. Destinations served using Douglas DC-9 jets are highlighted in bold.
- Albany, Georgia
- Anderson, South Carolina
- Anniston, Alabama
- Athens, Georgia
- Atlanta, Georgia (hub)
- Augusta, Georgia
- Baton Rouge, Louisiana
- Biloxi, Mississippi (via Gulfport)
- Birmingham, Alabama
- Bristol, Tennessee/Virginia (via Tri-Cities Regional Airport)
- Charleston, South Carolina
- Charlotte, North Carolina
- Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Chicago, Illinois (Midway and subsequently O'Hare)
- Clarksdale, Mississippi
- Clarksville, Tennessee
- Columbia, South Carolina
- Columbus, Georgia
- Columbus, Mississippi
- Corinth, Mississippi
- Crossville, Tennessee
- Decatur, Alabama
- Denver, Colorado
- Detroit, Michigan
- Dothan, Alabama
- Dyersburg, Tennessee
- Eglin Air Force Base, Florida (serving Fort Walton Beach/Destin)
- Fort Lauderdale, Florida
- Florence, Alabama (via Muscle Shoals)
- Gadsden, Alabama
- Grand Cayman (sole international destination)
- Greenville, Mississippi
- Greenville/Spartanburg, South Carolina
- Greenwood (Mississippi and South Carolina)
- Gulfport, Mississippi
- Hattiesburg, Mississippi
- Huntsville, Alabama
- Jackson (Mississippi and Tennessee)
- Jacksonville, Florida
- Johnson City/Kingsport/Tri-Cities Regional Airport area
- Knoxville, Tennessee
- LaGrange and Macon, Georgia
- Laurel and Meridian, Mississippi
- Memphis, Tennessee (hub)
- Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota
- Mobile and Montgomery, Alabama
- Monroe, Louisiana
- Morgantown and Morristown (West Virginia and Tennessee)
- Moultrie and Valdosta, Georgia
- Muscle Shoals and Sheffield (via Muscle Shoals), Alabama
- Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
- Nashville and New Orleans, Louisiana (focus city)
- New York City (LaGuardia Airport)
- Orlando and Panama City, Florida (focus cities)
- Paris and Rockwood, Tennessee
- Pascagoula and Tupelo, Mississippi
- St. Louis, Missouri
- Selma and Sheffield (via Muscle Shoals), Alabama
- Shelbyville and Tullahoma, Tennessee
- Tallahassee and Tampa, Florida
- Tri-Cities Regional Airport (TN)
- Tuscaloosa and Tuscumbia (via Muscle Shoals), Alabama
- Union City and University/Oxford area (Tennessee/Mississippi)
- Washington D.C. (Dulles Airport)
- West Memphis (via Memphis), Arkansas
- Wichita, Kansas
This compilation is based on timetables spanning from 1950 to 1979.
Fleet
Southern Airways maintained a varied fleet tailored to support both its regional and nationwide services, consisting of the following aircraft:
| Aircraft | Quantity | Entry into Service | Withdrawal from Service | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beechcraft Model 18 | 17 | 1946 | 1964 | |
| Douglas DC-3 | 27 | 1949 | 1967 | |
| Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner | 8 | 1977 | 1979 | "Metro II" series designed for commuter routes |
| Martin 4-0-4 | 25 | 1961 | 1978 | |
| McDonnell Douglas DC-9-14 | 25 | 1968 | 1979 | |
| McDonnell Douglas DC-9-15 | 10 | 1967 | 1979 | Includes two "Rapid Change" models |
| McDonnell Douglas DC-9-31 | 9 | 1969 | 1979 | |
| McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32CF | 1 | 1978 | 1979 |
The makeup of this fleet exemplified Southern Airways' strategic approach to combining propeller-driven and jet aircraft, facilitating effective operations within its served markets.
See also
Further reading
- Killion, Gary L, The Martinliners, Airways International Inc, 1998,