Editing Airborne Express

{{Short description|Defunct express delivery company and cargo airline}}
{{Use mdy dates|date= September 2019}}
{{Use American English|date= September 2019}}
{{Infobox airline
| airline = Airborne Express
| logo = Airborne Express Logo.svg
| image_size = 
| alt = Airborne Express' logo
| caption = 
| IATA = GB
| ICAO = ABX
| callsign = ABEX
| founded = {{Start date and age|1946}}
| commenced = 
| ceased = {{unbulleted list |Air operations: {{End date and age|2003|08|15}}|Ground logistics: {{end date and age|2008|11|10}}}}
| aoc = 
| bases = 
| hubs = [[Wilmington, Ohio]]
| secondary_hubs = 
| focus_cities = 
| frequent_flyer = 
| alliance = 
| subsidiaries = 
| fleet_size = 
| destinations = 
| parent = 
| traded_as = 
| ISIN = 
| headquarters = [[Seattle|Seattle, Washington]]
| key_people = Carl Donaway (president)
| revenue = 
| operating_income = 
| net_income = 
| profit = 
| assets = 
| equity = 
| num_employees = 
| website = 
| notes = 
}}
[[File:Airborne Express 767-200.jpg|thumb|Airborne Express 767]]

'''Airborne Express''' was an express delivery company and [[cargo airline]]. Headquartered in [[Seattle, Washington]], its [[airline hub|hub]] was in [[Wilmington, Ohio]]. Airborne was founded as the Airborne Flower Traffic Association of California in 1946 to fly flowers from [[Hawaii]] to the US mainland. Airborne Express was acquired by [[DHL Express|DHL]] in 2003. Prior to the acquisition, it rose to be the third largest private express delivery company in the United States, behind [[Federal Express]] ([[FedEx Express]]) and [[United Parcel Service]] (UPS).

==History==
Growth during Airborne's first 22 years was slow, but in 1968, the airline known as '''Airbourne Freight Company''',<ref>{{cite web | url = https://airlinehistory.co.uk/airline/airbourne-freight-company/ | title = Airbourne Freight Company | publisher = Airline History | accessdate = 24 January 2020}}</ref> started going through some changes. The company Air Cargo Equipment Corporation developed and patented a special narrow container, known in the industry later as the "C" container (referring to its C shape), which allowed the more efficient use of space within large jet aircraft.<ref name="Patent Awarded">{{cite web |last1=Rau |first1=Blase C. |title=Patent |url=https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/39/8d/3e/9f85661bfaaf91/US3598273.pdf |website=U.S. Patent Office |ref=US Patent#3,598,273}}</ref> The containers also eliminated the need to modify the cargo doors, thus saving any air-freight company that used them substantial sums of money.  It does appear that around this time, early on, that Airborne began using the more efficient containers. Known at that time as '''Airborne of California''', the company merged with '''Pacific Air Freight''' of [[Seattle]]. The newly formed airline moved its headquarters north to Seattle and changed its name to '''Airborne Freight Corporation'''. This was the name they kept until 1980.

===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.

== Incidents and accidents ==
Airborne Express has experienced seven accidents, with six of them being hull losses, and two resulting in fatalities.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://asn.flightsafety.org/database/operators/6584|title=Aviation Safety Network > ASN Aviation Safety Database > Operator index > United States of America > Airborne Express|last=Ranter|first=Harro|website=aviation-safety.net|access-date=2019-09-05}}</ref>

* On June 11, 1979, a [[de Havilland Dove]] operated by Midwest Air Charter on behalf of Airborne Express made a belly landing at [[St. Louis Lambert International Airport]]. Both crew members survived, but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair and written off.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://asn.flightsafety.org/asndb/328585|title=ASN Aircraft accident Carstedt Jet Liner 600F N906MW Saint Louis-Lambert International Airport, MO (STL)|last=Ranter|first=Harro|website=aviation-safety.net|access-date=2019-09-05}}</ref>
* On June 19, 1980, a [[Sud Aviation Caravelle|Sud Aviation Caravelle VI-R]] made a hard landing at Atlanta Municipal Airport (now [[Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport]]), causing its left main landing gear to collapse. The aircraft was caught in wake turbulence from a [[Lockheed L-1011 TriStar]]. The four occupants (three crew members and one passenger) on board survived. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and written off.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://asn.flightsafety.org/asndb/328313|title=ASN Aircraft accident Sud Aviation SE-210 Caravelle VI-R N905MW Atlanta Municipal Airport, GA (ATL)|last=Ranter|first=Harro|website=aviation-safety.net|access-date=2019-09-05}}</ref>
* On February 5, 1985, a [[McDonnell Douglas DC-9|McDonnell Douglas DC-9-15]] crashed after takeoff from [[Philadelphia International Airport]]. Both pilots on board survived, but the aircraft was substantially damaged and written off.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://asn.flightsafety.org/asndb/327262|title=ASN Aircraft accident McDonnell Douglas DC-9-15 N926AX Philadelphia International Airport, PA (PHL)|last=Ranter|first=Harro|website=aviation-safety.net|access-date=2019-09-05}}</ref>
* On August 20, 1987, Airborne Express Flight 124, a McDonnell Douglas DC-9-31, was back taxiing on Runway 09/27 at [[Stewart International Airport]] during deteriorating weather conditions, when an [[Emery Worldwide]] (operating as Rosenbalm Aviation Flight 074) Douglas DC-8-63F, landed on the same runway without clearance, The DC-9's tail was struck by the DC-8's wing. There were no fatalities and both aircraft were repaired and returned to service.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://asn.flightsafety.org/asndb/326712|title=ASN Aircraft accident McDonnell Douglas DC-9-31 N908AX Newburgh-Stewart Airport, NY (SWF)|last=Ranter|first=Harro|website=aviation-safety.net|access-date=2019-09-05}}</ref>
* On January 29, 1990, a [[Cessna 208 Caravan]] crashed after takeoff from [[Burlington International Airport]]. The pilot and the passenger, the aircraft's only occupants, were both killed. This was the first fatal accident for Airborne Express. The accident was caused by the overloading of the aircraft and pilot error due to the aircraft not being de-iced before departure.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://asn.flightsafety.org/asndb/326100|title=ASN Aircraft accident Cessna 208B Grand Caravan N4688B Burlington International Airport, VT (BTV)|last=Ranter|first=Harro|website=aviation-safety.net|access-date=2019-09-05}}</ref>
* On March 6, 1992, a [[NAMC YS-11|NAMC YS-11A]] operating a training flight was damaged beyond repair and written off when it made a belly landing at the Wilmington-Airborne Airpark after the crew accidentally forgot to lower the landing gear. All three crew members on board survived.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://asn.flightsafety.org/asndb/325577|title=ASN Aircraft accident NAMC YS-11A-205 N918AX Wilmington-Airborne Airpark, OH (ILN)|last=Ranter|first=Harro|website=aviation-safety.net|access-date=2019-09-05}}</ref>
* On December 22, 1996, [[Airborne Express Flight 827|Flight 827]], a [[Douglas DC-8|Douglas DC-8-63F]], crashed in [[Narrows, Virginia]] while performing a [[flight test]]. All six people on board were killed. This is the airline's deadliest accident.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://asn.flightsafety.org/asndb/324304|title=ASN Aircraft accident McDonnell Douglas DC-8-63F N827AX Narrows, VA|last=Ranter|first=Harro|website=aviation-safety.net|access-date=2019-09-05}}</ref><ref name=":02">{{Cite web|url=https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AAR9705.pdf|title=Uncontrolled Flight into Terrain, ABX Air (Airborne Express) Douglas DC-8-63, N827AX, Narrows, Virginia, December 22, 1996|last=|first=|date=July 15, 1997|website=|publisher=[[National Transportation Safety Board]]|id=NTSB/AAR-97/05|access-date=September 5, 2019}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[List of defunct airlines of the United States]]
*[[ABX Air]]

==References==
{{Commons category}}
{{Reflist}}

{{Portal bar|United States|Companies|Aviation}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:DHL]]
[[Category:Defunct cargo airlines]]
[[Category:Airlines established in 1980]]
[[Category:Airlines disestablished in 2003]]
[[Category:Defunct airlines of the United States]]
[[Category:Defunct companies based in Seattle]]
[[Category:Transportation companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Cargo airlines of the United States]]
[[Category:1946 establishments in the United States]]
[[Category:Airlines based in Washington (state)]]