31- Texas International operated between McAllen (MFE) and Mexico City (MEX) for awhile; I'll speculate that the other destination was Guadalajara (GDL)

Britannia took delivery of their first aircraft, 737 frame number 38, at the start of July 1968. It was one of the original ones built at Boeing Field rather than at Renton. Something had gone wrong at Boeing as it was several months late, the problem must have been on the production line as it had only first flown just a week before delivery. Straight into training (and UK certification), first passenger flight was July 22, Luton to Dubrovnik. The second 737 joined it in August. By this time the peak season, which delivery had been specifically aimed at, was more than half gone, and Britannia, apart from their own fleet, had to charter in other Britannias from Laker and BKS for the summer.

The first 737s had a 117 seat configuration, which was exactly the same as their Bristol Britannia fleet, so substitutions were straightforward. The following year, another row of seats were inserted, up to 123 seats, and a couple of years after that yet another row, up to 130 seats. The sort of thing that happens nowadays …

Despite being an early delivery, and the first, shorter ones going to Lufthansa, four other airlines had already taken delivery of the -200 model by this time, so a Bonus Question could be, which four preceded the Britannia one ?

I'd say United for sure, since they were the launch customer for the -200; other suspects might be Piedmont, Western, and Frontier

Three out of four. It wasn't Frontier.

14. I really want to say this was Continental with the Boeing 720B. However, while I believe CO was still operating a few 720B aircraft on other routes at this time, I also think they were exclusively serving Burbank with the B727-200 by 1975. And so, that brings up the Lockheed Electra. I believe an obscure little intrastate operator by the name of Holiday Airlines was still around at this time (but not for too much longer as they did not have a very good reputation - their code was HD and it did not stand for High Definition) which specialized in flights to Lake Tahoe (TVL) from southern California as well as from the SF Bay Area. In fact, I remember seeing their Electra aircraft at TVL before they ceased operation and were then replaced by Air California and PSA with both of these intrastate air carriers (at the time) re-introducing the Electra back into their respective fleets specifically to serve Lake Tahoe which still had a jet ban back then. So let's go with Holiday with flights into BUR from TVL, SJC and LAX.

19. America West was known for trying interesting new routes (witness the Wichita - New York LaGuardia nonstop service I mentioned in a recent quiz question) and I do recall they introduced and operated service between southern and northern California at one point. And I think Orange County - Sacramento was one of those routes. As for the aircraft, it was probably the B737-300 in deference to noise sensitive SNA.

We're off to a good start here, gang! Followingjlemon's lead with his questions, I am going to request that you please limit your response to no more than two questions per day so that all may participate. And as always, we are looking for complete answers here. Thanks!

WHBM 737 Bonus Question: Four other airlines had already taken delivery of the 737-200 model by the time England's Britannia accepted its first, so a Bonus Question could be, which four airlines preceded the Britannia deliveries ?
United, Piedmont and Western have been identified so far. We're looking for just one more...

2 . (1988) You’ve recently relocated to a new job in Ft. Myers, Florida and you now have your first travel assignment – a trip to San Diego. A check of your pocket flight guide reveals lots of connection possibilities, but what’s this? There’s a single direct flight that will put you into San Diego in perfect time for a late dinner with colleagues flying in from the Pacific Northwest. The flight makes three stops enroute, but hey – it sure beats connecting in Atlanta or Dallas. Name the airline, aircraft and the three enroute stops.

4. (1975) A good business opportunity has arisen in San Francisco, one that the whole world must be aware of based upon the fact that you can’t find a seat on any of the nonstop flights between Salt Lake and any of the Bay Area airports. But wait! Three seats are still available on a four stop direct flight into SFO that even includes a snack served enroute. Oh Boy! Identify the airline, the four enroute stops in order and of course the aircraft type.
It's neither United nor a 737-200

5. (1995) You’re flying from Minneapolis to Phoenix aboard the only airline that utilizes an all economy class cabin. All the other airlines serving the MSP-PHX route offer nonstop only flights. The airline you’re on is also the only one offering one-stop direct service. Identify the airline, the enroute stop and the aircraft type.
A N S W E R E D

6. (1965) Your 20th high school reunion is coming up and you’ve decided to attend. The problem is, you went to school in Minneapolis and these days you live and work in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Hopefully your travel agent can find a way to get you up north quickly and easily. She calls back to inform you that rather surprisingly there’s a four stop direct flight departing CHA each morning that’ll get you into MSP in the early afternoon. No First Class is offered, but you decide to book anyway. Identify the airline, the four intermediate stops and of course, the aircraft type.

8. (1965) Your Aunt Mildred is heading off to Mexico for a week and needs someone to housesit and look after her cats. She’ll even pay for your roundtrip airfare from your home in St. Louis to her home in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Well alrighty then! We’ve got a deal! It just so happens there’s one flight a day between STL and FSD and it makes three enroute stops. Name the airline, the aircraft and the three enroute stops.

9. (1995) In a perusal of the OAG preparatory to your flight from Phoenix to Las Vegas, you are surprised to find that only one airline operates flights with aircraft built in neighboring California. Identify that airline and the aircraft type it operates on the PHX-LAS route.

10 . (1959) Back in 1959, two airlines operated nonstop flights from Seattle to Fairbanks. Unfortunately for you, they’re all sold out on the weekend you need to travel. Thankfully, there are still three seats left on a three-stopper departing Sunday morning. It’ll take 8:45 to get to Fairbanks, but at least you won’t be faced with any long layovers. Name the airline, the three enroute stops in order and the aircraft type involved.

11 . (1988) You’ve just received an invitation for your granddaughter’s wedding, to be held in San Antonio, Texas late this spring. Normally you’d drive because you don’t like to fly – in fact it’s been 20 years since you last flew – but you’re getting up there in years and the drive to south Texas is a bit farther than you’d like these days. You call Continental airlines – the one you flew last time from Wichita to Texas – and are disappointed to hear that Continental no longer offers a direct flight to San Antonio. A second call to a local travel agent does however reveal a single daily direct flight out of Wichita that makes one enroute stop. You’ll take one seat, please. Identify the usual triumvirate – airline, aircraft and enroute stop.

12. (2001) Summer is not the best time to be visiting the Dominican Republic, but if you want a chance at winning the contract to supply air-conditioning for a new 310 room resort outside of Santo Domingo, then off you go. Logging in on your new laptop, you access aa.com only to discover that all of AA’s flights into SDQ are sold out in both First Class and Coach. What the – alright then, who else flies down there? I mean, outside of AA, there aren’t a lot of options these days. Imagine then your surprise and delight to discover another airline operating a single daily nonstop flight between Boston and Santo Domingo. Even American has never flown nonstop on this route. You quickly book a First Class seat. Identify the airline and the aircraft type operated here.

13. (1975) Four airlines offer 747 service into Las Vegas. Each airline offers a single flight, each from a different city. Identify each airline and the city its 747 flies to Las Vegas from.
TWA (JFK) and DL (DFW) correctly identified. UA (ORD) also correctly identified. NA correctly identified. Still need its airport of origin.

14. (1975) Burbank, CA is well served by airlines operating smaller aircraft powered by just two or three engines. One airline however still serves Burbank exclusively with a four engine aircraft. Identify the airline, the aircraft type and the three airports it flies into Burbank from.
A N S W E R E D

15 . (1988) In mid-1988, only two airlines were operating Lockheed’s L-1011 into Detroit’s Wayne County International Airport. Identify each airline and the city its L-1011 served Detroit from
BA out of YMX has been correctly identified. Still looking for the other airline... It wasn't EA or DL

16. (2001) It’s been an unusually hot summer in Dallas, so when business calls in the form of a weekend conference in Freeport, Bahamas, you couldn’t be happier. In fact, you’re positively ecstatic upon learning you won’t have to make a connection because there’s a one-stop direct flight between DFW and FPO. You quickly book yourself a seat in the forward cabin and start packing your bag. Identify the airline, the aircraft and the enroute stop.
It's not US Air or TWA, not a 737 or MD80 and the flight did not route via CLT or JFK

17 . (1988) Your daughter’s just completed her junior year at the University of Illinois. You all lived in nearby Joliet when she started school, but since then you’ve moved to Coral Gables, Florida. A call to your travel agent reveals a pleasant surprise – there’s a one stop direct flight from Champaign to nearby Miami International. Book it, Danno! Identify the airline, aircraft and the single intermediate stop.

18 . (1959) Your little sister is finally getting married and you can’t wait to go to the wedding. Problem is, she’s getting married in San Francisco and you live outside of St. Louis, MO. This is gonna be an expensive trip. And a long one. You’ll probably have a couple of stops enroute. Imagine then your surprise when you discover an inexpensive flight operating nonstop between St. Louis and Oakland. It leaves St. Louis at 9:00pm, arriving Oakland at 1:25am so you’ll have to overnight at OAK and then catch the ferry across to San Francisco the next day. Identify the airline and aircraft operating this flight.

19. (1995) It used to be if you wanted to fly between Orange County and Sacramento, you’d call Air California. Now Air Cal is no more and a different airline serves the SNA-SMF route uniquely with five mostly daily flights. Identify that airline and the aircraft type it utilizes on all flights.
A N S W E R E D

20. (MISC) The original Denver based Frontier Airlines filed for bankruptcy in 1986. The “new” Frontier Airlines – still Denver based – emerged in 1994 and commenced service from Denver to four cities for starters. Identify those four cities.
A N S W E R E D

23. (1995) Your Miami based company is hosting a weekend retreat next month for its best sales executives up the coast in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Hmm… getting there is gonna involve at least one connection, maybe two. Imagine then your surprise and delight to discover a four stop milk run. In 1995, no less – just like the good old days! You quickly book yourself a seat and select a window ahead of the wing. Name the airline, all of the enroute stops in order and the aircraft type.

24 . (1988) In the years since deregulation, a lot of airlines have offered nonstop service from Long Island’s Macarthur Airport to Florida. By mid-1988 however, only one airline still provides nonstop service from Florida into ISP. Identify the airline and the two Floridian cities served.

30. (2001) If you’re looking for a daily nonstop flight between Vancouver and Las Vegas, there’s only one airline to call. Identify the airline and aircraft type offering daily YVR-LAS service.

31. (1975) Everybody knows about the big three gateway cities for travel from Texas into Mexico, i.e. Dallas, Houston and San Antonio. During the winter of 1975, there was however a fourth Texas gateway. Identify that city as well as the airline and the two Mexican destinations that were served from it.31. (1975) Everybody knows about the big three gateway cities for travel from Texas into Mexico, i.e. Dallas, Houston and San Antonio. During the winter of 1975, there was however a fourth Texas gateway. Identify that city as well as the airline and the two Mexican destinations that were served nonstop from it.
A N S W E R E D

32. (2001) Over the years, a number of different airlines have tried their hand at offering low cost single class nonstop service between Chicago (ORD, MDW) and Los Angeles (LAX). In mid-2001, just two airlines offer such flights – one out of Midway and one out of O’Hare. Identify each airline and the aircraft type it operates on its respective route.

35. (1965) You and your wife are off to the Windy City to attend your son’s graduation from DePaul University. From your home outside Elmira, New York you’re pleased to discover that there’s a single daily two stop direct flight departing Elmira each afternoon and arriving in Chicago in time for dinner with The Kid. Identify the airline, aircraft and the two enroute stops.
A N S W E R E D

I always thought that Elmira was just a Mohawk station, having tracked from a 1960s ABC Guide what they did with their One-Elevens, and found all sorts of place names I'd never heard of before - like this one. But Mohawk never got as far as Chicago, nor did near-neighbour Allegheny then, so it has to be a mainstream line that gave it up. I'll play another hunch that this used to be Capital Airlines territory. By 1965 they were rolled into United, so, likely with a onetime Capital Viscount, lets say Elmira-Rochester-Buffalo-Chicago.

In answer to your bonus question re. early 737-200 recipients, might the fourth airline be California's PSA?

Sorry, no. But one of the regular posters here really ought to get it, despite it being a bit obscure.

I couldn't agree more. After PSA, I'm even more befuddled than usual as to what it could be. I'll defer to the regular participants on these questions. Go get 'em, boys!

20. (MISC) The original Denver based Frontier Airlines filed for bankruptcy in 1986. The “new” Frontier Airlines – still Denver based – emerged in 1994 and commenced service from Denver to four cities for starters. Identify those four cities.

Fargo, Grand Forks
(already answered: Bismarck, Mindrot)

As I say, one of the regular posters ...

Well, I suppose "forward cabin" could refer to an all coach aircraft rather than first class, but I'm struggling to come up with any. So, as long as it's not something silly like a military charter or a flight to MIA where you're expected to swim the rest of the way, I got nothing. ;)