With the extension of Lockheed Electra prop-jet service to Phoenix on October 10, 1959, Western Airlines served seven major cities on its West Coast routes.
This cover was carried on the inaugural Western Airlines flight from the Los Angeles, California Airport Mail Facility to Phoenix, Arizona (where it was backstamped) and is listed in the Jet Age Flights Section of The American Air Mail Catalogue as J-286f.
The Lockheed L-188 Electra is an American turboprop airliner built by Lockheed. First flown in 1957, it was the first large turboprop airliner built in the United States. Initial sales were good, but after two fatal crashes that led to expensive modifications to fix a design defect, no more were ordered. With its unique high power-to-weight ratio, huge propellers and very short wings (resulting in the majority of the wingspan being enveloped in propwash), large Fowler flaps which significantly increased effective wing area when extended, and four-engined design, the airplane had airfield performance capabilities unmatched by many jet transport aircraft even today—particularly on short runways and high field elevations.
On September 9, 1986, the directors of Western Airlines and Delta Air Lines approved an $860 million purchase of Western Airlines by Delta Airlines. On October 3, 1986 the Justice Department’s antitrust division announced that it would not oppose the acquisition. On October 23, 1986 the Department of Transportation gave tentative approval to the merger. Final government approval was made on December 12, 1986 whereupon Delta Airlines completed its acquisition of Western Airlines, making Western Airlines a wholly owned subsidiary of the Atlanta-based carrier. The carriers continued operating as separate airlines until April 1, 1987, when Western Airlines’ operations were combined with Delta Airlines’ operations. Western Airlines, which had commenced operations in 1926, ceased to exist as of April 1, 1987.