Airline Name
Western AirlinesIATA: WA / ICAO: WAL / Callsign: WESTERN
Country of Origin
United States of America
Aircraft Types Used (from those available in WoA)
B732 (737-200) (54 operated),1985-1987 Bud Lite livery,
1970-1985 FLYING W / SWIZZLESTICK livery,
1961-1971 THREE STRIPE CHIEFTAIN livery,
B733 (737-300) (13 operated),
B722 (727-200) (46 operated?),
1985-1987 livery,
1970-1985 livery,
Can you guess where these 2 were taken???
DC10 (Douglas DC 10-10/-30) (13/1 operated),
1985-1987 livery,
1970-1985 livery,
Why should this airline be added?
Western was founded in the early days of aviation, 1925, in Los Angeles. It was founded as part of the country’s need for greater postal service before changing its services to passenger traffic. In 1941 it was renamed to the iconic Western Airlines and continued to expand, operating a rather new fleet compared to competitors and expanded quickly, with new bases in Salt Lake City and Denver sprouting up. In the 1960s, the company opted for a full jet fleet and attempted to merge with American Airlines in 1969 but this was met with opposition for many other airlines. During this time the airline expanded its services into the widebody market with DC10’s for services to London Gatwick as well as for services to Miami and Mexico, however, its incoming CEO Kirk Kerkorian cancelled the airlines order for 3 747-100’s.In the 1970s, the airline was operating well up until the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978 which brought in lots of competition and stirred up the airline market. That same year, due to the act, Continental and Western entered agreements to merge with everything going through bar the name to which the CEO of Continental suggested a coin toss to decide whether it should be Continental-Western or Western-Continental, insisting that Continental get tails as their slogan at the time included tails in it. The result was heads and the disappointed Continental CEO called off the merger.
In 1986, after a failed takeover by Air Florida, the airline merged into Delta Air Lines and ceased to exist, which is why Delta has a large hub at LAX.
This is an iconic airline that deserves to be remembered, with I believe a 737-300 in the final Bud-Lite livery and a 737-200 in the iconic Swizzlestick livery, to operate special flights into players North American airports.