Century Pacific Airlines History: E.L. Cord's 1931 Airline – Airline Employee Shop

Century Pacific Airlines History

Century Pacific Lines was a short-lived California airline started by carmaker E.L. Cord in 1931, flying low-fare Stinson trimotors up and down the West Coast before American Airways took it over in 1932. Here's a short history of Century Pacific, plus the Century Pacific Airlines collection that celebrates them.

A carmaker's airline (1931)

Errett Lobban Cord, the owner of the Auburn car company, founded Century Pacific Lines in 1931 as part of his Cord Corporation. Based in San Francisco, it began scheduled flights in July 1931. Its fleet was Stinson three-engine airliners that each carried ten passengers. Its fares were set below competing railroad fares, and its promotional booklet told travelers "It Costs No More to Fly." It also promoted air express shipments alongside its passenger flights.

Routes across the Southwest (1931-1932)

Century Pacific linked San Francisco and Oakland with Sacramento and with Los Angeles, both by way of the San Joaquin Valley through San Jose, Fresno and Bakersfield, and along the coast. Its routes reached south to San Diego and the Imperial Valley, then east to Yuma and Phoenix. It never won an airmail contract, which left it relying on passengers and express.

Sold to American Airways (1932)

Cord's sister airline in the Midwest, Century Air Lines, became the center of the first pilots' strike in commercial aviation in February 1932, after Cord cut pilot pay. In April 1932 Cord sold his airlines to the Aviation Corporation, parent of American Airways, the forerunner of American Airlines. Century Pacific stopped flying from San Francisco the following month.

A few things collectors love

  • It was founded by E.L. Cord, the man behind Auburn and Cord automobiles.
  • Its 1932 booklet promised "It Costs No More to Fly."

Shop Century Pacific Airlines

Browse Century Pacific Airlines logo T-shirts, coffee mugs, coasters, tote bags and vintage designs in the Century Pacific Airlines collection. Add an airline bag tag or key tag for a classic touch on your next trip.

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