National Airlines History: Miami's Sun King Airline – Airline Employee Shop

National Airlines History

National Airlines started with one short Florida airmail route in 1934 and became a coast-to-coast airline based in Miami before joining Pan Am in 1980. Here's a short history of National, plus the National Airlines collection that celebrates it.

A Florida airmail line (1934-1945)

George T. Baker founded National Airlines in 1934 after winning an airmail route between Daytona Beach and St. Petersburg, Florida. The route was flown continuously from October 15, 1934. In 1939 National moved its headquarters to Jacksonville. It won rights to New York in 1944 and began flying there in 1945.

Miami and the first domestic jets (1946-1961)

On February 14, 1946, National's DC-4s began nonstop flights between Miami and New York, and later that year the airline moved its headquarters to Miami International Airport. On December 10, 1958, National became the first airline to fly domestic jet flights, using a Boeing 707 leased from Pan Am between New York and Miami.

The Maytag years and wide-bodies (1962-1979)

In 1962 Louis "Bud" Maytag Jr. bought a majority share and replaced Baker as CEO. National took delivery of its first Boeing 727 in 1964. On June 16, 1970, it opened a Miami to London route. Its Boeing 747 entered service on the Miami to New York nonstop on October 1, 1970, followed by the DC-10 on December 15, 1971. National sold its 747s in 1976. National's "Fly Me" advertising campaign featuring its crew members drew wide attention and criticism from the National Organization for Women.

Joining Pan Am (1980)

Pan Am completed its acquisition of National on January 7, 1980, taking over its routes and a fleet of 43 Boeing 727s and 16 DC-10s.

A few things collectors love

  • The smiling "Sun King" logo, adopted after Bud Maytag took over, is one of the most cheerful airline symbols of its era.
  • National beat every other airline to domestic jet service in 1958, with a borrowed Pan Am 707.
  • The 10cc song "I'm Mandy Fly Me" was inspired by a National "Fly Me" poster.

Shop National Airlines

Browse National Airlines logo T-shirts, coffee mugs, coasters, tote bags and vintage designs in the National Airlines collection. Add an airline bag tag or key tag for the Florida aviation fan in your life.

AirlineEmployeeShop.com is an independent retailer of airline memorabilia. This page is for historical interest.