Amarillo in Potter County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
First Transcontinental Air Service to Texas Panhandle, Amarillo Municipal Airport
Regular air service to Amarillo was inaugurated May 29, 1929, at Old Municipal Airport, 4 miles west of here. It was initiated by Western Air Express, using a 12-passenger Fokker trimotor plane flying round trip from Los Angeles to Amarillo. This was the first segment of transcontinental air service, a tribute to the city and leaders who had worked to build the airport and secure air service.
Transcontinental air transport launched on July 7, 1929, the first continuous, regularly-scheduled air passenger and mail service from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Its route had been surveyed by Charles Lindbergh soon after his 1927 world-record solo flight from New York to Paris. He and his wife and other celebrities were honored guests of Amarillo on that first transcontinental commercial flight.
Reorganizations of companies originally flying commercial schedules to Amarillo resulted in the formation of Trans-World Airlines (TWA), now holding the record for longest service to this area.
English Field, opened by Harold English in 1929, began handling commercial air traffic in 1930. In 1952 it was renamed Amarillo Air Terminal, and now handles the flights of six major airlines. (1966)
Erected 1966 by State Historical Survey Committee. (Marker Number 1877.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Air & Space. A significant historical date for this entry is July 7, 1929.
Location. 35° 13.009′ N, 101° 42.589′ W. Marker is in Amarillo, Texas, in Potter County. Marker can be reached from American Drive, 0.6 miles north of Tiltrotor Drive, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 10609 American Drive, Amarillo TX 79111, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. The Big Texan Steak Ranch, Amarillo, Texas (approx. 3 miles away); A Route 66 Legend (approx. 3 miles away); Amarillo Tri-State Fair (approx. 5.1 miles away); Amarillo Livestock Auction (approx. 5.3 miles away); St. Francis Catholic Church Community (approx. 5.6 miles away); Sacred (approx. 5.7 miles away); Dash for Cash (approx. 5.7 miles away); Refrigerator (approx. 5.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Amarillo.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 13, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 21, 2020, by Allen Lowrey of Amarillo, Texas. This page has been viewed 268 times since then and 36 times this year. Last updated on July 12, 2023, by Allen Lowrey of Amarillo, Texas. Photos: 1. submitted on July 13, 2023, by Allen Lowrey of Amarillo, Texas. 2. submitted on June 21, 2020, by Allen Lowrey of Amarillo, Texas. 3, 4. submitted on July 13, 2023, by Allen Lowrey of Amarillo, Texas. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.