Editing Airborne Express (section)

===Growth from 1980 to 2003===

* 1980: The airline changed its name to Airborne Express Inc. after buying '''Midwest Air Charter'''.<ref name="midwest-history">{{cite web |title=Midwest Air Charter |url=http://www.abxair.com/about/midwest-aircharter.cfm |website=ABX Air |access-date=24 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190224235648/http://www.abxair.com/about/midwest-aircharter.cfm |archive-date=24 February 2019}}</ref> Airborne Express made history by buying the [[Clinton County Air Force Base]] in Wilmington, and became the first airline in history to own and operate an airport. A number of [[NAMC YS-11]] twin-engined turboprop freight conversions were also purchased. From that point on, Wilmington, Ohio became the company's main freight-sorting hub.<ref name="buying-airport article">{{cite web |last1=Skochins |first1=Kerry |title=ABX buys Ohio airport |url=http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/airborne-freight-corporation-history/ |website=fundinguniverse.com |accessdate=16 November 2018}}</ref>
* 1988: Airborne started offering same day delivery after buying '''Sky Courier''' (now DHL SameDay) as well as forming contracts with other private logistical contractors, in every city where they operated an office. The vehicles (mostly vans), and the drivers employed by these contracted companies, were all outfitted with the colors and uniforms of the rapidly recognizable Airborne colors: gray, red and black.<ref name="Airborne Van">{{cite web |last1=Speed |first1=Jeff |title=One of thousands of identical vans |url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/southerncalifornian/40706277/in/photostream/ |website=flickr |date=May 5, 2004 |accessdate=16 November 2018}}</ref>{{Better source needed|date=October 2023}} Around this time, Airborne Express offered a less expensive second-day package service, which was modeled after Federal Express' second-day, or "P2" (priority two) parcel service.<ref name="ABXslideshow">{{cite web |last1=Gaston |first1=Michael |title=Airborne Service Through the Years |url=https://player.slideplayer.com/14/4248852/data/images/img17.jpg |website=slideplayer |accessdate=16 November 2018}}</ref>
* 1989: Airborne Express changes its name to '''ABX Air'''.<ref>{{cite news |title=Airborne Express |url=http://www.newspapers.com/newspage/877156801 |access-date=29 October 2023 |work=Wilmington News-Journal |date=23 March 1989 |page=7A}}</ref>
* 1991: Airborne received awards from three major companies, including [[Volvo]], and in 1992, the airline introduced Flight-Ready SM, a prepaid express letters and Express Pack<ref name="Express Pack">{{cite web |last1=Vickers |first1=Pat |title=ABX Express Pack |url=https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CLlYRucWgAQ3grC.jpg |website=twitter |accessdate=16 November 2018}}</ref> system.
* 1993: Airborne introduced the Airborne Logistics System (ALS), which provided Airborne with warehousing and distribution services.
* 1994: Airborne opened the Ocean Services Division, and along with ALS, helped establish the first new film distribution program for [[Technicolor]] labs since 1944. In addition, relations were established with [[Vietnam]].
* 1995: Airborne opened a second runway at Wilmington, and [[Boeing 767]] jets were added to the fleet. The Airborne Alliance Group took care of many departments of the company.
* 1996: Airborne's stock tripled, which would later lead to a two-for-one stock split in February 1998. Formed that year was Airborne Brokerage Services.
* 1998: Airborne entered the [[Fortune 500]] list for the first time. Airborne's first of 30 total Boeing 767s arrived at Wilmington, and the airline won an award from [[The Business Consumer Guide]].
* 1999: Airborne@Home, an alliance with the [[United States Postal Service]], was formed.
* 2000: [[Carl Donaway]] became the company's new president, which led to many managerial changes. Also that year, Airborne started a ground service for the first time in its history.
* 2001: Airborne Express launched Ground Delivery Service and 10:30 AM Delivery Service. Airborne.com launched some services of its own, including the Small Business Center and Airborne eCourier.
* August 14, 2003: Airborne shareholders approved the acquisition of Airborne Inc. by [[DHL Express|DHL]] of [[Brussels]], [[Belgium]]. DHL is 100% owned by [[Deutsche Post]] World Net. The acquisition became effective the next day. DHL retained ownership of Airborne's ground operations and spun off its air operations as [[ABX Air]], Inc.