Description: Southern Airways inaugurated service over a new route from Nashville to the Tri-Cities (Bristol / Johnson City / Kingsport) via Knoxville on November 1, 1960. Official cachets were provided at all points except Nashville.This cover was carried on the inaugural Air Mail Route 98 flight from the Nashville, Tennessee Airport Mail Facility to Bristol, Tennessee (where it was backstamped) and is listed in the Contract Air Mail Flights (CAM) Section of The American Air Mail Catalogue as 98E58f.Bob Haring, a former Editor-in-Chief of The American Air Mail Catalogue, prepared the cover.Republic Airlines, Inc., was formed on July 1, 1979, as a result of the merger of the Atlanta-based Southern Airlines with North Central Airlines based in Minneapolis.The two regional airlines signed their agreement in September 1978. The Civil Aeronautics Board approved the merger on May 16, 1979, and President Carter upheld this action on June 4.Effective October 1, 1980, Republic purchased Hughes Airwest, a regional airline based in San Francisco. On January 23, 1986, Northwest Airlines announced an $884 million purchase of Republic Airlines, which was the biggest merger in U.S. civil aviation history to date. The two carriers filed a merger application with the Department of Transportation on January 27. The Justice Department opposed the merger because it would “substantially lessen competition” in violation of antitrust laws. Full hearings regarding the merger were held and on July 31 the Department of Transportation approved Northwest Airlines’ takeover of Republic Airlines. On August 12 the acquisition of Republic was completed as officials from both airlines transferred ownership of Republic to Northwest. On October 1, 1986, the operations of Republic were fully integrated with a single Northwest flight schedule. Delta Air Lines acquired rival Northwest Airlines Inc during 2008 in a $2.6 billion merger that created the world’s biggest airline.
Price: 3.25 USD
Location: Cranford, New Jersey
End Time: 2025-01-14T14:51:27.000Z
Shipping Cost: 1.35 USD
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Item Specifics
Restocking Fee: No
Return shipping will be paid by: Buyer
All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
Item must be returned within: 14 Days
Refund will be given as: Money Back
Type: Transportation
Place of Origin: United States
Quality: First Flight Cover
Country: United States
Event: First Flight
Grade: Ungraded
Exact Topic: Aviation History
Exact Type: Postal History
Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
Topic: Aviation
Certification: Uncertified
Modified Item: No
