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History

Western Historical Timeline

Though the Decades

Western's history, decade by decade. Select the decade you're interested in.

Highlights

1950 – First airline to use a conveyor belt system for loading and unloading aircraft.

1959 – First airline to fly the turboprop Lockheed 188 Electra.

1950

Service begins to Edmonton, Canada.

Western is the first airline to use a conveyor belt system for aircraft loading and unloading.

 

1952

Inland Airlines merges with Western, after operating as a Western subdivision since 1944. Direct West Coast to Michigan and Minnesota service begins.

 

Western starts coach service.

1954


Luxurious "Champagne Service" begins on 60-passenger Douglas DC-6B aircraft, with complimentary champagne, steaks, corsages, perfume and cigars.

 

1956

The animated VIB—"Very Important Bird"—nicknamed the "Wally Bird," first appears in Western's television commercials with the slogan "Western… The O-O-Only Way to Fly."

 

1957

Western flies to Mexico City and Phoenix. Inauguration of "Hunt Breakfast" meal service, with three choices of meat served from chafing dishes, tape-recorded bugle calls and stewardesses in bowler hats and red vests.

 

1958

Los AngelesPhoenix nonstop service.

 

1959

First airline to fly the turboprop Lockheed 188 Electra.

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Lockheed L-188 Electra lounge 1959