View source for Southern Airways

{{Short description|Defunct airline of the United States (1949–1979)}}
{{Distinguish|China Southern Airlines|Southern Air|Southern Airways Express|Straight Corporation#Southern Airways Ltd{{!}}Southern Airways Ltd}}
{{More citations needed|date=June 2009}}
{{Infobox airline
| airline        = Southern Airways
| image          = 
| logo           = Southern Airways logo.svg
| logo_size      = 200
| frequent_flyer = 
| fleet_size     = 
| destinations   = 
| parent         = 
| IATA           = SO
| ICAO           = SOU
| callsign       = SOUTHERN
| founded        = {{start date|1944|02|01}}
| ceased         = {{end date|1979|07|01}}<br />{{small|(merged with [[North Central Airlines]] to become [[Republic Airlines (1979–1986)|Republic Airlines]])}}
| aoc            = 
| num_employees  = 
| headquarters   = [[Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport]]<br />[[Atlanta]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], [[United States|U.S.]]
| founder        = [[Frank Hulse]]
| key_people     = 
| hubs           = {{ubl|class=nowrap
  | [[Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport|Atlanta]]
  | [[Memphis International Airport|Memphis]]}}
| focus_cities   = {{ubl|class=nowrap
  | [[Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport|New Orleans]]
  | [[Orlando International Airport|Orlando]]}}
}}

'''Southern Airways''' was a [[local service carrier]], a scheduled airline in the United States that operated from 1949 until 1979, when it merged with [[North Central Airlines]] to become [[Republic Airlines]]. Southern's corporate headquarters were in Atlanta, with operations headquartered at [[Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport]], near Atlanta.<ref>''World Airline Directory''. Flight International. March 20, 1975. "[http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1975/1975%20-%200565.html 503].</ref>

Following a merger with [[North Central Airlines]] in 1979, Southern became [[Republic Airlines (1979–1986)|Republic Airlines]], which in turn was merged into [[Northwest Airlines]] in 1986.  Northwest Airlines was then merged into [[Delta Air Lines]] in 2010.

[[File:Martin 404 N145S Southern Aws ATL 15.04.72 edited-2.jpg|thumb|right|Nine [[Martin 4-0-4]]s at the Atlanta hub in 1972 before departing on the morning wave of flights]]

==History==
{{pax
| note = (scheduled flights only)
| footnote = <ref>Handbook of Airline Statistics (biannual CAB publication)</ref>
| 1951 | 17
| 1955 | 28
| 1960 | 47
| 1965 | 156
| 1970 | 431
| 1975 | 853
}}

Southern Airways was founded by [[Frank Hulse]] in 1944, followed by its first flight in 1949.  As a local service carrier, Southern Airways covered the south-central U.S. In 1955, their network spanned from [[Memphis, Tennessee|Memphis]] south to [[New Orleans]] and east to Charlotte and Jacksonville. In August 1953, Southern flew to 29 airports and in August 1967 to 50.

Like other local-service airlines, Southern was subsidized; in 1962, its operating "revenues" of $14.0 million included $5.35 million "Pub. serv. rev."<ref>Moody's Transportation Manual 1964</ref>

In May 1968, Southern's routes extended from [[Tri-Cities Regional Airport|Tri-Cities]] in Tennessee south to New Orleans and [[Jacksonville, Florida|Jacksonville]], and east from [[Baton Rouge, Louisiana|Baton Rouge]] and [[Monroe, Louisiana]], to the coast at [[Myrtle Beach, South Carolina|Myrtle Beach]] and [[Charleston, South Carolina|Charleston]]. Later in 1968, a route sprouted northward: three weekday [[Douglas DC-9-10]]s from Columbus, Georgia (CSG) nonstop to Washington Dulles and on to New York LaGuardia. These flights originated at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida (VPS) and also stopped at Dothan, Alabama.

Like most local-service airlines, Southern flew only [[Douglas DC-3]]s for the first few years. In 1961, they began adding 22 40-passenger, secondhand [[Martin 4-0-4]]s acquired from [[Eastern Air Lines]],<ref>Killion, 1997, p. 70</ref> newer aircraft that were pressurised and had a rear ventral stairway. The last scheduled DC-3 flight was in 1967.

Southern's first 65–75-passenger [[Douglas Aircraft Company|Douglas]] [[McDonnell Douglas DC-9|DC-9]] series 10s arrived in 1967 followed by 85–95-passenger [[McDonnell Douglas DC-9]] series 30s in 1969. The last scheduled flight by a Martin was on 20 April 1978 from Atlanta to Gadsden, Alabama, and back.<ref>Killion, 1997, p. 70</ref>

Some DC-9s were bought new and some used;<ref>http://www.southernairways.org, DC-9 aircraft list</ref> the used jets included DC-9-14s from [[Delta Air Lines]] and Eastern Air Lines.<ref>http://www.southernairways.org, DC-9 aircraft list</ref>  Both airlines had purchased these aircraft new from Douglas.<ref>http://www.airliners.net, Southern Airways DC-9 photos</ref> Unlike other local-service airlines, Southern did not operate [[turboprop]]s (such as the [[Convair 580]] and [[Fairchild F-27]] used by other local-service airlines) during the 1960s and 1970s, but by the time of the merger with North Central, Southern had replaced their Martin 4-0-4s with several 19-passenger [[Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner]] "Metro II"s.

===1970s===
[[File:Douglas DC-9-10 N92S Southern ATL 06.10.73.jpg|thumb|right|Douglas DC-9-15 at Atlanta in October 1973]]
By 1971, Southern was flying to [[New York City]] and [[Chicago]] and south to [[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]] and [[Miami]]. [[United States government role in civil aviation|U.S. government regulation]] did not allow Southern to fly nonstop from New York or [[Washington, DC]], to Atlanta, so Southern had nonstops to [[Columbus, Georgia]], then on to [[Dothan, Alabama]]; [[Mobile, Alabama]]; [[Panama City, Florida]], [[Eglin Air Force Base, Florida]]; and/or [[Gulfport, Mississippi|Gulfport]]/[[Biloxi, Mississippi]]. Many flights made five or six intermediate stops en route.

With more DC-9s, many routes once served with propeller aircraft were served with jets that linked small cities to Atlanta and Memphis:

*Columbus, Georgia, to Washington, DC continuing to New York City.
*[[Meridian, Mississippi]], to [[Birmingham, Alabama]]; [[Columbus, Mississippi]]; and Laurel/[[Hattiesburg, Mississippi]]
*[[Tuscaloosa, Alabama]], to Atlanta, Georgia, and Columbus, Mississippi
*Muscle Shoals/[[Florence, Alabama]], to [[Memphis, Tennessee]], and [[Huntsville, Alabama|Huntsville]]/[[Decatur, Alabama]], with continuing eastbound service to Atlanta
*[[Greenville, Mississippi]], to Memphis and Monroe, Louisiana, with continuing southbound service to Baton Rouge and New Orleans
*[[Columbia, South Carolina]], to Greenville/[[Spartanburg, South Carolina|Spartanburg]] and [[Charleston, South Carolina]]
*[[Albany, Georgia]], to Atlanta, Georgia; [[Valdosta, Georgia]]; Dothan, Alabama; and Columbus, Georgia

One DC-9-14 aircraft operated a "[[milk run]]" multistop routing from Miami to Orlando, Tallahassee, Panama City, Eglin AFB, Mobile, Gulfport, New Orleans, Birmingham, Atlanta, Huntsville, Memphis, St Louis, and Chicago Midway. Time en route was 14 hours and 32 minutes.

By the mid-1970s, Southern's system had expanded to [[St. Louis, Missouri|St. Louis]], [[Detroit]], [[Ft. Lauderdale, Florida|Ft. Lauderdale]], and [[Grand Cayman]] in the Caribbean, Southern's only international destination. In 1978 Southern expanded westward from Memphis to [[Wichita, Kansas|Wichita]] and [[Denver, Colorado|Denver]].

Southern Airways called itself the "Route of the Aristocrats"<ref>{{cite journal|journal=AOPA Pilot|date=July 2011}}</ref> and they used the slogan "Nobody's Second Class on Southern" in their television commercials. They were famous for their promotional [[shot glass]]es: for a time, differently designed shot glasses were issued each year. Original Southern shot glasses are valued by collectors of airline memorabilia.

During the early 1970s, before strict airport security was implemented across the United States, several airlines experienced hijackings. [[Southern Airways Flight 49]], a DC-9 en route from Memphis to Miami was hijacked on November 10, 1972, during a stop in Birmingham. The three hijackers boarded the plane armed with [[handgun]]s and hand grenades. At gunpoint, the [[Aircraft hijacking|hijacker]]s took the airplane, the plane's crew of four, and 27 passengers, to nine American cities, [[Toronto]], and eventually to [[Havana]], Cuba. During the long flight, the hijackers threatened to crash the plane into the [[Oak Ridge, Tennessee]], nuclear facilities, insisted on talking with President [[Richard Nixon]], and demanded a [[ransom]] of $10 million. Southern Airways was only able to come up with $2 million. Eventually, the pilot talked the hijackers into settling for the $2 million when the plane landed in [[Chattanooga]] for refueling. Upon landing in Havana, the Cuban authorities arrested the hijackers, and after a brief delay, sent the plane, passengers, and crew back to the United States. The hijackers and $2 million stayed in Cuba.

Southern Airways accounted for the $2 million by debiting it to an account entitled "Hijacking Payment". This account was reported as a type of receivable under "other assets" on Southern's balance sheet. The company maintained that they would be able to collect the cash from the Cuban government, so a receivable existed. Southern Airways was repaid $2 million by the Cuban government, which was attempting to improve relations with the United States.<ref>Accounting, 23e, Warren Reeve Duchac, page 52, {{ISBN|978-0-324-66296-2}}, © 2009 South-Western</ref>

===Difficulties and merger===
{{More citations needed section|date=June 2009}}
[[File:Douglas DC-9-14 N3309L SO STL 19.02.78 edited-3.jpg|thumb|right|[[Douglas DC-9|Douglas DC-9-14]] in final color scheme at [[St Louis International Airport|St Louis]] in February 1978]]
By the late 1970s, Southern Airways began to experience difficulties. Two fatal accidents ([[Southern Airways Flight 932]], November 14, 1970, and [[Southern Airways Flight 242]], April 4, 1977) had put negative impact on the airline's once excellent safety record. Improved [[highway]]s including the [[interstate]] freeway system coupled with an increased willingness of passengers to drive to airports farther away for more convenient flights or lower air fares made many of Southern's routes obsolete. With dramatic [[1973 oil crisis|increases in the price of jet fuel]] in the 1970s, many of Southern's routes were no longer cost effective.

On July 1, 1979, Southern merged with North Central Airlines to form [[Republic Airlines (1979-1986)|Republic Airlines]] and the "Route of the Aristocrats" came to an end.<ref>http://www.departedflights.com, statement in July 1, 1979 Republic Airlines timetable: "Republic Airlines was created July 1, 1979 upon the merger of North Central Airlines and Southern Airways."</ref>  Republic acquired [[Hughes Airwest]] before being acquired in 1986 by [[Northwest Airlines]], which continued to operate many flights from the former Southern hub in Memphis. Northwest merged into [[Delta Air Lines]] in 2008.

==Destinations==
{{unreferenced section|date=June 2013}}
These cities served are taken based on the airline's timetables. Cities served with DC-9s are in '''bold'''.
{{colbegin|colwidth=28em}}
* '''[[Albany, Georgia]]'''
* [[Anderson, South Carolina]]
* [[Anniston, Alabama]]
* [[Athens, Georgia]]
* '''[[Atlanta, Georgia]]''' (hub)
* [[Augusta, Georgia]]
* '''[[Baton Rouge, Louisiana]]'''
* [[Biloxi, Mississippi]] (served via [[Gulfport, Mississippi]])
* '''[[Birmingham, Alabama]]'''
* [[Bristol, Tennessee]] (served via the [[Tri-Cities Regional Airport]]) in Tennessee)
* [[Bristol, Virginia]] (served via the Tri-Cities Regional Airport in Tennessee)
* [[Charleston, South Carolina]]
* [[Charlotte, North Carolina]]
* '''[[Chattanooga, Tennessee]]'''
* '''[[Chicago, Illinois]]''' [[Midway Airport]], later [[O'Hare Airport]]
* [[Clarksdale, Mississippi]]
* [[Clarksville, Tennessee]]
* [[Columbia, South Carolina]]
* '''[[Columbus, Georgia]]'''
* '''[[Columbus, Mississippi]]'''
* [[Corinth, Mississippi]] 
* [[Crossville, Tennessee]]
* [[Decatur, Alabama]]
* '''[[Denver, Colorado]]'''
* '''[[Detroit, Michigan]]'''
* '''[[Dothan, Alabama]]'''
* [[Dyersburg, Tennessee]]
* '''[[Eglin Air Force Base, Florida]]''' (airport serves [[Fort Walton Beach, Florida]], and [[Destin, Florida]])
* '''[[Fort Lauderdale, Florida]]'''
* [[Florence, Alabama]] (served via [[Muscle Shoals, Alabama]]}
* [[Gadsden, Alabama]]
* '''[[Grand Cayman]], [[Cayman Islands]]''' (only international destination served by Southern)
* '''[[Greenville, Mississippi]]''' 
* '''[[Greenville, South Carolina]]/[[Spartanburg, South Carolina]]'''
* [[Greenwood, Mississippi]]
* [[Greenwood, South Carolina]]
* '''[[Gulfport, Mississippi]]'''
* '''[[Hattiesburg, Mississippi]]'''
* '''[[Huntsville, Alabama]]'''
* '''[[Jackson, Mississippi]]'''
* '''[[Jackson, Tennessee]]'''
* '''[[Jacksonville, Florida]]'''
* [[Johnson City, Tennessee]] (served via the [[Tri-Cities Regional Airport]] in Tennessee)
* [[Kingsport, Tennessee]] (served via Tri-Cities Regional Airport in Tennessee)
* '''[[Knoxville, Tennessee]]'''
* [[LaGrange, Georgia]]
* '''[[Laurel, Mississippi]]'''
* [[Macon, Georgia]]
* '''[[Memphis, Tennessee]]''' (hub)
* '''[[Meridian, Mississippi]]'''
* '''[[Milwaukee, Wisconsin]]'''
* '''[[Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota]]'''
* '''[[Mobile, Alabama]]'''
* '''[[Monroe, Louisiana]]'''
* '''[[Montgomery, Alabama]]'''
*[[Morgantown, West Virginia]]
* [[Morristown, Tennessee]]
* [[Moultrie, Georgia]]
* '''[[Muscle Shoals, Alabama]]'''
* [[Myrtle Beach, South Carolina]]
* '''[[Nashville, Tennessee]]'''
* [[Natchez, Mississippi]]
* '''[[New Orleans, Louisiana]]''' (focus city)
* '''[[New York City, New York]]''' [[LaGuardia Airport]],<ref>"[http://www.airliners.net/photo/Allegheny-Airlines/McDonnell-Douglas-DC-9-31/1995198/L/&sid=bd15e6dcff3d9c9393491a1730d95a22"airliners.net] September 23, 1976. Retrieved on October 29, 2011.</ref>
* '''[[Orlando, Florida]]''' (focus city)
* '''[[Panama City, Florida]]'''
* [[Paris, Tennessee]]
* [[Pascagoula, Mississippi]]
* [[Rockwood, Tennessee]]
* '''[[St. Louis, Missouri]]'''
* [[Selma, Alabama]]
* [[Sheffield, Alabama]] (served via Muscle Shoals, Alabama)
* [[Shelbyville, Tennessee]]
* '''[[Tallahassee, Florida]]'''
* '''[[Tampa, Florida]]'''
* [[Tullahoma, Tennessee]]
* '''Tri-Cities Regional Airport''' in Tennessee (serves the Bristol/Kingsport/Johnson City area)
* [[Tupelo, Mississippi]]
* '''[[Tuscaloosa, Alabama]]'''
* [[Tuscumbia, Alabama]] (served via Muscle Shoals, Alabama)
* [[Union City, Tennessee]]
* [[University, Mississippi]]/[[Oxford, Mississippi]]
* '''[[Washington, D.C.]]''' [[Dulles Airport]]
* [[West Memphis, AR]] (served via Memphis, Tennessee)
* '''[[Wichita, Kansas]]'''
* '''[[Valdosta, Georgia]]'''
* [[Vicksburg, Mississippi]]<ref>[http://www.southernairways.org/cities_served_by_southern.htm Cities Served By Southern<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140925220449/http://www.southernairways.org/cities_served_by_southern.htm |date=2014-09-25 }}</ref>
{{colend}}

Timetable dates used to compile the above list:  July 1, 1950; Sept. 26, 1954; Nov. 1, 1960; June 18, 1962; July 1, 1964; June 1, 1966; Sept. 3, 1968; Dec. 1, 1973; July 1, 1974, July 1, 1978, and April 29, 1979.<ref>http://www.timetableimages.com; www.departedfligthts.com; www.60sairlineantiques.net, Southern Airways timetables and maps</ref>

==Fleet==
Southern Airways used to operate the following aircraft:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://aerobernie.bplaced.net/Southern%20Airways.html|title=Southern Airways|website=aerobernie.bplaced.net|access-date=February 20, 2021}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em auto; text-align:center"
|+ Southern Airways fleet
|-
!Aircraft
!Total
!Introduced
!Retired
!Notes
|-
|[[Beechcraft Model 18]]
|17
|1946
|1964
|
|-
|[[Douglas DC-3]]
|27
|1949
|1967
|
|-
|[[Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner]]
|8
|1977
|1979
|"Metro II" series commuter
|-
|[[Martin 4-0-4]]
|25
|1961
|1978
|
|-
|[[McDonnell Douglas DC-9-14]]
|25
|1968
|1979
|
|-
|[[McDonnell Douglas DC-9-15]]
|10
|1967
|1979
|Includes two "Rapid Change" variants
|-
|[[McDonnell Douglas DC-9-31]]
|9
|1969
|1979
|
|-
|[[McDonnell Douglas DC-9|McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32CF]]
|1
|1978
|1979
|
|-
|}

==See also==
* [[List of defunct airlines of the United States]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
{{commons category}}
* Killion, Gary L, ''The Martinliners'', Airways International Inc, 1998, {{ISBN|0-9653993-2-X}}

{{Portal bar|United States|Companies|Aviation}}
{{Delta Air Lines}}
{{U.S. airlines of the regulated era (1938–1978)|state=collapsed}}
{{Legacy carrier}}
{{Airlines of the United States|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:Southern Airways| ]]
[[Category:Defunct airlines of the United States]]
[[Category:Airlines established in 1949]]
[[Category:Airlines disestablished in 1979]]
[[Category:American companies established in 1949]]
[[Category:1979 disestablishments in Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:American companies disestablished in 1979]]