Mohawk Airlines History: New York's Pioneering Regional – Airline Employee Shop

Mohawk Airlines History

Mohawk Airlines began as a small Ithaca airline in 1945, grew into one of America's most forward-looking regional carriers, and merged into Allegheny in 1972. Here's a short history of Mohawk, plus the Mohawk Airlines collection that celebrates it.

Robinson Airlines (1945-1952)

The airline was founded in 1945 by C. S. Robinson, an aerial photographer, as Robinson Airlines. It was based at the Ithaca airport in upstate New York. Robert Peach became general manager in 1948 and president in 1954, and he steered the small company toward growth.

Becoming Mohawk (1952-1960)

In the early 1950s Peach took control and the board adopted a new name: Mohawk Airlines. In 1956 the headquarters moved from Ithaca to Utica, where it stayed for the rest of the airline's life. Douglas DC-3s and Convair 240 and 440 airliners flew the growing network. In 1958 Mohawk made history when Ruth Carol Taylor became the first African-American flight attendant in the United States. She was let go after about six months under the airline's rule against married flight attendants, a common policy at the time.

Firsts and jets (1961-1969)

Mohawk kept breaking new ground. In 1961 it became the first U.S. airline to use a centralized, computer-based reservation system. In 1965 it began flying the British-built BAC One-Eleven, the first regional airline to operate jets. By 1970 it had more than 20 One-Elevens, alongside Fairchild Hiller FH-227 turboprops.

Strike and merger (1970-1972)

Hard times followed. Mohawk had money and labor problems, and in November 1970 its pilots walked out in a long strike that shut the airline down for months. Mohawk could not recover on its own. In April 1972 it merged into Allegheny Airlines, which later became USAir.

A few things collectors love

  • Ruth Carol Taylor: Mohawk's 1958 hire broke the color barrier for U.S. flight attendants.
  • The BAC One-Eleven: Mohawk was the first local service airline to fly jets.
  • The chief's-head emblem that rode on Mohawk tails for years.

Shop Mohawk Airlines

Browse Mohawk Airlines logo T-shirts, coffee mugs, coasters, tote bags and vintage designs in the Mohawk Airlines collection. Add an airline bag tag or key tag, or see the Allegheny collection and the AA Family Tree collection.

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