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Intrastate airline facts for kids

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WestAir Commuter Airlines De Havilland Canada DHC-6-200 Twin Otter Silagi-1
WestAir Commuter Airlines was an airline that flew only within California. It used planes like the de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter (shown here) and Cessna 402.

Imagine an airline that only flies within one state, like California or Texas. These are called intrastate airlines. In the past, these airlines were special because the U.S. government didn't control their routes or prices as much as airlines that flew across state lines. Instead, the state government usually regulated them.

For example, Pacific Southwest Airlines (PSA) and Air California were big intrastate airlines in California. They were regulated by California's government before a new law, the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978, changed everything. While some intrastate airlines used propeller planes, others in states like California, Florida, Hawaii, and Texas even flew jet airplanes!

Why Did Intrastate Airlines Exist?

Intrastate airlines came about because of old U.S. government rules for airlines. The rules were different for airlines that stayed within one state compared to those that flew between states. This meant smaller airlines could find special routes in their home states.

If an airline didn't cross state lines, it didn't need permission from the federal government (the Civil Aeronautics Board or CAB) for its routes or ticket prices. This made it easier for them to start and grow.

Famous Intrastate Airlines and Their Planes

Many intrastate airlines in states like Alaska, California, Florida, Hawaii, and Texas used larger planes, including jets. Here are some examples:

After the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978, many of these airlines started flying to other states and even other countries. For example, Southwest Airlines became a huge airline that flies all over the U.S. and beyond. Other airlines like AirCal, Air Florida, PSA, and Muse Air were bought by bigger companies or went out of business.

Some Former Intrastate Airlines

Many airlines started by flying only within one state. Here are some of them. Airlines noted in bold used jet aircraft on their intrastate flights. Most of these airlines later expanded to fly between states.

  • Air California (later AirCal): Started in 1967 flying between Orange County and San Francisco in California. It used Lockheed L-188 Electra propeller planes and later Boeing 737 jets. It was eventually bought by American Airlines.
  • Air Florida: Began in 1972 with Boeing 707 jets flying in Florida. It later expanded to many U.S. cities and even Europe, but stopped flying in 1984.
  • Air Illinois: This airline flew Hawker Siddeley HS 748 propeller planes between Chicago and Springfield, Illinois.
  • Aloha Airlines: Started in 1946 flying between islands in Hawaii. It used propeller planes like the Douglas C-47 and later jets like the BAC One-Eleven and Boeing 737. Aloha Airlines closed down in 2008 after 62 years.
  • Discovery Airways: Flew BAe 146-200 jets between islands in Hawaii.
  • Emerald Air (USA): Operated McDonnell Douglas DC-9 jets and Fairchild Hiller FH-227 propeller planes in Texas in 1984. It stopped flying in 1985.
  • Golden West Airlines: This airline had a large network in California, using de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter and de Havilland Canada DHC-7 Dash 7 propeller planes.
  • Hawaiian Airlines: Began flying between islands in Hawaii in 1929 with flying boats! It later used propeller planes and jets like the McDonnell Douglas DC-9. Hawaiian Airlines still flies today, with routes to the U.S. mainland and other countries, and continues to fly between the Hawaiian islands.
  • Horizon Air: Started in Washington state in 1981. It's now a big regional airline that flies for Alaska Airlines in the western U.S. and Canada.
  • Island Air (Hawaii): Flew between islands in Hawaii using propeller planes like the de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter. It stopped flying in 2017.
  • Mid Pacific Air: Flew NAMC YS-11 propeller planes and Fokker F28 Fellowship jets between islands in Hawaii.
  • MarkAir: Operated Boeing 737 jets in Alaska before expanding to other U.S. states.
  • Muse Air: Started in Texas in 1981 with McDonnell Douglas MD-80 jets, competing with Southwest Airlines. It later expanded outside Texas and was bought by Southwest Airlines, changing its name to TranStar Airlines.
  • Pacific Southwest Airlines (PSA): Began in 1949, flying within California. It used Douglas DC-3 propeller planes and later many types of jets, including the large Lockheed L-1011 TriStar. PSA expanded to other states and Mexico before being bought by US Airways.
  • SkyWest Airlines: Started in Utah in 1972 with small propeller planes. It's now a major regional airline that flies for Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines.
  • Southwest Airlines: Began flying in Texas in 1971 with Boeing 737 jets. It flew only between Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio at first. In 1979, Southwest started flying to New Orleans, becoming an interstate airline. It is now one of the largest airlines in the world.
  • Tahoe Air: Flew Boeing 737 jets into Lake Tahoe Airport from Los Angeles and San Jose in California in 1999, but stopped operations the same year.
  • WestAir Commuter Airlines: Started as an independent airline in California. It later became a United Express airline, flying jets and propeller planes.

Most of the airlines listed above, unless noted, were smaller commuter airlines that mainly used propeller or turboprop planes.

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