1978 US Airline Fleet Data

[GON]

Interesting charts. in 1978 United had a significantly larger fleet than its peers. The Boeing 727 had the largest market share of US Fleets in 1978. Lockhead L1011 had the largest widebody market share.

Created by: Air Transport Archives
Data Source: World Airline Fleets by Gunter Endres
Photo Credit: George M757/ Aris Pappas

 

[Propflux01]

No PAN AM?

 

[dishdude]

United sucks. I have a visceral hatred for that airline. Worst experiences I've ever had in flight.

 

[Kira]

Worst experiences I've ever had in flight.

Like what? ...seriously.

 

[Capt W]

Interesting information. I was a little kid in the pre-deregulation years and was generally wowed by the metal that served my (comparatively) smaller MKE airport. Loved the Northwest Orient 707s, 727s, DC-10-40s, and the daily 747.

As a teenager living in STL, it was impressive to see how TWA held onto so many 707s into the mid-80s. I was fortunate enough to fly on one from STL to JFK in '83.

There's nothing today that compares to the old workhorses insofar as personality and cool factor. RJs, 737s and A320s everywhere!

 

[RoadDukie]

No PAN AM?

No CONTINENTAL either?

 

[SC Maintenance]

No CONTINENTAL either?

Lots missing. US Airways. Northwest. Back when we actually had competition / free market in the airline business.

 

[Capt W]

US AIrways wasn't an entity until 1997. USAir was still Allegheny in 1978.

 

[Tom NJ]

I entered sales in 1978 - flew on all of those jets and airlines.

 

[Kira]

free market in the airline business.

Ha-ha. Many in the industry I've spoken to say the stability we recall was due to regulation.
I'm not sure how much they knew about things...but I do know the term "free market" is chronically misused.

 

[Dave Hess]

No National Airlines either.

 

[SC Maintenance]

Ha-ha. Many in the industry I've spoken to say the stability we recall was due to regulation.
I'm not sure how much they knew about things...but I do know the term "free market" is chronically misused.

Yes, free markets are chaotic and volatile, capital destruction is a feature not a bug. Most people have no clue what an actual free market is, yet they continue to use the term, but usually only when it benefits there narrative.

 

[97prizm]

United sucks. I have a visceral hatred for that airline. Worst experiences I've ever had in flight.

I don't know, I was stuck in the middle of the Southwest Christmas catastrophe a few years ago when their scheduling system finally gave up. I've had multiple run-ins where Southwest gate agents told me they didn't know where their aircraft was, nor why it was so late

 

[97prizm]

Ha-ha. Many in the industry I've spoken to say the stability we recall was due to regulation.
I'm not sure how much they knew about things...but I do know the term "free market" is chronically misused.

If you ever took an aviation history and or business class people would see that airline route regulations just caused high prices and made airlines not very efficient with finances. If they needed a couple of million more they just asked. The fact that the government literally daid if or where your airline could fly limited competition. The industry is starting to see more passengers paying for nicer amenities again. Frontier said last year that they will start adding a small business class section to their aircraft after studying buying habits.

 

[y_p_w]

I don't know, I was stuck in the middle of the Southwest Christmas catastrophe a few years ago when their scheduling system finally gave up. I've had multiple run-ins where Southwest gate agents told me they didn't know where their aircraft was, nor why it was so late

Oh, I was stuck in that mess. But I knew where the aircraft was. Followed the flight number and the path of the plane. It was sitting right at the gate. Waiting for a crew that wasn’t going to be complete, resulting in the cancellation of the flight.

 

[Astro14]

Lots missing. US Airways. Northwest. Back when we actually had competition / free market in the airline business.

Actually, you couldn’t be more wrong.

This was 1978. US Airways did not yet exist.

In 1978, the airlines were still under regulation, until deregulation was signed in late October of that year.

Very little competition.

All of the fares were still set by the civil aeronautics board, and all the airlines made a nice comfortable profit without having to worry about competition.

Airlines competed to get government approval for contracts, cities got served, and an airline ticket cost about as much as a new car.

You are looking back and fantasizing about something that did not exist at that time.

In 1968 my dad flew 250,000 miles on United Airlines.

The regular seats were spacious. The food was served on actual china and the cutlery was stainless steel. The flight attendant would carve a roast, and everybody would get a slice as they came down the aisle with a proper meal.

Flight attendants were young, and slender, and they had to weigh in for each flight. They were well paid, attentive, and flying was glamorous.

My dad often booked the smoking section to enjoy a cigar after a nice dinner.

The average fare was around $3,000.

His 1968 Ford Country Squire was $2,800.

Deregulation changed all that. With all sorts of entrance into the airline business, and barriers to exit, the industry lost more money in the 30 years following deregulation, than it had made in its entire history prior to that.

And all the things that people complain about today, are the result of an industry that is deregulated, and seeking to make a profit. Don’t like smaller seats? well, the airline that offers bigger seats has to charge more money and they don’t get the traffic. Don’t like the food? Well, food cost money?

You can still book an experience like my father’s 1968 flights on carriers like Emirates - but don’t be surprised if your ticket hits $100,000 or more.

The truth about air travel, that no one wants to admit, is that the flying Public got exactly what they demanded. They wanted cheap and they got it.

If you want a nice experience, charter an airplane, or book a private suite on Emirates

 

[AutoMechanic]

Whenever I think of a Boeing 727 I automatically get thoughts of DB Cooper lol. I don’t see Northwest on this list though.

 

[y_p_w]

Actually, you couldn’t be more wrong.

This was 1978. US Airways did not yet exist.

In 1978, the airlines were still under regulation, until deregulation was signed in late October of that year.

Very little competition.

All of the fares were still set by the civil aeronautics board, and all the airlines made a nice comfortable profit without having to worry about competition.

Airlines competed to get government approval for contracts, cities got served, and an airline ticket cost about as much as a new car.

You are looking back and fantasizing about something that did not exist at that time.

In 1968 my dad flew 250,000 miles on United Airlines.

The regular seats were spacious. The food was served on actual china and the cutlery was stainless steel. The flight attendant would carve a roast, and everybody would get a slice as they came down the aisle with a proper meal.

Flight attendants were young, and slender, and they had to weigh in for each flight. They were well paid, attentive, and flying was glamorous.

My dad often booked the smoking section to enjoy a cigar after a nice dinner.

The average fare was around $3,000.

His 1968 Ford Country Squire was $2,800.

Deregulation changed all that. With all sorts of entrance into the airline business, and barriers to exit, the industry lost more money in the 30 years following deregulation, than it had made in its entire history prior to that.

And all the things that people complain about today, are the result of an industry that is deregulated, and seeking to make a profit. Don’t like smaller seats? well, the airline that offers bigger seats has to charge more money and they don’t get the traffic. Don’t like the food? Well, food cost money?

You can still book an experience like my father’s 1968 flights on carriers like Emirates - but don’t be surprised if your ticket hits $100,000 or more.

The truth about air travel, that no one wants to admit, is that the flying Public got exactly what they demanded. They wanted cheap and they got it.

If you want a nice experience, charter an airplane, or book a private suite on Emirates

There were some routes that were regulated by states. I understand the California Public Utilities Commission regulated airfares within California. I remember some really cheap fares, like Air California OAK-SJC for maybe $8 in the late 70s. The Bay Area to LA/OC was very competitive, where AirCal, PSA, and United flew at least every hour SFO-LAX.

I understand that Southwest did that within Texas.

 

[Dave Hess]

Quote:
“The truth about air travel, that no one wants to admit, is that the flying Public got exactly what they demanded. They wanted cheap and they got it.”


I like to use the term Walmartification for this type of business arrangement.

People Of Walmart constantly being on YouTube videos causing trouble on passenger airlines.
Cops waiting for them when airliner lands and pulls up to gate.
PoPo takes them to jail.

 

[dishdude]

Like what? ...seriously.

Internationally miserable crews that clearly hate their jobs. I paid several thousand for a "premium" experience in Polaris to be treated like I'm an annoyance. Domestically every flight I take always end up being on some ancient Continental plane.