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Trans World Airlines

Fleet size: 190
Founded: July 16, 1930, New York, New York, United States
Headquarters: Fort Worth, Texas, United States
Founder: Howard Hughes
Destinations: 132
Parent organizations: Trans World Corporation, AMR Corporation
Hubs: John F. Kennedy International Airport

Trans World Airlines was a major American airline that operated from 1930 until 2001. It was formed as Transcontinental & Western Air to operate a route from New York City to Los Angeles via St. Louis, Kansas City, and other stops, with Ford Trimotors. Wikipedia

World War II

TWA contracted its five Stratoliners to the Army Air Force’s Air Transport Command after Pearl Harbor. Designated as C-75s, they flew 3000 transatlantic flights to Africa and Europe. TWA also contracted to fly its C-54s and Lockheed C-69 Constellations. Hughes and TWA had developed the Constellation in secret with Lockheed, and Hughes purchased 40 for TWA’s use in 1939, through his Hughes Tool Company. On April 17, 1944, Hughes and Frye flew the TWA Constellation from Burbank, California, to Washington, D.C., in 6 hours 58 minutes. By war’s end, 20 Constellations had been built. : 59, 62–63, 67–69: 24

Post-war: The Trans World Airline

TWA had 10 Constellations by the end of 1945 and acquired international routes. TWA inaugurated its New York to Paris route on February 5, 1946, with the Star of Paris. The Italy route was initiated on 2 April and then extended to Cairo. Hughes flew the Star of California from Los Angeles to New York on February 15, 1946, in 8 hours and 38 minutes. Hollywood passengers included Cary Grant, Myrna Loy, William Powell, Frank Morgan, Walter Pidgeon, Tyrone Power, Edward G. Robinson. Hence TWA’s reputation as the “airline of the stars”. : 103–104: 58

On October 21, 1946, TWA pilots went on strike. The strike finally ended when TWA and the pilots union agreed to binding arbitration on November 15, 1946. Additionally, TWA lost $14.5 million in 1946, owed $4.34 million in short-term debt and $38.9 million in long-term debt. Yet, Hughes opposed Frye’s financing proposals.