MACKEY INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES
Mackey International Airlines Douglas DC-6B N4354B (msn 43546) pictured at Miami in May 1977. This aircraft was built for American Airlines and left the factory on October 21, 1951. It flew with Mackey from 1976 to 1979.
The original Mackey Airlines was formed by Colonel Joseph Mackey in 1946 and was merged into Eastern Airlines in early 1967. Colonel Mackey started a new commuter carrier, Mackey International Air Taxi, on February 1, 1969, eventually creating a large route network that served the Bahamas and the British West Indies from the Florida gateways of Miami, Ft. Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. After years of decline, the airline merged with Charter Airlines in 1979 and discontinued all flights in 1981.
An early view of Mackey's fleet, circa 1969, shows, from rear to front, a Piper Aztec, three Piper Navajos, and three Beechcraft B99s.
Navajo N920JM pictured at the Ft. Lauderdale base circa 1972.
Mackey's sole Skyvan N3419 was used for cargo flights and is seen here at Fort Lauderdale circa 1972.
Mackey operated 3 Beechcraft B-99s from 1968 through the early 1970s. N910JM (msn U-40) is seen with Mackey International Air Commuter titles.
N950JM (msn 68) was one of a half dozen Twin Otters operated by Mackey between 1969 and 1973.
When the original Mackey Airlines was acquired by Eastern in 1967, Colonel Mackey entered a 5-year non-compete agreement, during which he focused on charters and markets Eastern was not interested in. In 1972, the agreement came to an end and Colonel Mackey purchased Convair 440s and returned to his former routes.
Convair 440 N442JM (msn 438) pictured at Miami in 1972.
Here's a great shot of Mackey stewardesses modeling the latest uniforms at Fort Lauderdale in 1972. This photo comes from the State Archives of Florida photographic collection.
DC-6s were added to the fleet in 1974 to increase capacity on high volume routes. Mackey International was one of the last airlines in the continental U.S. to operate Douglas DC-6s in passenger service. N90705 (msn 42858) is seen here in 1974.
Route map dated June 15, 1974 showing Mackey's extensive route system with service to 17 destinations.
This photo of DC-6 N4354B (msn 43546) at Treasure Cay was sent in by Sandy Estabrook, webmaster of Motu Iti, a website about French Polynesia as well as Abaco Bahamas. This aircraft left the factory on October 21, 1951 and was delivered to American Airlines as N90763.
Sandy also sent in this photo of the aircraft cabin. Thanks Sandy!
Too bad we can't hear this photo because the sound certainly must have been amazing!
Mackey suffered heavy financial loses in the mid 1970s and by early 1978 only 3 of their 14 aircraft were in flying condition. Service became erratic and flight cancellations surpassed 25%. The airline stopped flying temporarily in November 1978 but was able to resume limited service with financing from Charter Air Center in Gainesville. The airline filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in early December 1978.
Several of the airline's DC-6s and Convair 440s are being stripped of parts at Fort Lauderdale in this December 1978 photo.
Several of the airline's DC-6s and Convair 440s are being stripped of parts at Fort Lauderdale in this December 1978 photo.
Mackey was purchased by Charter Airlines in 1979 and the combined companies retained the better known Mackey name. Convair 580 N900WC is seen here wearing the Charter livery with "CA" tail logo and Mackey titles. This plane would later fly with PRINAIR.
Convair 580 N9012J is pictured at Ft. Lauderdale in November 1979 wearing a variation of the above color scheme, with revised colors and "Mi" tail logo. Photo by Roger Syratt.
Convair 440 N444JM sports yet another variation of the Charter/Mackey paint scheme.
Piper Navajo Chieftain N27193 was used on routes within Florida after the merger. During 1979 the airline operated commuter flights to 11 points across Florida along with 4 Bahamas destinations. This also proved unsuccessful and the commuter network was closed by the end of the year.
DC-8-51s joined the fleet in January 1980 and Mackey changed their focus to jet charter flights between the southeast and Las Vegas along with charters from Atlanta to the Bahamas and Mexico. Unfortunately, the airline continued to suffer financial losses and shut down for the last time in October 1981.
