7E72004 From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 3586 posts, RR: 1 Posted (8 years 5 months 3 weeks 4 days 10 hours ago) and read 2997 times:
From what i can recall, US had all of their operations out of the old concourse B at PHL. How many flights did they operate back then? and when did they start their overseas "operation?" any info would be greatly appreciated..thanks
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Gregg From United States of America, joined Jun 2000, 327 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (8 years 5 months 3 weeks 4 days 6 hours ago) and read 2901 times:
For international service. From usairways.com
My memory from the Agheny/US air change over time was all out of terminal B
1989 Piedmont is integrated into USAir. The merger brings with it Piedmont's international routes as well as its Charlotte, Baltimore, Dayton and Syracuse hubs. Baltimore and Charlotte remain hubs. The merger also brings USAir's first wide body jets, the Boeing 767-200ERs now used on its transatlantic and some transcontinental routes.
1990 USAir expands its international flying with service between Pittsburgh and Frankfurt, Germany, complementing existing Charlotte-London service begun in 1987 by Piedmont; and in 1991, international expansion continues with the introduction of new nonstops between Charlotte and Frankfurt.
1992 Philadelphia-Paris is added to USAir's transatlantic schedules in January. Daily nonstops between both Philadelphia and Baltimore/Washington International Airport and London Gatwick Airport are introduced in May. USAir and Trump Shuttle begin a marketing affiliation under which the service becomes the USAir Shuttle. The Shuttle provides hourly service between New York and Boston and between New York and Washington, D.C. USAir's new terminal at New York's LaGuardia Airport opens.
The new Pittsburgh Midfield Terminal opens, with 2.1 million square feet and 100 departure gates. The airport’s unique design and more than 100 shops and restaurants creates a world-class domestic and international gateway for US Airways customers.
1993 USAir and British Airways announce an investment/alliance plan, under which USAir gives up its London route authority.
1994 USAir makes its largest expansion ever of its 10-year-old Frequent Traveler Program by becoming the exclusive U.S. domestic airline partner of LatinPass, which has 14 Latin American airlines sharing program benefits.
1995 USAir posts is first profitable year since 1988
Kkfla737 From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 1033 posts, RR: 1 Reply 2, posted (8 years 5 months 3 weeks 4 days 6 hours ago) and read 2879 times:
If I remember EA and US (then AL) where at near parity at PHL throughout the 1980s. US Air did have a better commuter feeder system, but EA may have offered more lucrative destinations.
Willbdsp From United States of America, joined Sep 2004, 300 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (8 years 5 months 3 weeks 3 days 16 hours ago) and read 2722 times:
After EA went under, US expanded at PHL, making it a hub. PIT was already a hub along with BWI and CLT. If I am not mistaken, US operated a BOS-CDG flight for a while too.
Picarus From United States of America, joined Dec 2000, 298 posts, RR: 1 Reply 4, posted (8 years 5 months 3 weeks 3 days 15 hours ago) and read 2706 times:
Actually, Midway Airlines was part of the equation also. Midway purchased much of EA assets (gate leases and ground equipment as it while in the early stages of its death throes) in PHL and began a money-losing hub operation there--1988.
Facing its own liquidity crisis, Midway shortly bailed on a PHL hub and "sold" gates to US at firesale prices. This is when US solidified its strangle-hold at PHL.
Perhaps someone with extensive knowledge of Midway can provide more insight.
Kkfla737 From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 1033 posts, RR: 1 Reply 5, posted (8 years 5 months 3 weeks 3 days 15 hours ago) and read 2702 times:
7E72004 From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 3586 posts, RR: 1 Reply 6, posted (8 years 5 months 3 weeks 3 days 15 hours ago) and read 2696 times:
Didn't Mexicana operate out of concourse B in the 80s at PHL? I remember seeing one of their 727s at the end of B.
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September11 From United States of America, joined May 2004, 3623 posts, RR: 23 Reply 7, posted (8 years 5 months 3 weeks 3 days 13 hours ago) and read 2654 times:
Eastern Airlines dismantled their PHL mini-hub during 1988 strike.
7E72004 From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 3586 posts, RR: 1 Reply 8, posted (8 years 5 months 3 weeks 3 days 13 hours ago) and read 2642 times:
Wasn't the strike in march of 1989??
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VSMike From United States of America, joined Sep 2003, 311 posts, RR: 7 Reply 9, posted (8 years 5 months 3 weeks 3 days 12 hours ago) and read 2601 times:
Ahhh...my PHL, hometown airport, and the reason for my current obsession with commercial aviation today!!
PHL was indeed a hub for EA, Midway (#2), and nearly every incarnation of USAir(ways), but not Piedmont or PSA. From the early 1980s, US shared Terminal B with TWA. From the extention of Midway, US took over B & C (effectively removing both TWA & Continental/Eastern from their historic docks on B & C respectively). Before International Terminal A was finally constructed in the late 80/early 90s, All international ops were from the Overseas shed on the northeast side of the field... However, Mexicana is my only recollection of an international flight that repositioned for BOARDING ONLY from TWA's B gates.
Then, of course, the B/C expantion (and other general chaos) has removed all signs of the old PHL terminal that I loved for many years...
7E72004 From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 3586 posts, RR: 1 Reply 10, posted (8 years 5 months 3 weeks 3 days 12 hours ago) and read 2591 times:
Ahhh...the old ugly green/blue buildings
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7E72004 From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 3586 posts, RR: 1 Reply 11, posted (8 years 5 months 3 weeks 3 days 12 hours ago) and read 2583 times:
I always used to like how concourse "E" stood out compared with B,C, and D.
The next generation of aircraft is just around the corner!
Jetjack74 From United States of America, joined Jul 2003, 7336 posts, RR: 52 Reply 12, posted (8 years 5 months 3 weeks 3 days 7 hours ago) and read 2538 times:
All international ops were from the Overseas shed on the northeast side of the field... However, Mexicana is my only recollection of an international flight that repositioned for BOARDING ONLY from TWA's B gates.
Up until 1985, Mexicana operated in and out of the Overseas Terminal. TWA's PHL-LHR was operated from it's gates on the C concourse it's inbound passengers were processed at the OT before being towed over the C concourse. After the merger with Piedmont, USAir had a ticket counter on the upper level for Transatlantic Check-in between the B and C Concourse.
After EA went under, US expanded at PHL, making it a hub. PIT was already a hub along with BWI and CLT. If I am not mistaken, US operated a BOS-CDG flight for a while too.
Actually, US had a hub at PHL before the Eastern shutdown. PHL was grown into by US after the name change. It was around the time of 1981, that US began adding hub flights to spoke airports around the country. PHL was more of a focus city for EA. They had n/s flights to several cities but it was hardly a hub. Thye had a 727/DC9 pilot base their for a few years, but closed it after awhile. EWR, BWI, DCA and BOS were too close to PHL to really allow it to be called a hub. By 1988, most of the n/s were gone except to ATL, BOS, MIA. US I believe, did not operate a BOS-CDG flight.
PHLBOS From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 7253 posts, RR: 25 Reply 13, posted (8 years 5 months 3 weeks 3 days 7 hours ago) and read 2523 times:
I always used to like how concourse "E" stood out compared with B,C, and D.
By standing out, do you mean appearing different? One reason is due to Terminal E was first built in the mid '70s whereas portions of Terminals B, C, & D date back to PHL's early days.
"TransEastern! You'll feel like you've never left the ground because we treat you like dirt!" SNL Parady ad circa 1981
Jsnww81 From United States of America, joined Jan 2002, 1857 posts, RR: 17 Reply 14, posted (8 years 5 months 3 weeks 3 days 7 hours ago) and read 2514 times:
I'm pretty sure Concourse E was the only completely NEW terminal to come out of the 1976-1977 PHL reconstruction. Prior to that everyone was in one building (the current B/C terminal) and baggage claim was under the present-day connector between Concourses C and D. I have a diagram of PHL from 1971 that shows how all the airlines were crammed into one ticketing hall.
B and C got new baggage claim buildings, Concourse D got a new ticketing building and baggage claim hall, and E was a complete new-build. At the same time (judging from a postcard I have) it looks like the frame of Terminal A was built, but wasn't finished and occupied until it opened for international flights in 1991.
Pretty impressive project by today's standards. Of course, it was only adequate for a few years... by the mid-1980s everything had gone to hell again.
PHLBOS From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 7253 posts, RR: 25 Reply 15, posted (8 years 5 months 3 weeks 3 days 6 hours ago) and read 2480 times:
I'm pretty sure Concourse E was the only completely NEW terminal to come out of the 1976-1977 PHL reconstruction.
It is. In my line of work, I sometimes have to look through some old PHL construction plans to find some utility information needed for future projects. I have seen many early '70s PHL project cover sheets that show the old layout of the terminal buildings & concourses; along with the old Route 291/Essington Avenue layout that abutted the terminal. I-95 wouldn't become a reality in the immediate PHL area until 1985.
"TransEastern! You'll feel like you've never left the ground because we treat you like dirt!" SNL Parady ad circa 1981
7E72004 From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 3586 posts, RR: 1 Reply 16, posted (8 years 5 months 3 weeks 2 days 16 hours ago) and read 2386 times:
Does anyone have diagrams of the old PHL that they can post here?? that would be cool
The next generation of aircraft is just around the corner!
Jsnww81 From United States of America, joined Jan 2002, 1857 posts, RR: 17 Reply 17, posted (8 years 5 months 3 weeks 2 days 14 hours ago) and read 2354 times:
I'll see if I can scan in my 1971 diagram and post it here this evening. It's from an old United Airlines service guide that has diagrams of almost every airport in UA's 1971 route network. Very interesting stuff.
7e72004 From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 3586 posts, RR: 1 Reply 18, posted (8 years 5 months 3 weeks 2 days 13 hours ago) and read 2338 times:
that would be cool...i pulled some pictures last night from PHL in 1989 and there were several USAir DC-9s in the old colors and a mexicana at the end of concourse B. And of course the concourse was blue/green. I would scan them in but i have no scanner
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DCA-ROCguy From United States of America, joined Apr 2000, 4402 posts, RR: 37 Reply 19, posted (8 years 5 months 3 weeks 2 days 10 hours ago) and read 2278 times:
At the same time (judging from a postcard I have) it looks like the frame of Terminal A was built, but wasn't finished and occupied until it opened for international flights in 1991.
That's correct. I remember making connections on US at PHL in 1988, and seeing the concrete frame of terminal A standing, but no work going on to finish it. The old TWA hangar was still standing to the immediate west of A.
The old blue concourse B, C, and D buildings with the giant stenciled gate numbers always looked to me like an army base.
7E72004 From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 3586 posts, RR: 1 Reply 20, posted (8 years 5 months 3 weeks 2 days 8 hours ago) and read 2251 times:
ahhh...the good old blue concourses. I remember in the EA gates on the C concourse had the cities that it served in a weird pattern all over the wall.
The next generation of aircraft is just around the corner!
Jsnww81 From United States of America, joined Jan 2002, 1857 posts, RR: 17 Reply 21, posted (8 years 5 months 3 weeks 2 days 5 hours ago) and read 2214 times:
Here's the 1971 Philadelphia airport map. It didn't scan nearly as well as I hoped it would... but you can still get the general idea. That ticket area must have gotten crowded!
For whatever reason, I can't get it to hotlink, but you can check it out here.
Kkfla737 From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 1033 posts, RR: 1 Reply 22, posted (8 years 5 months 3 weeks 1 day 14 hours ago) and read 2121 times:
EA continued to fly PHL-FLL and PHL-PBI until the March 1989 strike.
7e72004 From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 3586 posts, RR: 1 Reply 23, posted (8 years 5 months 3 weeks 1 day 14 hours ago) and read 2104 times:
If US was to go under, which i hope is not the case...how do you think the Regional F terminal would be utilized?
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PHLBOS From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 7253 posts, RR: 25 Reply 24, posted (8 years 5 months 3 weeks 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 2087 times:
7E72004,
A.net's Search function seems to be still on the blink. Once it comes back on line, I would suggest that you do a search on Terminal F; you will find a thread that I started on possibilities of Terminal F's future should USExpress halt operations.
In a nutshell, should US shut down; one could see:
YX move from Terminal E to Gates F11 & F13 (where FL was briefly stationed during the Hammerhead D construction).
If Indy Air, assuming that they survive, decides to set up shop in PHL, Terminal F would be a perfect fit for them.
Although this one's unlikely, it could happen: some or all regional partners of mainline carriers (American Eagle/Connection, Continental Express/Connection, Delta Connection, and United Express) along with Air Canada/Jazz. If all NW flights became XJ flights, they could move from E to F as well. They would have to utilize a similar bus connection linking the other terminals as US currently does with gate C16-F10 bus. Many of these carriers may not go for this though.
Keep in mind that US' possible shutdown could possibly put the current Terminal E expansion project on hold indefinitely. If US goes, WN may very well move to Terminals B & C. This would be a repeat of what happened in 1991 when US abandoned its larger Terminal F project in exchange for the Terminal C gates vacated by Eastern and the original Midway. The Terminal F project would be resurrected some 8 to 9 years later in its current form.
"TransEastern! You'll feel like you've never left the ground because we treat you like dirt!" SNL Parady ad circa 1981
25 7E72004: Is WN maxed out on gate space at PHL now?
26 7E72004: I can't seem to bring up that link to the map weren't B and C the original concourses?
27 PHLBOS: Is WN maxed out on gate space at PHL now? Presently, WN has 6 gates: 4 at E and 2 at D (D2 & D4). The proposed Terminal E expansion will give WN a tot
28 Flyboyaz: I flew through PHL a couple of times right after the merger with Piedmont. I just remember it being very dirty and dingy. I went to the restroom and j
29 7E72004: flyboyaz--i have not been to PHL for a couple of years but the last time i was there it looked nothing like it did in the 80s. It was clean and looked
30 Jsnww81: I just clicked the link and it was working again - give it another try. The map quality isn't great but all the airline locations are there. Interesti
31 LH423: US I believe, did not operate a BOS-CDG flight. That's correct. They operated BOS-FRA for about 3 months in the late-90s. With little advertising and
32 7E72004: THat had to have been cramped in that terminal back then! Is the old control tower still there? (i have not been there for a couple of years.)
33 Isp: flyboyaz--i have not been to PHL for a couple of years but the last time i was there it looked nothing like it did in the 80s. It was clean and looked
34 7E72004: I would love to see a linear concourse for PHL but obviously that would take too much!!
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