Air Cal History: Air California, Orange County's Airline – Airline Employee Shop

Air Cal History

Air California started flying from Orange County in 1967, became AirCal in 1981, and joined American Airlines in 1987. Here's a short history of Air Cal, plus the Air Cal collection that celebrates it.

An Orange County airline (1966-1967)

Air California was incorporated in April 1966 by a group of Orange County business people. They wanted air service from their own local field, Orange County Airport, now John Wayne Airport. Flying only inside California, the new airline set out to compete with United and PSA. Service began on January 16, 1967, with two Lockheed L-188 Electras flying between Orange County and San Francisco.

Jets and growth (1968-1980)

In 1968 Air California added two leased Douglas DC-9s in March and its first Boeing 737-200s in July. New routes reached Oakland and San Jose. Electras came back in 1970 for flights to Lake Tahoe and stayed until the end of 1980.

The AirCal years (1981-1986)

Orange County businessmen William Lyon and George Argyros took control in 1981, and on April 6, 1981, the airline became AirCal. It got a new livery and new crew uniforms by designer Mary McFadden. McDonnell Douglas MD-80 series jets arrived that year. Boeing 737-300s followed in 1985, and quiet BAe 146s arrived in 1986 for noise-restricted airports. The network grew well beyond California. By 1987 AirCal flew to Seattle, Portland, Chicago, Anchorage and Vancouver, its one international city.

Joining American (1986-1987)

In November 1986, American Airlines agreed to buy AirCal for $225 million. Around the same time, PSA agreed to merge with USAir, so California soon lost both of its home-grown intrastate airlines. AirCal disappeared from the skies on July 1, 1987, when it was folded into American.

A few things collectors love

  • The 1981 AirCal look: new livery plus Mary McFadden uniforms, launched with the new name.
  • In 2015 American painted a Boeing 737-800 in AirCal's 1981 colors as part of its heritage fleet.
  • The Electra: Air California's first airliner, flown on the very first Orange County to San Francisco trips.

Shop Air Cal

Browse Air Cal logo T-shirts, coffee mugs, coasters, tote bags and vintage designs in the Air Cal collection. Add an airline bag tag or key tag, or explore the rest of the AA Family Tree collection.

AirlineEmployeeShop.com sells Air Cal merchandise under license from American Airlines. This page is for historical interest.