Trans-Texas Airways Douglas DC-9

Trans-Texas Airways, TTA, went to pure jet service in 1966 with the Douglas DC-9, supplementing or replacing older DC-3 and Convair-600 prop aircraft. The jets began serving Albuquerque in 1967 on routes to Midland/Odessa and Dallas as well as to Santa Fe and Dallas. TTA did not have authority to fly nonstop to Dallas until 1970 at which time nonstop service to Los Angeles also commenced with the DC-9’s. Jet service to Roswell, New Mexico was added in 1968 when the city acquired the facilities and longer runways of the former Walker Air Force Base. The airline started their DC-9 service with two -10 model aircraft numbered N1469 and N309T. Longer -30 model aircraft were added by 1969 when the carrier changed its name to Texas International Airlines. The DC-9’s continued serving TTA/Texas International until they were merged into Continental Airlines in 1982. Continental continued flying the aircraft through the 1990’s.

One of the TTA DC-9-10 Pamper Jets is seen below in its original livery at the Albuquerque Sunport.