History of Regional airline in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: April 17, 2026

Regional airlines are airlines that operate scheduled passenger air service using regional aircraft. They typically serve communities that lack the demand or infrastructure for mainline flights. In North America, many regional airlines operate under a "fee-for-departure" model, providing codeshare services contracted by major airline partners. These airlines were previously known as commuter airlines in the Official Airline Guide during the 1960s and 1970s.

1929: Launch of Transcontinental Air Transport (T-A-T)

In 1929, Transcontinental Air Transport (T-A-T) was launched in the United States. T-A-T's transcontinental "Lindbergh Line" became America's first contiguous coast-to-coast air service, ushering in a new era of major airlines expanding to operate networks.

1943: Civil Aeronautics Board Sanctions Original Regional Airlines

In 1943, the Civil Aeronautics Board began sanctioning the original regional airlines, then known as "Local service carriers".

1950: Civil Aeronautics Board Sanctions Original Regional Airlines

From 1943 to 1950, the Civil Aeronautics Board sanctioned the original regional airlines, then known as "Local service carriers".

1960: Definition of "regional carrier" in the United States

Around 1960 in the United States, the term “regional carrier” referred to the smaller eight of the 12 largest carriers, known as trunk carriers. The four biggest airlines were American, United, TWA and Eastern Air Lines, while the other eight were Braniff, Capital, Continental, Delta, National, Northeast, Northwest and Western.

1974: Air Alpes Rebrands its Aircraft

During 1974, Air Alpes of France painted its newly delivered short range regional jets in the livery of Air France, being one of the first independently owned and managed airlines in the world that rebranded its aircraft to match a larger airline's brand.

1977: List of Commuter Airlines

In 1977, a list of Commuter Airlines was compiled prior to the Airline Deregulation Act.

1978: Airline Deregulation Act and Support for Regional Airline Sector

Since the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978, the US federal government has continued support of the regional airline sector to ensure many of the smaller and more isolated rural communities remain connected to air services.

1982: AMR Corporation Pioneers Holding Company Structure

In 1982, AMR Corporation pioneered the use of a holding company by creating the AMR Eagle Holding Corporation, which unified its wholly owned American Eagle Airlines and Executive Airlines under one division.

1983: Description of PBA, Air New England and Air Florida as regional airlines

In 1983, in an article about PBA (Provincetown-Boston Airlines), both Air New England and Air Florida were described as regional airlines. Air New England was a failed turboprop operator in the northeast US, while Air Florida was a jet carrier flying from Florida to the northeast, to Latin America and Europe.

1985: Trends in Regional Aircraft

Beginning around 1985, regional aircraft are getting larger, faster, and are flying longer ranges. Regionals within the United States have lost their individual identities and now serve only as feeders to major hubs. Regional aircraft in the US have been getting slightly more comfortable with better ergonomically designed aircraft cabins and varying travel classes.

1994: Publication of "Commuter Airlines of the United States"

In 1994, the Smithsonian Institution Press published a history and study of regional airlines titled "Commuter Airlines of the United States", by R.E.G. Davies and I. E. Quastler.

2000: Percentage of Flights Operated by Regional Brands

In 2000, 40% of all advertised flights for American, Delta, United and US Airways were operated by their regional brands.

February 12, 2010: Frontline Premieres "Flying Cheap"

On February 12, 2010, Frontline premiered its WGA Award-winning exposé on the industry entitled "Flying Cheap". The program, hosted by reporter Miles O'Brien, questioned the impact of low salaries on pilot psyches.

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2011: Percentage of Flights Operated by Regional Brands

In 2011, 61% of all advertised flights for American, Delta, United and US Airways were operated by their regional brands, allowing mainline carriers to use outsourced labor at smaller stations to reduce costs.