1980
- The U.S. FAA orders all U.S. carriers to prepare and implement a security program to protect against unauthorized explosives and incendiary devices.
- Purolator Courier, an armored car service, begins air express operations in Indianapolis.
1981
- In October, UPS begins air operations using three ex-Braniff Airlines 727Fs between Portland, Ore., Chicago Midway and Worcester, Mass.
1982
- Airbus debuts the A310, its second aircraft line.
1983
- Communications Channels Inc. purchases AirCargo, changes the name of the magazine to Air Cargo World and moves the operation to Atlanta.
1984
- British billionaire Richard Branson launches Virgin Atlantic Airways.
- Federal Express begins international express service to Europe and Asia.
1985
- United Arab Emirates creates its own airline, Emirates.
- Emery Air Freight purchases Purolator Courier.
- DHL opens a hub in Brussels for intra-Europe express.
1986
- UPS makes Louisville, Ky., it’s new air services hub.
- Federal Express cancels its fax-based “Zapmail” electronic document services, resulting in a pre-tax write-off of $340 million.
1988
- UPS launches its own airline.
1989
- Ailing Emery Worldwide is purchased by Consolidated Freightways in April
- KLM buys a 20 percent stake in Northwest Airlines in July.
- Federal Express purchases the Flying Tiger Line for $850 million, the largest merger in air cargo history at the time.
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