Sky High: The Story of TWA | 2001
2022 ж. 24 Мам.
536 313 Рет қаралды
This documentary looks at the history of Trans World Airlines, an airline company that was based in St. Louis. TWA was bought by American Airlines the same year this documentary was released in January 2001. The story goes back to the very beginning of planes, and ends with the sale of TWA to American.
My husband and I worked for TWA. I worked domestic reservations and he worked ramp service. From '68-73 was a time of change and development. To this day I am so glad I had the opportunity to work for the greatest airline in the industry.
As a refuge from Bosnia me and my wife and daughter were qualified to enter the process of relocating to USA. When we are finally approved and travel organized it was big snow storm in Belgrade, todays Serbia. Our flight to Athens, Greece was late about one hour and we guess we are going to miss our flight over Atlantic to New York. However after landing in Athens we were rushed to gate where TWA Boeing 767 was waiting for 12 of us, refuges going to new life in USA. It was so that all passengers and crew wait to take us into new better life after war time in Bosnia. It made so strong impression to me about USA and TWA. Now when I am an American citizen and made so many trips across Atlantic I still remember my first trip into unknown new life. It was February of 1997 and one of the last flights from Athens. Thanks TWA...
That’s a great story, thanks for sharing
Beautiful story. Thanks for sharing.
Very nice story.
You are now a part of what makes America great. Your sense of gratitude is heart warming. Immigrants often truly appreciate what America stands for, opportunity! We too often take that for granted.
Nice to hear, glad you made it.
I miss TWA, Continental, Pan Am, and Eastern. I miss the days of linen, China, and silver food service, men travelers clad in business suits and women in pretty dresses. Stewardesses looking like a million bucks, and pilots like the kind of guys you’d want your daughter to marry. The polite and descent nature of well mannered men snapping to their feet to help ladies with their carry-on luggage, or giving aid to older folks unsure of which way to go. People who understood and appreciated that folding a newspaper to a width not greater than their seat meant that their neighbor in the adjoining seat would be more comfortable. Fellow travelers considerate enough that they’d never use my seat back as a handrail to pull themselves up because I might be sleeping and doing so would surely disturb me. People who were respectful of their fellow travelers enough to check their bags instead of slamming them into the arms and legs of the people in aisle seats. No overheard cell calls of people behind which seem intended more to show off than much else. I could go on for hours, but by now, I’m sure you get my drift.
So do I.
You left out Braniff International
@@jeffbrowne9876 ah yes, Braniff! I did forget them!
"kind of guy you would want your daughter to marry"?? Huh pilots are horn dogs who stick it wherever they can get it which is everywhere they fly. They like to drink too much. I'm a woman who knows the pilots of those days. Not much changed there in 20, 30, years... 😂
Ditto that
I flew TWA to Rome and back many times from 1972 to 1988. I really miss this airline. I loved their special terminal at JFK, and their international service was outstanding. Once I was even upgraded to First Class. There is nothing like that kind of flight. They pamper you from start to finish. I just wish they were still here.
Wow, such a lovely memory.
My love in life was the late 50’s when I was a hostess flying for TWA !!! My life was exciting and filled with dignity and pride to be employed by such a family oriented company Headed by Howard Hughes . I flew till I got married - this took away my wings because you could not be married and actively be a flight attendant - God bless Trans World AIRLINES FOR CHERISHED MEMORIES -
certainly your story, with today's femi-nazi's, would have them seizing your situation, and using it to advance their hatred of 'all things male', and file suit against TWA for requiring you to not be married, in order to keep your position as a stewardess, regardless of you being against their actions.
As a black man. I hated my life in the late 50's 😂
Lol a family oriented company that fired women just for getting pregnant?
@@dillonkentworth6718 nice daughters are part of good families...and before they took the jobs they knew what the job descriptions were..Im glad that people were grateful in those days for their experience...seems like today we feel like everything is owed to us....especially in America. The kings disease is what we suffer from...thats why there is no good service anywhere anymore..
Which type of planes did you work on?
TWA was my favorite airline right up to the end. Anyone who knows the history of TWA knows who really destroyed the company, and his name starts with "I".
I thought his Last nam e started with an "I" first name with a "C". Can I have an "L"?
👍 I came here to say the same thing. He was the beginning of the end for a wonderful airline. I miss TWA.
Carl Icahn- I win
Nope Joe Biden
@@Ayyydolf_UknowdaResthere, sir -- you dropped a comment on the wrong video... and your brain with it 😂😂😂😂
TWA was a great airline that Carl Icahn's greed destroyed.
My neighbors (including my buddy's Dad) were all TWA pilots. They built their dream houses on the lake we lived on back in the Early Seventies. They were living nice lives. Sad to see it gone.
I flew on Eastern last time 1988.
Airline pilots are on the road a lot, but they also make 6 figure incomes and can buy nice cars, houses, land, airplanes, and boats. 🤠
I was employed by TW between 1965 - 1980; 1982-84. A great company to work for. Pride in our jobs showed in the service we provided.
I flew on TWA and Eastern even until 1975.
In the mid sixties threw 74 as a child we flew from kci to New York then to Norway. Twice a year. I loved the service and the nicest employees (stewardesses)😊. Big part of my childhood memories. Thanks❤ Got to go to the cockpit back then and the pilots would give us metal wings.
I had a horrible customer service experience with TWA that turned into a great one. Flying TWA out of Philly bound for St. Louis once, there was a blizzard at the Philly airport. I fully expected we would be delayed a long time. No other planes were departing, but they boarded our plane anyway, backed us out of the gate, taxied out a little, and sat on the tarmac for 2 hours. I didn’t even mind that. It happens. Then they started serving drinks, but wouldn’t let us up to use the bathroom. THAT I minded. I know enough not to drink liquids when there’s no access to a bathroom, but it was horrible for other passengers. After two hours of this, they towed us back to the gate. Airport was closed due to the weather. I wrote a letter to TWA complaining about why they would serve beverages on the ground in a plane stuck on the tarmac, knowing we would not be allowed to use the bathroom bc they weren’t allowing us out of our seats. Lo and behold, I got a nice letter back from them stating they had received a lot of complaints about that same experience, that they had reviewed everything, that TWA was in the wrong bc they should never have boarded the aircraft when they did, and got a free first class upgrade voucher for my next flight. They handled the complaint just fine.
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Thanks for posting this! My Dad started as Flight Engineer with TWA on the Connies in 1955. I was born in 56 and was a very young passenger on some of his fights. Then The Boeing 707's came out. What a Bird that was. I remember flying with Dad on some of his trips on those. In 1975 Dad upgraded to the 747. By then he was Captain and held the #1 bid on the Atlantic Route. TWA is in my blood and will be forever. I so very much miss those days. No security, no bomb threats, no high jackings( well not till later), We would walk right out on the ramp and climb the stairs in the open air to board our jet. Dad even allowed me to enter the cockpit in flight as long as I kept my mouth closed and didn't say a word, Ref-CVR..... People dressed the part too. No sweats were worn on flights back then. Yes, flying was special back in the day. Today flying, let alone just getting to the airport, is such a horrible experience. They take your dignity away from you as you QUALIFY to just get past security. And Geri, Dad really enjoyed working for TWA when Howard Hughes owned the company. Those were the days my friend.....
Carl Icahn was a rogue pirate who broke up what could have been saved.
Nice reminiscing. I am a little younger than you and did not fly on props, except for one very rough flight on an F27 Fairchild when I was 6. But I do remember seeing them. By the time I took my first transcontinental trip, the wide body 747 and DC10 took me from California to New York and back to CA from Boston respectively. By then people no longer wore their Sunday best, but service and and decorum were both still important. Good manners were important. Today, it's a cattle call. Yes, air travel is more accessible, but you are crammed in so tight that even a flight lasting only an hour or two can test your endurance and patience. People are mean. In January. I accidentally spilled a drop of water on the the guy next to me as the attendant was handing it to me. He swore at me. I apologized profusely, but he did not accept my apology and glared at me for several minutes. The experience stresses people to the point where they get nasty. I have had worse done to me. I have been banged by luggage as people try and cram large rollerboards into the overheads. I've had stuff dropped on me and spilled on me. I have been elbowed and jostled by people getting into and out of seats. I always try to be gracious and understanding. I wish everyone would remember manners. But not everybody does anymore. And it is a shame.
@@taroman7100 Carl Icahn was a was a devil. Cared only about himself and the all mighty dollar. Seems as though we have the same horrific type of people running America. WE ARE DOOMED
Fondest and positive memories of TWA which was more than just an airline. It felt like family the moment you boarded and their attention to detail and comfort second to none
Sadly, I never had the pleasure of flying on TWA. My mother-in-law worked for them back in the 50's when they had the midair collision over the Grand Canyon. She said it was a very somber day for the company.
Unfortunately I never flew on TWA either
Growing up in a TWA family, I loved the airline. This was a great show...but I'm still sad about the ending. :-(
Same. :(
The first time I ever flew on a plane was a TWA aircraft in 1996. It’s really sad not to see TWA around nowadays 😢
I was a Skycap for TWA in Vegas in the mid 1990's. Those New York passengers tipped darned good! Those going through STL on the other hand were.... Ouch. Anyways, I miss that airline! The crews were amazing.
I hate American tipping.
Very educational. These types of documentaries should be in high school Business and Economics classes.
I was a loyal customer from 1984 until they stopped flying. My last flight being 925 out of Charles De Gaulle three weeks before their end. I loved TWA and racked up nearly 2 million miles with them. I still have my ambassadors luggage tag on my flight bag. I get comments about it. I shall never ever forgive the person responsible for what happened to TWA. Never! A great airline.
I also flew TWA and had some wonderful friends there. I had received lifetime membership into the Ambassador Club which was an honor, but when American took over, they kicked off all the Lifetime Members. One of the smiling faces was a dear friend in charge of the ambassador club John, who later got a buy out and later flew for American as an attendant. Sadly lost his life on a flight. Looked out the window noticed the beautiful horizon and fell asleep. God rest his soul. Wonderful airline sent to the darkness of corporate greed.
My very first flight was in 1958 from Berlin to Hanover by Air France, operating the famous (american) DC-3 - and that flight is still in my mind today. And how much I love it still now...unforgetable.
I loved flying on TWA as a child & flew all the way to Germany by myself when I was 10 in 1962. You were always treated as a special person & I thank the hard workers of TWA. I miss the airline a lot.
When I was a kid dad flew in and out of Dulles Airport to Europe all the time. I can still hear the announcement "Trans World Airlines arriving at gate..." In 1972 we moved to San Francisco and flew on a TWA 747.... 6 hour flight. That was a REALLY big deal at the time. Passengers always dressed to the nines. It's so sad that one man's greed destroyed an icon of history. And oh! I have an old photo slide of the TWA 747 when it was introduced!
Yes, Carl was NOT an Icahn. He had one goal in mind and it was not to preserve T-dub as we called it.
You should read more into it... A judge had told Icahn that his personal finances were liable if he destroyed twa. He realized really quickly that he made a mistake buying it.
There would've not been any TWA unless for Howard Hughes and his 💡 ideas he was very innovative
TWA was my favorite childhood memory. Such a shame to see what STL has become and flying has never been the same since.
St Louis was where I grew up, a once great city racked by bad management and racism. TWA was my airline.
@@taroman7100 When you analyze everything as racism, there are no winners, just losers.
Remember TWA crews staying in hotel I worked at and they were lovely, polite and friendly! Of course they were very glam too!
My parents used to fly TWA in the 40s and 50s between Cairo, Egypt and Geneva, Switzerland. My father later always flew TWA to the USA in the 60s and 70s. He was very loyal.
Dad flew for TWA from 68-95.
So cool! dream job.
My first time on an airplane was spring break in 4th grade. My family flew from Paducah to Denver to visit my aunt (mom’s identical twin), uncle, and cousin in Denver. My uncle was a Technical Sergeant in the USAF stationed at Lowry AFB near Denver. We flew from Paducah to St. Louis on an Ozark Airlines DC-9. The St. Louis to Denver leg was on a TWA Boeing 707. It was ver comfortable and the food was good even for a picky eater like I was at the time. That was my only flight on TWA, but it was an excellent experience that I still remember in my mid 50s.
I remember how we were all shocked that Icahn was selling off London routes, the first being Chicago-Heathrow. Glad I left before the end, I liked my time there, but did see how if some changes would have been made, how things could have been different.
TWA was the best airline I have flown on but somebody got Greedy along the line and now they're gone. It took 1/2 of St. Louis with it because St. Louis, Mo. was the hub of the airline. And still, today, things aren't as good as they were back in 1975 or earlier. We are going backwards FAST.
Even in the early 1980's I enjoyed flying TWA. Like PanAm, TWA had a lot of pride in their rich history. Too bad neither of the two are still around.
Sad that TWA, Pan Am , Eastern and Braniff are not around.
Proud to be Parks College graduate, and a student of Captain Bukart
Loved the airline, still have it's "Aviator's" card for nostalgia
I remember flying TWA in 1960 and it was a great experience. In fact, I celebrated my 7th birthday on a transatlantic flight--I even got my wings! Then, in 1962, we did it all over again. Those flights actually had a very nice steward on both flights. Wonderful, wonderful memories.
I was just a kid in the early sixty's growing up and living close to Lambert Airport in St. Louis Mo. Great memories of seeing and flying on TWA. I also remember seeing Hefner's black plane with the white playboy bunny on the wing and of course McDonald Douglas. I had no idea at the time of all the important history that was being made.
STL was in it;s heyday then. I grew up near Lambert also.
I flew twice a year in the 80's to Cairo, Egypt. where my dad worked for AT&T International. I tried to get the non-stop flights, but sometimes I went through Athens and once through Rome. One of my last trips was on TWA 800, nine months before it occurred. I kind of feel like I have nine-lives. So blessed and truly amazing places to visit.
The pilot featured was Bush Voight. Taught me how to ride a horse, and got me onto a combine crew in 1965. Most good on you sir. He mainly flew the Convairs.
flying in to JFK in 1982 after a thunderstorm 50 mph winds the L1011 no sweat. i looked at the captain co pilot engineer. old dudes. silver hairs. all 3 got me there.
Perhaps one of the biggest contributions of The Streaming Wars is for broadcasters, even PBS and its' affiliates, to finally unload the huge amount of great documentaries for FREE, like this one, to a worldwide audience like KZhead's that can appreciate them. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
I was a ramp agent with TWA in St. Louish in 1999 on till after the AA merger laid off in 2003. It was so cool to see ramp and ticket agents I knew on the Video. After working for 2 more Irving's going to the Army, I hired at Envoy under AA last yr and still there. All airlines I was at was the best job ever.
I flew as a passenger with TWA many times. Always enjoyed the service over the years. I always felt 800 was the final nail in the coffin of a once proud airline. To this day I am not convinced of the closing “story” of its demise 😢. Fast forward 10 years I had the privilege of being a FA on many of my favorite aircraft, the B757. That AC to this day always holds a place in my heart. I also have some FA friends that will forever have TWA in their hearts ❤.
I agree. Given the choice, I’d still rather fly a 75.
TWA 800 was clearly brought down by a missile. I've done the research.
Mismanagement was the biggest problem for this airline. LATE EDIT: Sorry, Icahn was an idiot.
Icahn was not an idiot; he was a vile, evil, greedy man.
This documentary is from months before the closure of operations.....what a beautiful story about this company.
Many witnesses saw a very bright light going up to flight 800. This bright light originated from the surface.
Flown TWA many times Love the Airline Gone but Not Forgotten TWA
The unions made a big mistake by opposing Lorenzo and favoring Icahn. He single-handedly ruined TWA (and made a lot fo money in the process)
Well it was choosing between two devils - literally lesser of the two evils. Mind you the union didn't help either. The good news I heard recently is that Icahn recently lost about 7 billion investing.. If course that was kinda neutralized by the fact knowing he was still alive.
Except for the very end of this production, it was a brilliant story of the development of TWA. I must say that it was frustrating at the end when story was about its successes, to suddenly without explanation go into bankruptcy! The story was one of process and development until that point when no explanation was given as to what happened from going to success, to disaster! That’s too bad and that was what I was waiting to learn about! I still have my TWA wings that I was given as a boy flying across the Atlantic in one of their planes!
TWA's biggest enemy wasn't Juan Trippe, it was Carl Icahn.
@@Drgonzosfaves I would say that it was those that invited the shark to dinner, but how does this relate to my comment?
Flew TWA in the summer of 2000 when I was 10 or 11, I remember it very well. Glad I got the chance while they were still around.
Loved this story I can't believe all the ups and down TWA went through but I always loved TWA i miss them a lot especially the l1011
L10s were my favorite planes. Flew into Copenhagen on a TWA flight with very bad turbulence all the way down to the runway and because the L10s were computerized the landing was amazingly smooth.
I miss the L-1011s as well.
I flew on a TWA L-1011 from NY to LAX in 1982 - still my favourite flight of all time. What a remarkable plane.
I miss TWA it was my very first airline I worked for starting in 2000.
Thank you fo this beautiful video
Has anyone noticed that one of the sponsors of this documentary was a insurance company that had links to the bankrupt airline.
I worked at the Marriott Airport STL and when the crews would come in they were so glamorous. The pilots handsome and the girls like models!
Very interesting video about the history of aviation. Liked and subscribed.
Like so many things in our society that have declined as our society deteriorates, TWA was once one of America's premier airlines. I remember first flying on Connies with my mom. I loved the noise, the sound of power and the opulence that the Connies and their stunning stewardess evoked. Something you don't see or feel on airlines today. They, along with the flight crew always made you feel special. Today it feels more like a cattle car or a crowded city bus at rush hour. Personally, I blame deregulation, the demand for corporate profits above everything else for this change. It turned the airline's focus from service to the pursuit of the corporate dollar above everything else and caused the industry to become the disaster that it is today. A sad commentary on society overall.
yes, absolutely. Once you let your standards down it is very difficult to reinstate them.
Basically what you are saying is you miss when society was sexist, and airline prices were such that only the upper and upper middle could afford to fly. You sound like one stand up individual.
@Michael Corrigan The days of glory and "class". If you couldn't afford to fly, you drove.
@@jeaninepereira3446 yes, make all the poor, brown and black ppl ride the bus. The sky is reserved for the upper class.
@Michael Corrigan You forget with your liberal holier than thou attitude that people respected each other, neighbors know and got along as well as looked out for each other. God and the church were still observed and revered. People didn't look down on one another just because of the job you had. Police were respected and respectful. You didn't have some left-wing nut job trying to influence your children's gender without your knowledge. The 3"w" s were taught in school. No, back then, nut jobs weren't burning down cities in the name of politics, and with hard work, effort, and little intelligence, you could still grasp a piece of the American Dream. You're right. Society today is so much better. You're an idiot.
Howard Hughes played lucky, as his conflict with the company's board, forced him out, with the stock at a high price, resulting in a check being cut for half a billion dollars in the mid-1960's, which he used to buy up half of the LV Strip in 1967.
I'll remember going on TWA in 1988 on my 1st ever visit from London Heathrow to Los Angeles
Thanks for sharing your video. I enjoyed watching. Take care and God Bless.
In the 60s we flew Twa to Norway and back as a kid for family holidays. Great memories. actually good food back then too.
I miss the great air brands like TWA and Pan Am and the competition we used to have in the airline industry before they all started buying each other out. Of course, a lot of that era ended when I was only 4 years old, when both Eastern Airlines and Pan Am closed up shop out of bankruptcy. But even still, before rapid consolidation, in the 90's and early 2000's. there was plenty of competition to go around. Names like Northwest Airlines and US Airways that don't exist anymore, just to name a few.
I only flew on time on TWA and it was in 1988 from JFK to Frankfurt , Germany on a 747. I think they were already struggling by then. That plane was 80% empty. Was a nice flight.
In the 80s and 90s when traveling was a good experience and you had fun in the airport and on the airplane, the mood was pleasant for the most part and the flight attendants were much nicer and it was much roomier
The ending needs a serious correction: ATC no longer has "every commercial airplane on radar" - Congress passed laws to mostly eliminate civilian radar for Air Traffic Control, thinking GPS will simply replace it - and our USAF owns and maintains our GPS... When there are thunderstorms near by, you better pray you have radar coverage for your approach to landing. In 2003, Congress enacted the Vision 100 - Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act - now called "NextGen" or "NGATS"
Great doc! Can you tell me who designed the map murals on the interior walls of the Constellation?
It was awesome thanks for this documentary Miss this Airline and it’s flying packages of one price multiple destinations
Both my Dad & Brother were pilots. My Dad was an Eastern Captain & my Brother a Captain for TWA. When it went bankrupt he then went onto be a Captain for American. Both are up in the Way Beyond Yonder❤
I remember my Dad stories about how he started out by dropping by the airfields & was encouraged by those pioneer pilots in biplanes. Proper maintenance of your plane before each flight. Old timers told him to keep a flying log & read the sky’s clouds when you would fly. He learned by the seat of his pants back in the day. Trial & error. Later on would be the use of instruments would come into modernization of the air plane! Dad was piloting & one of his passenger was Mr Eddie Rickenbacker & he told my Dad to come to New York & fly for Eastern! That was June 1938.
I remember when I quit flying TWA. We always had to change planes in St. Louis and there was any weather related delays east of St. Louis our flight would always be delayed. After the fourth time (in a row) I spent hours cooling my heals at St. Louis with our departing aircraft already there, waiting for us to board, I realized that they were only holding the flight until weather delayed connecting flights finally got there. As soon as those flights got in we got the call to board. The next time I found a Southwest non-stop and was much better served. I did miss the L1011 aircraft because if you were smart you could seat in the business class seats on a coach ticket because the airline had discontinued business class, but the seating was not changed.
TWA was actually my favorite airline .I think if TWA and Eastern were able to merge ,they would have an awesome airline due to the complementary route systems. I would prefer a merged TWA/Eastern over American.
My Dad worked for Eastern as a tix agent in 1967.
Mechanics union at Eastern spoiled any chance of that.
20 November 1985 I boarded a TWA flight from Detroit Metropolitan Airport to San Antonio Texas to begin my Air Force career. We laid over in St. Louis. It was my first time flying and my only time on TWA.
It was stated at about 30:15 that TWA wasn't able to use their Boeing 307 Stratoliners because of WWII. According to the book, "Legacy of Leadership" (A Pictorial History of Trans World Airlines) the Stratoliners were used by TWA in scheduled service between July 8, 1940, and December 24, 1941, before being turned over for military use a few weeks after the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor, HI on December 7, 1941.
I miss TWA. I never ever have found a new airline as good as they were. I remember my grandma she would never fly any other airline but TWA. She liked the 707 and the way she was treated by the crew.
I hear international flights are the best these days....have not taken one tho
Chuck Connors (Rifleman) was the narrator.
In the 1960-70s there were 3 "trunk" lines which flew coast to coast: UA (largest), AA (businessman's airline), and TW. All airlines have 2-letter designation codes which are used for brevity and exclusively in the industry.
My father worked for TWA nearly 35 years in the financial department. He always said that even with all the problems that TWA, he looked forward to going to work every day. As a long time TWA user, I miss the style and service of the airline. I remember about 30 years ago my TWA flight was delayed by weather and they moved to a competitor's flight so I would make my next connection on time. I had a First Class TWA ticket and received First Class seating on the new flight. Let me just say that the new flight was a step below in service. Carl Icahn destroyed any chance of TWA making it in the new airline world.
I fly to Paris on TWA 1st class, what a wonderful experience that I will always hold close to my heart. Returning on TWA my friend said I didn't get you a gift in Paris! He asked the stewardess if he could purchase the demitasse cup I had been drinking my coffee out of. She, said "yes" but it is also a gift from TWA. The cup I still a treasure and I glance at it remembering beloved friends and flying the way it was meant to be. Travel is in the journey not just getting there. Slow down, take a deep breath and enjoy your journey. Many blessings.
I worked for TWA as an 18 year old just 2 years before they defucted and those were the days. Glad I kept my uniform and all things TWA.
We used to call them T-Dub.
born and raised in St Louis TWA was a big deal something we were so proud of.. i remember my parents would only book me TWA to support a home brand , today i reside in Dallas home of Southwest airlines another amazing airline
I remember TIA ;)
There is nothing amazing about crapwest
I am a senior lady in Oregon; never flown, but always liked TWA. why did they sell? My family has flown , and I have a younger son, who was in the military. Thank you TWA🙋
Enjoyable vid...lots of history. Thanks for all of it. However,...under Hughes TWA became the launch customer and biggest buyer(30 planes) of the Convair 880. Why is there absolutely no mention of that aircraft in all of this video? Hughes strongarmed Convair into its production because he couldn't get Boeing 707s or Douglas DC-8s. There's much more interesting detail to this part of the story, but enough for now, eh?
Well done! Thank you, Patti!
I love a great story of an of an old legendary airline that pioneered the business of flying . I love the history behind these original air carriers . I can only say that TWA was one of the greatest airlines. I did my time with another great airline, Northwest Airlines. I did my career of 35 years with NWA as a mechanic and went through the good times and bad. In the end Northwest disappeared into history as well. I feel that all of us dedicated airline employees everywhere had great careers , many stories, and awesome memories. We are now part of a great fraternity. I do miss the challenge of working in the snow of Minneapolis trying to get the aircraft repaired and off the gate for a flight. "Best job I ever had !"
Thanks Carl Icahn....for nothing!
Yeah he just gave the airline to american which then dismantle it.
SO it goes w capitalism : dod eat .. 2 dogs ...both a hot & a cold 1 ....
Wasn't Carl Icahn the "white knight" who prevented Frank Lorenzo (who took over Eastern Airlines) from acquiring TWA?
It’s nobody’s fault - other than that of “the cycle of life”. Just as people are born, grow, prosper and die, so do businesses.
AA made a beautiful video about the merger of TWA and American. But they kept none of the promises they laid out. And that will always make me sad because I know genuine people, who genuinely loved this airline, were shafted at American’s hands.
Agreed.
I flew TWA from JKK to Milan! It was a 747 and was amazing!
TWA was my 2nd flight (American was my first) But I really enjoyed it, especially the large plastic ear phones listening to Rock (LOL)!
Sad how they let American take over TWA such an iconic airline along with Pan Am and Eastern
Gretings from Mexico my father now in a better place was s big TWA fan he had even a small colletion of TWA items like a silver serving set other small things with the brand he told the stories of the days ehen people dressed up to fly and could tell that he got offended whe he saw people in shorts at the airport he never said anything but I could tell he had se amazing stories and he got to meet some very interesting people. Gracias TWA
I Still Have Twa System Timetable From 1985 With New York JFK To Atlanta Georgia And Jacksonville Florida Before Merger With Ozark Airlines Bring Back Memories
Sad to think by the end of 2001 TWA wouldn't even exist.
Excellent technical explanation of often little known information.
My father was a ramp lead in SFO. He started with TWA right out of high school and world for them until they finally shut down. I grew up and spent most of my childhood on TWA planes. Man I miss those days. Back then flying was fun and the service was amazing. The industry these days is designed such that you feel more like cattle than a customer.
I Loved TWA when Trans World was at O'Hare I loved the 747-100 , it was beautiful. I have a Model of that one.
So sad that they're gone.
I never got TWA under the belt but I did go on their sort of rival PanAm.I'm not sure how genuine the rivalry was until deregulation as they probably carved out the routes between themselves and pretended to be at each others throats.
Lambert Intl has never been the same. I remember when there was significant debate about public funding for Lambert Airport expansion, only for TWA to be bought out by AA. Carl Icahn didn’t help things any, either (btw, he is now accused of running a complex fraud with his publicly-traded investment fund). In 1998 there was an expansion of Lambert’s runway system that started in 2001. Of course 9/11 happened and TWA was bought out by AA. St. Louis as a meaningful airport ceased to exist, and the public got stuck with the bill for the expansion. In happier news, the restored TWA hotel and retro tribute to the space age at JFK Intl is incredible. It links the Arch, Lambert, JFK all together.
Looking so nice with the Aviation hisory.
Me and Mother Flew TWA to Europe 🌍 1969 Very Classy
My dad started as a co-pilot for Trans Continental flying the DC-2. He had to take money from his and my mother’s “piggy bank” then in order to pay for his travel expenses. 2 years latter he became a captain and retired 30 years latter as the most senior pilot and employee at TWA.
You know what TWA? Travel With America. That's what the pilot used to say in the early 80's after we landed. Such a wonderful sense of humor. I miss those days where you had a special touch unlike today's airlines and airports rush. It was truly genuine flying experience back then.
I loved the L1011, it is the most passenger-friendly plane in recent history. TWA flew a lot of them. I remember going to New York from LA on TWA in 1992, now I'd prefer to drive. America just seems to get worse and worse.
My favorite plane as well, no matter what airline. Too bad it was outdone by the DC-10.
The mere idea of flying on any US carrier [Alaska Airlines being a possible exception] makes me ill. Thankfully, we have reasonably good air service in Australia.
Was one of my favorites as well.