Deregulation Gives Boeing 747 a New Lease on Life in US

The Boeing 747 had already lived several different lives in the US by the mid-1980s. It was once a glamorous flagship of Pan Am and TWA, a domestic status symbol for American, United, Delta, and Continental, as well as a workhorse on Pacific routes for Northwest Orient.

However, deregulation was reshaping the industry, and some airlines had already offloaded their earlier 747 examples. This created opportunities for ambitious newcomers, charter specialists, low-cost upstarts, and cargo carriers to acquire the type and make a bold statement about their operations.

PEOPLExpress, launched in 1981 from New York/Newark, was one of the boldest examples of this era. The carrier offered low fares, simple service, and a new alternative to established network airlines.