University of Wyoming
World Airways, Inc., was an American airline headquartered near Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport in Georgia. For the most part, the company operated non-scheduled services. World Airways was founded in 1948 by Benjamin Pepper; however, Edward J. Daly is thought of as World’s founder. He bought the airline in 1950 for $50,000. World Airways got its first government contract in 1951 and went on to receive a substantial amount of government business. In 1962, World was the first U.S. charter airline to enter the jet age with the acquisition of new Boeing 707s. By the late 1960s, World Airways had broken ground on the World Airways Maintenance Center at Oakland International Airport, where the airline was then headquartered. World became a key military contractor during the Vietnam War, flying troops and equipment between the war zone and World's base at Oakland International Airport. On March 29, 1975, World operated the last airlift flight out of Da Nang, Vietnam. World experienced heavy losses in the 1980s in an attempt at scheduled service. In the late 1980s, the company moved its headquarters from Oakland to Washington Dulles International Airport, acquired Key Airlines and established ties to Malaysia Airlines. During the first Persian Gulf War, World did a substantial amount of profitable business for the military. During the mid-1990s, World operated the military passenger trunk route from Osan Air Base, Korea, and Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, to Los Angeles. It also thrived on passenger and freight contracts with private organizations, such as the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League. In 2006, World Airways became a subsidiary of World Air Holdings, Inc. It was then acquired by ATA Holdings, which was renamed Global Aero Logistics (GAL). In 2007 GAL moved its operation to the World Airways building in Peachtree City. In March 2014, World Airways announced the immediate cessation of all operations. In November 2017, investment firm 777 Partners announced it had acquired the intellectual property of World Airways, Inc., to relaunch the airline as a low cost international carrier.
The collection contains World Airways annual reports (1966-1972); issues of
There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes, and the collection is open to the public.
The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.
There are no known other archival collections created by World Airways at the date of processing.
This material was received from Tom Wheeler in 1973.
Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Collection Name, Collection Number, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.
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