Airlines of the Jet Age
A History

This book provides the first comprehensive history of the world's airline industries from the early 1960s to the present day. It begins with the advent of jet airliners, covers the 'second' jet age of wide-bodied aircraft such as the Boeing 747 and DC-10, and closes with the introduction of the 'third' jet age, which begins with the double-decked giant Airbus A380. This reference book, covering airlines around the globe, is the ultimate resource for information on modern air transport. The volume also includes an informative introductory chapter guiding readers from the infancy of flight, through the air-transport craft in use during the two World Wars, and into the jet age.

Foreword by Christopher H. Sterling
Preface Acknowledgments Image Credits
Part One: Piston-Engine Prelude Chapter 1 Air Transport Infancy
Chapter 2 Airline Adolescence
Chapter 3 Wartime Hiatus--And Opportunity
Chapter 4 Post-War Recovery
Chapter 5 Worldwide Expansion
Part Two: The First Jet Age Chapter 6 The First Jets and Turboprops Chapter 7 Turboprop Ascendancy Chapter 8 The First Big Jets
Chapter 9 The Short-Haul Jets Chapter 10 Proliferation
Chapter 11 Emergence of the Middle East Chapter 12 Development of a Second Line Chapter 13 The Commuter Airlines
Chapter 14 Restoring the Balance
Part Three: The Second Jet Age Chapter 15 Wide-Bodied Jets Chapter 16 Supersonic Digression Chapter 17 Development of the Breeds Chapter 18 Redefining the U.S. Second Line
Chapter 19 Regional Airlines Worldwide
Part Four: Airline Deregulation Chapter 20 The United States Sets the Pace Chapter 21 The Airline World Deregulates Chapter 22 Russian Metamorphosis Chapter 23 Decline of the American Giants Chapter 24 Birth of the Low-Fare Generation
Part Five: Transformation in Europe Chapter 25 Low-Fare Revolution
Chapter 26 British Airways Ascendancy Chapter 27 France Consolidates Chapter 28 Germany Regains a Leading Role Chapter 29 European Airline Attrition
Chapter 30 Jet Wings over the Mediterranean Chapter 31 Farthest North with the Scandinavians Chapter 32 Europe Unites
Part Six: Rise of Asia and the Pacific Rim Chapter 33 The Growth of China
Chapter 34 India Awakes Chapter 35 The Subcontinent Fragments Chapter 36 Eastern Asia Emergent
Chapter 37 Budget Fares for Southeast Asia
Part Seven: The Commonwealth Adjusts Chapter 38 Airlines of Australia
Chapter 39 New Zealand and the Pacific Chapter 40 Canada Reorganizes
Part Eight: A Continent Made for Air Transport Chapter 41 The Sleeping Giant Awakes
Chapter 42 Down Mexico Way
Chapter 43 Around the Caribbean
Chapter 44 Central America
Chapter 45 Airlines of the Andes
Chapter 46 Farthest South
Part Nine: Africa Chapter 47 Across the Mediterranean
Chapter 48 Sub-Saharan Contradictions
Chapter 49 End of the Empire Airlines
Chapter 50 To the Cape and Beyond
Part Ten: Transitions Chapter 51 The Third Jet Age Begins
Chapter 52 A New Competitor--High Speed Rail Chapter 53 A New Age Beckons
Appendix 1: Selected Aircraft Specifications Appendix 2: Notable Events and Facts Appendix 3: Monetary Conversion from1940 to 2010 Appendix 4: The Five Freedoms of the Air Appendix 5: The World's Largest Airlines
Bibliography Index About the Author