Fort Lauderdale in Broward County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Mackey Airlines, Inc.
Photographed By Robert Cole, December 8, 2012
1. Mackey Airlines, Inc. Marker
Founded in 1946 by Colonel Joseph Mackey, Mackey Airlines became (August 5, 1952) the first certificated carrier in Broward authorized to engage in scheduled foreign transportation. Operations began January 2, 1953 between Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Nassau, N.P. Bahamas. Increased certification later allowed service to all Bahama Islands from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood, Miami, West Palm Beach, St. Petersburg, Tampa and Jacksonville. Mackey operated without mail pay or subsidy. Passengers increased from 15,000 to 150,000 annually. Mackey and Eastern Airlines merged January 1, 1967.
Erected 1967 by Historical Association of Southern Florida.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Air & Space. A significant historical date for this entry is January 2, 1977.
Location. 26° 4.317′ N, 80° 8.587′ W. Marker is in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in Broward County. Marker is on Terminal Drive, half a mile west of U.S. 1, on the left when traveling west. Marker is located on north walkway between Hibiscus Garage and Cypress Garage. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 100 Terminal Drive, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315, Fort Lauderdale FL 33315, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Saint Ruth Missionary Baptist Church (approx. 1.1 miles away); Captain Joshua James
this page online
More about this marker. Marker can be easily accessed by taking the short-term parking exit off Terminal Drive and parking on the first floor of the Hibiscus Garage (parking fee is $1.00 for each 20 minutes).
Regarding Mackey Airlines, Inc.. Mackey Airlines was founded by former stunt pilot and United States Air Force Colonel Joseph C. Mackey on September 30, 1946. The original Mackey Airlines was taken over by Eastern in 1967. As part of the Eastern Airlines buyout, Col. Mackey had agreed not to operate another airline for 5 years. In 1977 "Colonel Joe" began a new company, Mackey International Airlines, ceasing operations in 1981.
Photographed By Tim Fillmon, July 31, 2019
2. Mackey Airlines, Inc. Marker
Also see . . .
1. Mackey Airlines. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on December 16, 2012, by Cleo Robertson of Fort Lauderdale, Florida.)
2. Mackey Airlines and colorful past of an aviation leader. Jane's History Nook entry (Submitted on December 16, 2012, by Cleo Robertson of Fort Lauderdale, Florida.)
3. How Broward Aviation Took Off. South Florida Sun Sentinel article; December 17, 1993 (Submitted on December 17, 2012, by Cleo Robertson of Fort Lauderdale, Florida.)
Photographed By Tim Fillmon, July 31, 2019
3. Mackey Airlines, Inc. Marker
Looking toward the Cypress Garage
Photographed By Tim Fillmon, July 31, 2019
4. Mackey Airlines, Inc. Marker
Looking toward the Hibiscus Garage.
Photographed By Unknown, 1970s
5. Mackey Airlines Airplane
Promotional photo of the Mackey International DC-6 at Ft Lauderdale as printed in the Mackey International Airlines Timetables, Route Maps and History (1970s).
Photographed By Roy Erickson, 1972
6. Mackey Airlines Stewardesses
Group portrait of Mackey International Airlines stewardesses - Fort Lauderdale, Florida; a great shot of Mackey stewardesses modeling the latest uniforms at Fort Lauderdale in 1972. (Credit: State Archives of Florida, Florida Photographic Memory Collection, http://floridamemory.com/items/show/61277)
Photographed By F.X. O'Grady, 1939
7. Roscoe Turner with Joe Mackey, 1939
Turner and Mackey at the National Air Races at Cleveland Municipal Airport in 1939 (Credit: Teaching & Learning Cleveland, accessed December 16, 2012, http://csudigitalhumanities.org/exhibits/items/show/4830)
Photographed By Unknown
8. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport
Contemporary aerial image of the airport.
Photographed By Tim Fillmon, July 31, 2019
9. Mackey Airlines Emblem
Credits. This page was last revised on November 25, 2021. It was originally submitted on December 16, 2012, by Cleo Robertson of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. This page has been viewed 1,544 times since then and 52 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on December 16, 2012, by Cleo Robertson of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 2, 2019, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. 5, 6. submitted on December 16, 2012, by Cleo Robertson of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. 7. submitted on December 17, 2012, by Cleo Robertson of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. 8. submitted on December 16, 2012, by Cleo Robertson of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. 9. submitted on August 2, 2019, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.
