Global airports & airlines →AirlinesAirports.com
IndianAirports.com
PI · PDT · Active

Piedmont Airlines (1948-1989)

United States · PIEDMONT

Airlines
PIActive

Piedmont Airlines (1948-1989)

United States · PIEDMONT
14
Routes
6
Hubs
PDT
ICAO
PI
IATA
TravelerPulse profile

The Original Piedmont: Southeast America's Pioneering Regional Carrier

Founded
1948
Headquarters
Winston-Salem, United States
Piedmont Airlines was founded in 1948 by Thomas H. Davis and began operations on February 20, 1948, serving the Carolinas, Virginia, and surrounding southeastern United States. Based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, the airline grew from a small regional carrier into a significant domestic airline over four decades of operation. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Piedmont expanded its route network considerably, modernizing its fleet and connecting smaller southeastern cities to major hubs. The airline became known for its friendly service and reliable operations across the region. Following deregulation of the U.S. airline industry in 1978, Piedmont aggressively expanded and eventually merged with PSA (Pacific Southwest Airlines) after both were acquired by USAir. In 1989, Piedmont Airlines was fully merged into USAir, ending its independent identity after 41 years of operation.
Hubs & network
Piedmont Airlines primarily operated hubs at Charlotte/Douglas International Airport and operated significant service through Dayton International Airport after its 1979 acquisition of Henson Airlines routes.
Fleet
Piedmont operated a variety of aircraft over its history including the DC-3, Martin 4-0-4, Fokker F27 Friendship, Boeing 727, Boeing 737, and Boeing 767.
Notable facts
  • ›Founded by Thomas H. Davis, Piedmont began scheduled service on February 20, 1948.
  • ›Piedmont was one of the first airlines to use the Boeing 767 widebody aircraft on domestic routes.
  • ›The airline acquired Henson Airlines in 1983, expanding its regional feeder network.
  • ›Piedmont was acquired by USAir in 1987 and fully merged into that carrier by 1989.
  • ›At its peak, Piedmont was one of the largest regional carriers in the eastern United States.
Wikipedia
This profile is provided for general information only. Contact details may be inaccurate or outdated — always verify with the airline's official website before acting on them.
The Friendly Skies of the American Southeast for Four Decades

Piedmont Airlines was a pioneering regional carrier founded in 1948, headquartered in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, serving the southeastern and mid-Atlantic United States. Known for its warm customer service and affordable fares, Piedmont built a loyal following across smaller communities often underserved by larger carriers. The airline grew steadily through the 1970s and 1980s before merging with USAir in 1989, ending its independent chapter in American aviation history.

Primary Hubs
CLTPITDAY
Cabin Classes
Economy
Fleet Note

Piedmont Airlines operated a mixed fleet that included Boeing 737s, Boeing 727s, Fokker F28s, and various propeller-driven aircraft during its earlier years of regional service.

AI-assisted overview, verified against public sources.

Route network map (14 legs)

Leaflet © OpenStreetMap © CARTO

Route network

CKH → YKSAN4
CYX → YKSAN4
IKS → YKSAN4
SUK → YKSAN4
YKS → CYXAN4
YKS → IKSAN4
YKS → MQJAN4
YKS → NERAN4
MQJ → YKSAN4
NER → YKSAN4
ULK → YKSAN4
YKS → CKHAN4
YKS → SUKAN4
YKS → ULKAN4

Fleet (aircraft types operated)

Antonov AN-2414 routes
Piedmont Airlines (1948–1989)
Encyclopaedia

Piedmont Airlines was a local service carrier, a scheduled airline in the United States that operated from 1948 until it merged with USAir in 1989. Its headquarters were at One Piedmont Plaza in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, a building that is now part of Wake Forest University.

Read full article on Wikipedia