Texas International Airlines History
Texas International Airlines, and Trans-Texas Airways before it, connected small Texas towns with Houston and Dallas for 35 years, then helped launch the discount-fare era before merging into Continental. Here's the short history, plus the Texas International collection.
Trans-Texas Airways and the Starliners (1940s–1960s)
The airline grew out of Aviation Enterprises, founded by R. Earl McKaughan Sr. It became Trans-Texas Airways in June 1947 and began scheduled service that October with DC-3 "Starliners" serving eight Texas cities from its Houston base. In 1961 Neiman-Marcus updated the stewardesses' cowgirl-style uniforms. Convair "Silver Cloud 600" turboprops and DC-9 "Pamper Jets" arrived in 1966. Critics teased the little airline as "Tree Top Airways" and "Tinker Toy Airlines."
A new name (1969)
On April 1, 1969, Trans-Texas became Texas International Airlines, with a new purple, white and gray look. Its rebranding ads poked fun at the old nicknames with "No More Tinker Toys. No More Treetops." Texas International served Houston and Dallas, later Houston Intercontinental and DFW, and points across the South, Southwest and Mexico.
Frank Lorenzo and Peanuts Fares
Frank Lorenzo's Jet Capital took control of the money-losing airline in 1972, and he became its president that August. Under Lorenzo the planes switched to red, white and blue with a Lone Star on the tail. In 1977 Texas International introduced "Peanuts Fares," deeply discounted tickets aimed at competing with Southwest, and became one of the best-known names of the early discount era. Its 1979 "Payola Pass" is often credited as one of the first modern frequent-flyer programs.
Merger with Continental
Texas International's 1978–79 bid for National Airlines lost out to Pan Am, but the stake it had built up earned a large profit. Lorenzo then formed Texas Air Corporation, which gained control of Continental Airlines. On October 31, 1982, Texas International was merged into Continental and the combined airline flew on under the Continental name from Houston.
Shop Texas International
Find Texas International and Trans-Texas logo coffee mugs, coasters, tote bags and vintage designs in the Texas International collection, and see the Continental collection for the airline it became part of.
AirlineEmployeeShop.com is an independent retailer of airline memorabilia. This page is for historical interest and is not affiliated with or endorsed by United Airlines.