Southern Airways History: The Route of the Aristocrats – Airline Employee Shop

Southern Airways History

Southern Airways linked small towns across the South to the big cities for three decades, flying DC-3s, Martins and DC-9s before merging into Republic in 1979. Here's a short history of Southern, plus the Southern Airways collection that celebrates it.

A flying business with big plans (1936–1949)

Southern's story starts with Frank Hulse, who in 1936 took over a flying business in Augusta, Georgia, and named it Southern Airways. With partner Ike Jones he pursued a regional airline, filing with the government in 1944. Approval came in 1949, and Southern began scheduled flying that June from its base in Atlanta.

The local service years (1949–1966)

War-surplus Douglas DC-3s carried the network through the 1950s. By 1955 routes ran from Memphis south to New Orleans and east to Charlotte and Jacksonville, feeding passengers to the larger airlines. Beginning in 1961 Southern added secondhand Martin 4-0-4s from Eastern Air Lines. The last scheduled DC-3 flight came in 1967, and the Martins kept flying into the late 1970s.

Jets and expansion (1967–1979)

Southern's first Douglas DC-9s arrived in 1967, joined later by used DC-9s from Eastern and Delta. Jet service reached Washington, New York, Miami and Orlando, and by the mid-1970s Chicago, St. Louis, Detroit and Grand Cayman, its only international stop. Hubs were Atlanta and Memphis. In 1978 Southern pushed west from Memphis to Wichita and Denver. In the late 1970s it also added Swearingen Metro II commuter turboprops.

Merger into Republic (1979)

On July 1, 1979, Southern merged with North Central Airlines to form Republic Airlines, the first airline merger after deregulation. Republic bought Hughes Airwest in 1980 and joined Northwest Airlines in 1986, so Southern is part of Delta's family tree today.

A few things collectors love

  • Southern called itself the "Route of the Aristocrats."
  • Its TV commercials promised "Nobody's Second Class on Southern."
  • Southern was known for promotional shot glasses, with a new design issued each year.

Shop Southern Airways

Browse Southern Airways logo T-shirts, coffee mugs, coasters, tote bags and vintage designs in the Southern Airways collection. Add an airline bag tag or key tag for the Southern flyer in your life.

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