On April 6, 1951, Tyler was added to the Dallas to Houston
section of Air Mail Route 82 between Dallas and Palestine or Lufkin.
This cover was carried on the inaugural Air Mail Route 82 flight from Tyler, Texas to Lufkin, Texas (where it was backstamped) and is listed in the Contract Air Mail Flights (CAM) Section of The American Air Mail Catalogue as 82SE49.
Effective April 1, 1969, the name of Trans-Texas Airways was changed to Texas International Airlines, in recognition of the airlines’ right to service Mexico.
In October 1981, the President approved the acquisition of Continental Airlines by Texas Air Corporation and its wholly owned subsidiary Texas International Airlines, ending an extended attempt by Continental to remain independent. The matter was handled by the Civil Aeronautics Board as an airline acquisition rather than a merger.
On March 31, 1982, Frank Lorenzo was elected Chairman of the Board of Continental Air Lines, in addition to his duties as President and Chief Executive Officer of Texas Air Corporation, parent of Texas International. The commonly controlled carriers continued to operate separately, but in close harmony.
Continental and Texas International next introduced a plan to merge the carriers, subject to a shareholder vote of each carrier on June 22, 1982. Approval was given and the carriers commenced the merger process.
On October 27, 1982, the Civil Aeronautics Board allowed Texas International Airlines to use the name Continental Air Lines. Effective October 31, 1982, the carriers merged, becoming wholly owned subsidiaries of newly created Continental Airlines Corporation, which in turn was a wholly owned subsidiary of Texas Air Corporation.