Airline (U.S. TV series)
Encyclopedia
Airline was an American
television
reality show that showcases the daily happenings of passengers, ground workers and on-board staff members of Southwest Airlines
. The show started in the USA on the A&E
television channel in 2004. From time to time, the A&E television channel shows the UK version of Airline, which they call Airline UK.
The show, originally broadcast on the A&E Network
, and is centered on passengers and flights originating out of Southwest focus cities at Chicago Midway, Los Angeles International
and Baltimore-Washington International, although it often follows passengers on to their final destinations. Season 3 in 2005 started including stories at Houston's Hobby Airport
.
Airline follows customers in all types of moods and situations. It also takes a look at employees both on and off the job, including a customer service
supervisor going to his high school reunion, the ceremony surrounding a 30-year pilot Steve Palmason's last flight before retirement, and Gina Terrano becoming a flight attendant. The theme song is a jazzed up version of John Denver's "Leaving on a Jet Plane," performed by Jimmy Coup, later changed to a custom-made theme song named "37,000 feet."
A few celebrity passengers have been caught by the show's cameras, including country singer Randy Travis
, professional poker player Howard Lederer
, R&B singer Sisqó
, 70s singer and dancer Charo
, famous American Idol
reject William Hung
, Dance-turned-Country singer/actress Danielle Bollinger, and actor Antonio Fargas
.
On December 15, 2005, A&E announced that they were canceling Airline after 70 episodes. The program aired on weekdays at 11:00 and 11:30 in the morning and in the afternoon at 5:00 and 5:30 (times are eastern) on A&E's Biography Channel until 2009.
The show broadcasts throughout the world including the UK
on ITV2
, Australia
on 7TWO
, Sweden
on Kanal 5
and Latin American on A&E Mundo.
The series began airing in reruns on Lifetime on August 30, 2010 but it was taken off the schedule on November 1, 2010. However, Lifetime Real Women is playing it Monday through Thursday Nights at 8 pm and early Saturday mornings at 2am.
Season One is available on DVD from A&E Home Entertainment.
Chicago-Midway (MDW)
Houston-Hobby (HOU)
Los Angeles (LAX)
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
reality show that showcases the daily happenings of passengers, ground workers and on-board staff members of Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines Co. is an American low-cost airline based in Dallas, Texas. Southwest is the largest airline in the United States, based upon domestic passengers carried,...
. The show started in the USA on the A&E
A&E Network
The A&E Network is a United States-based cable and satellite television network with headquarters in New York City and offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, London, Los Angeles and Stamford. A&E also airs in Canada and Latin America. Initially named the Arts & Entertainment Network, A&E launched...
television channel in 2004. From time to time, the A&E television channel shows the UK version of Airline, which they call Airline UK.
The show, originally broadcast on the A&E Network
A&E Network
The A&E Network is a United States-based cable and satellite television network with headquarters in New York City and offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, London, Los Angeles and Stamford. A&E also airs in Canada and Latin America. Initially named the Arts & Entertainment Network, A&E launched...
, and is centered on passengers and flights originating out of Southwest focus cities at Chicago Midway, Los Angeles International
Los Angeles International Airport
Los Angeles International Airport is the primary airport serving the Greater Los Angeles Area, the second-most populated metropolitan area in the United States. It is most often referred to by its IATA airport code LAX, with the letters pronounced individually...
and Baltimore-Washington International, although it often follows passengers on to their final destinations. Season 3 in 2005 started including stories at Houston's Hobby Airport
William P. Hobby Airport
William P. Hobby Airport is a public airport in Houston, Texas, located from Downtown Houston. The airport covers and has four runways. Hobby Airport is Houston's oldest commercial airport and was the city's primary air terminal until the opening of Houston Intercontinental Airport in 1969...
.
Airline follows customers in all types of moods and situations. It also takes a look at employees both on and off the job, including a customer service
Customer service
Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase.According to Turban et al. , “Customer service is a series of activities designed to enhance the level of customer satisfaction – that is, the feeling that a product or service has met the customer...
supervisor going to his high school reunion, the ceremony surrounding a 30-year pilot Steve Palmason's last flight before retirement, and Gina Terrano becoming a flight attendant. The theme song is a jazzed up version of John Denver's "Leaving on a Jet Plane," performed by Jimmy Coup, later changed to a custom-made theme song named "37,000 feet."
A few celebrity passengers have been caught by the show's cameras, including country singer Randy Travis
Randy Travis
Randy Travis is an American country music singer and actor. Since 1985, he has recorded 20 studio albums and charted more than 30 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, 22 of which were number one hits...
, professional poker player Howard Lederer
Howard Lederer
Howard Henry Lederer is an American professional poker player and brother of poker professional Annie Duke, and author and poet Katy Lederer. On September 20, 2011, the U.S...
, R&B singer Sisqó
Sisqó
Mark Durrell Andrews , known by his stage name Sisqó, is an American R&B singer and actor. He is best known as the lead singer of R&B group Dru Hill, and also for "Thong Song", a song from his first solo LP, Unleash the Dragon, that became an international hit. - Biography :Sisqó was born Mark...
, 70s singer and dancer Charo
Charo
María del Rosario Pilar Martínez Molina Gutiérrez de los Perales Santa Ana Romanguera y de la Hinojosa Rasten , better known as Charo, is a Spanish-American actress, comedienne, and flamenco guitarist, best known for her flamboyant stage presence, her provocative outfits, and her trademark phrase...
, famous American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
reject William Hung
William Hung
William James Hung Hing Cheong , commonly known as William Hung, is an American singer who gained fame in early 2004 as a result of his off-key audition performance of Ricky Martin's hit song "She Bangs" on the third season of the television series...
, Dance-turned-Country singer/actress Danielle Bollinger, and actor Antonio Fargas
Antonio Fargas
Antonio Juan Fargas is an American actor famous for his roles in 1970s blaxploitation movies, as well as his portrayal of Huggy Bear in the 1970s TV series Starsky and Hutch.-Biography:...
.
On December 15, 2005, A&E announced that they were canceling Airline after 70 episodes. The program aired on weekdays at 11:00 and 11:30 in the morning and in the afternoon at 5:00 and 5:30 (times are eastern) on A&E's Biography Channel until 2009.
The show broadcasts throughout the world including the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
on ITV2
ITV2
ITV2 is a 24 hour, free-to-air entertainment television channel in the United Kingdom owned by ITV Digital Channels Ltd, a division of ITV plc. It was launched on 7 December 1998, and is available on digital television via satellite, cable, IPTV and terrestrial platforms. The channel has the...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
on 7TWO
7Two
7TWO is an Australian free-to-air standard definition digital television channel which was launched by the Seven Network on Sunday 1 November 2009 at 12pm....
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
on Kanal 5
Kanal 5 (Sweden)
Kanal 5 is a Swedish commercial television channel established in 1989. It is owned by the media corporation ProSiebenSat.1 Media.After a troublesome 1990s, Kanal 5 launched new strategies in the early 2000s that established it as a popular entertainment channel targeting young people...
and Latin American on A&E Mundo.
The series began airing in reruns on Lifetime on August 30, 2010 but it was taken off the schedule on November 1, 2010. However, Lifetime Real Women is playing it Monday through Thursday Nights at 8 pm and early Saturday mornings at 2am.
Season One is available on DVD from A&E Home Entertainment.
Cast
Baltimore-Washington (BWI)- Eric DeCosmo, Provising Agent BWI (Baltimore-Washington)
- Christy Goad-DeCosmo Customer Service Agent, BWI (Baltimore-Washington)
- Nicholas Hadeed, BWI Flight Attendant, Former Customer Service Supervisor , BWI (Baltimore-Washington)
- Carole Jennings, Customer Service Supervisor, Orlando (MCO) Former Customer Service Supervisor BWI (Baltimore-Washington)
- Sue Lee, Customer Service Supervisor, BWI (Baltimore-Washington)
- Chris Marr, Customer Service Supervisor, Fort Myers (RSW)Former Customer Service Supervisor BWI(Baltimore-Washington)
- Gina Terrano, BWI Flight Attendant, Former Customer Service Supervisor BWI (Baltimore-Washington)
Chicago-Midway (MDW)
- Jesse Atkinson, Customer Service Supervisor, MDW (Chicago-Midway)
- Colleen Bragiel, Customer Service Manager, MDW (Chicago-Midway)
- Val Brown, Customer Service Supervisor , MDW (Chicago-Midway)
- Denise Brown-Bess, Customer Service Supervisor, MDW (Chicago-Midway)
- Anita Herbert, Customer Service Supervisor, MDW (Chicago-Midway)
- Veolia Hewitt-Norris, Customer Service Manager , MDW (Chicago-Midway)
Houston-Hobby (HOU)
- Holly Bradford, Customer Service Supervisor, HOU (Houston-Hobby)
- Kelley Casterjana, Customer Service Supervisor, HOU (Houston-Hobby)
- Cindy Treyes, Customer Service Supervisor, HOU (Houston-Hobby)
- Brian "Chance" Willams, Customer Service Supervisor, HOU (Houston-Hobby)
Los Angeles (LAX)
- Susie Boersma, Customer Service Supervisor, LAX (Los Angeles)
- Mike Carr, Customer Service Supervisor, LAX (Los Angeles)
- Yolanda Martin, Customer Service Supervisor, LAX (Los Angeles)
- Steve Ramirez, Customer Service Supervisor, LAX (Los Angeles)
See also
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- Mile HighMile HighMile High is a British television drama based on the lives of the cabin crew members of "fresh!", a budget airline based in London. The name of the show comes from the "Mile High Club". The show was broadcast on Sky1 from 2003 to 2005.-Background:...
- Air WaysAir Ways (TV series)Air Ways is an Australian factual television series broadcast on the Seven Network, narrated by Corinne Grant and produced by Lyndal Marks, the executive producer in charge of Border Security...