TWA Convair 880

Along with the Boeing 707, TWA provided a second type of jet aircraft for nationwide service to Albuquerque in 1961 using the Convair 880. Convair was asked to build this aircraft by Howard Hughes who owned TWA at the time so as to get the airline into the jet market much faster. The new 707 was in such great demand by many airlines worldwide that Boeing could not supply TWA with enough jet aircraft that it needed to complete with Pan American Airways. The Convair 880 would help to quickly replace TWA’s remaining propeller aircraft fleet and provide all-jet service to Albuquerque by late 1964. Most TWA flights at Albuquerque would operate with 880’s through the second half of the 1960’s decade. The 880’s did consume a high amount of fuel and were retired by 1974, replaced by newer Boeing 727’s.