AviationGeeks.com - Braniff International Airways

The airline was founded in 1930 by the brothers Tom and Paul Braniff. The headquarters were in Dallas/Fort worth Texas, where they flew from, to Tulsa and Oklahoma City. Around 1935 Regional Airlines where acquired and the airline expanded its route network to St. Louis, Chicago, Kansas City, Houston and New Orleans. 

In the same year, one of the brothers, Paul, left the business to pursue other interests and Tom Braniff hired Charles Beared to run the day to day operation. This man later became the President and CEO of the company. 1948 the company started international flights to South America and from that year on the airline became Braniff International Airways.

Photo by Paul Thallon

The fleet consisted of Douglas DC-2, DC-3, DC-4 and DC-6. In 1952 the airline added several domestic routes after the acquisition of the Mid-Continent Airlines. These new destinations where North-South routes system that had already been established by Mid-Continent Airlines. In 1954, Thomas Braniff died in a flying boat accident after trying to emergency landing. Later that year, the other Braniff brother died of cancer. This is when Charles Beard became president of the airline and introduced the company to jets in 1959. Within six years the airline’s fleet consisted mainly of jet aircrafts.

Photo by Paul Thallon

In February, 1967, the airline purchased Pan American-Grace Airways which increased the company’s presence in South America. Braniff International Airways contributed many innovations to the airline industry. The company contributed a great deal to the planning of the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and also operated the world´s first automated monorail transit system that transported passengers and luggage from the parking lots to the airport terminal.

Until the late 70‘s the airline was the fastest growing and one of the most profitable airlines. However after the deregulation of the airline industry in 1978 and poor management within Braniff, the airline started to go downhill. By mid May, 1982, Braniff Airways ceased all operations after 54 years of history.

A year later an attempted was made to restart an airline called Braniff International Airlines. The airline flew mainly on the East Coast using Boeing 727-200. In July, 1992, the airline had ceased operations again.

Photo by Ellis Chernoff

Photo by George W. Hamlin

Photo by Paul Thallon

Photo by Paul Thallon

Photo by Ellis Chernoff

Photo by Ellis Chernoff

Photo by Paul Thallon

Photos are published with permission from authors