Trans-Texas Airways First Flight Tyler Texas - Dallas Texas - 1951

Description

On April 6, 1951, Tyler was added to the Dallas to Houston section of Trans-Texas Airlines’ Air Mail Route 82 between Dallas and Palestine or Lufkin.
This cover was carried on the inaugural Air Mail Route 82 flight from Tyler, Texas to Dallas, Texas (where it was backstamped) and is listed in the Contract Air Mail Flights (CAM) Section of The American Air Mail Catalogue as 82NW49.
Effective April 1, 1969, the name of Trans-Texas Airways was changed to Texas International Airlines, in recognition of the airlines’ right to service Mexico.
In 1980 Continental and Western Air Lines held discussions relating to a merger of the two carriers.
In February 1981, Texas Air Corporation, parent company of Texas International Airlines, entered the
picture as it filed a tender offer for Continental with the Securities Exchange Commission. The following
month the Civil Aeronautics Board announced approval of either a Western or Texas International merger
with Continental. This was followed by an unsuccessful attempt by Continental employees to gain financial
control of the carrier. Texas Air began accumulating Continental stock and in 1981 acquired a controlling
50.9% interest. The two carriers, Continental and Texas International, continued to operate separately,
but in close harmony.
Continental and Texas International began formal merger discussions and a plan was developed
which shareholders approved on June 22, 1982. Effective October 31, 1982, the carriers merged, becoming
wholly owned subsidiaries of newly created Continental Airlines Corporation, which in turn was a wholly
owned subsidiary of Texas Air Corporation.
On September 23, 1983, Continental Air Lines, Inc. filed for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the
Federal Bankruptcy Code. It suspended operations at midnight Friday, September 23. A much smaller
Continental resumed operations on Tuesday, September 27, 1983.