Into the Majors

Last week came proof that U.S. air lines have landed in the major league of U.S. transportation. Based on first-quarter revenues, two air lines are now among the 15 leading passenger carriers, along with twelve railroads and one bus system. Two others were in the top 25: United Air Lines (passenger revenue: $1,839,507) and T.W.A. (revenue: $1,428,070). The lineup:

Passenger Revenue Carriers (1st quarter)

Pennsylvania Railroad 520,416,369

Pullman Co. 17,050,518

New York Central 15,230,302

Greyhound Corp. (busses) 13,045,422

New Haven 6,731,100

Southern Pacific 6,662,300

Santa Fe 4,888,552

Union Pacific 4,245,902

Atlantic Coast Line 3,992,385

AMERICAN AIRLINES 3,510,848

Seaboard Airline Railway 3,485,870

Long Island R.R. 3,462,302

Illinois Central 3,016,942

Baltimore & Ohio 2,919,082

EASTERN AIR LINES 2,789,491

Like a war map, these ratings already may be outdated. The Wall Street Journal estimated last week that major air lines flew some 17 1/2% more passenger-miles during May than in April; that May air traffic (with almost perfect flying weather) was 34% over a year ago, an alltime peak. Result: U.S. air lines flew some 454,970,000 passenger-miles in 1941's first five months--more than in any full year before 1938.

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