Airline passenger index?

[Dennis]

Hi. I'm aware of the ship passenger lists available; they've been a big help to me. I'm wondering when the first passenger airline lists will become available if at all.

dennis

[SarahND]

Hello Dennis,
Some of the more recent passenger lists on Ancestry are airline lists. They don't give much information, unfortunately, other than the name of the passenger and sometimes the age. Airlines don't take down many details! Which ones were you interested in particularly?

All the best,
Sarah

[Dennis]

Hi Sarah,

Thank you for the reply. I don't know the regulations governing when commercial airlines could start releasing passenger lists. Would passenger lists from the 1950s thru til the 1990s be available?

dennis

[SarahND]

Hi Dennis,
The most recent records I have seen of Airline Passenger Lists are from 1957. I found some for Pan American World Airways, Trans World Airlines, Northwest Airlines, etc. As I said, they don't say much but the name. I wonder if there is a 50 year cutoff or something? Sorry I don't know the details.

All the best,
Sarah

[AileenA]

Hi Sarah
Where on Ancestry did you find the airlines? I've had a look but can't find where they would be.
Would love to find some rellies from 1957 or there abouts.
Cheers
Aileen

[SarahND]

Hello Aileen,
They are part of the New York Passenger Lists 1820-1957 and a few others. No mention is made of the fact that some of the records are airline records until you get pretty far into the search or browse. To see what I mean, do a search for Smith in the year 1950 +/- 10 years. Click on one that gives only the passenger name, date and port of departure and chances are it will be an airline list. In the Seattle Passenger and Crew Lists the search box even has a place to indicate the airline.

All the best,
Sarah

[AileenA]

Thanks Sarah that's really helpful, actually the name I am looking for is a Smith!! I'm sure there will be a lot