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On 3/24/2003 8:46:45 PM texflyer wrote:
Back in the early 80s,DL was actually ahead of AA in the regionals game. DL had Rio Airways as a partner out of DFW. Does anyone here remember them? There were at one time the fourth largest regional in the country.....With the bright yellow aircraft.
Since you mention it, I remember it quite well having spent 4 years employed by RIO also known as xo airways. They were a leader in the commuter industry when commuters were not a common thing. In the early 70s we operated DC3, BE18 and BE99s in Texas with a large charter operation that served most of the US, Mexico and Canada. There were lots of sportsman charters in those days with the likes of BASS (Bass Angler''s Sportsmen Society) and others that kept us very busy and profitable.
One item of interest, Rio was the trial platform for ALPA to embark upon representation of Commuter Air Carriers in 1975. That effort invoked a 98% supportive vote for representation but unfortunately, ALPA met their match with a very deep pocketed Texas family (Connell''s), which totally outmaneuvered our fearless leaders and escourted ''scab'' labor to the airstairs of the aircraft by armored car. Just a walk down memory lane but that was not a pleasant event. Yes, Rio became a DL commuter but long before that, they were a very enterprising and successful entity dating back to the early 60s.
May all our motion be forward.