Tower Air's decision to suspend scheduled service last week serves
as another grim reminder that history has not been kind to
post-deregulation airlines. It bears noting for the younger set
that Tower was a "new entrant" with an unusual history. It began
life as a gambit by the old cargo carrier, the Flying Tiger Line,
to branch out into passenger service.
Tower Travel, a New York travel agency, acted as its general
agent. By late 1983, Tower had taken over the operation -- one of
the few times that travel agents registered any sustained success
at running an airline.
Tower reduced service and filed for bankruptcy protection
earlier this year. Now, the suspension of scheduled service takes
Tower to a brink from which few airlines return, and the abrupt
cancellation of last Monday's flights will do little to endear the
endangered airline to its agents and passengers. The market will
work its will, but it will hurt us a little if we have to scratch
this name from the roster.
• • • •
Soon
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