New York Airways was founded in 1949, and headquartered at LaGuardia International Airport. It began as a mail and cargo carrier but evolved to serve passengers traveling to and from the major airports in the greater New York City metropolitan area. Offering a speedy, scenic, and inexpensive option for airport commutes, this commercial helicopter service became very popular with travelers.

However, unfortunate circumstances and tragic events brought New York Airways’ operations to a close in 1979. Let’s look back to see how this helicopter airline functioned and what led to its downfall.

How New York Airways got its start

The federal Civil Aeronautics Board awarded New York Airways an opening certificate in December 1951 to fly between the Idlewild (now known as JFK), LaGuardia, and Newark International airports. While the airline’s early service was limited to mail and cargo, New York Airways soon expanded its operations to carry passengers to supplement existing revenues.

In July 1953, New York Airways began scheduled passenger service between the three major airports. In this beginning phase, there were 16 flights per day at 90-minute intervals. Helicopter commuting grew in popularity for its scenic views of the Statue of Liberty and the Manhattan skyline. Further, it was drastically faster than traveling by car or subway, and fares were reasonable for the average traveler at the time. Additional stop locations, such as the East River downtown heliport and the roof of the former Pan Am building were added to better serve the needs of passengers.

New York Airways increased service to operate at 30-minute intervals and added another roundtrip flight to its schedule. Fares were $7 one-way and $10 roundtrip. One could travel from John F. Kennedy International Airport to the Pan Am building’s heliport in just seven minutes. In its first year of passenger service, the airline carried 8,758 travelers. In its 10th year, it carried over 250,000 passengers.

Rotorcraft fleet upgrades

New York Airways’ first rotorcraft fleet consisted of the Sikorsky S-55. Depending on the cargo load, the S-55 could also accommodate up to 8 passengers as space allowed. It added the Sikorsky S-58 in 1956 when the commercial version was certified by the Federal Aviation Administration, along with Chicago Helicopter Airways and Los Angeles Airways, which were also offering scheduled passenger service. The upgraded configuration of this aircraft could seat up to 12 people.

As the business grew, the airline purchased rotorcraft with more seating capacity. Next came the Vertol V-44 tandem-rotor helicopter, which was added to the fleet in 1958 and could carry up to 20 passengers. In 1960, New York Airways ordered the commercial version of the Boeing Vertol BV 107-II, which could seat up to 25 passengers.

Passengers board a New York Airways Sikorsky S-61 helicopter
New York Airways Sikorsky S-61 helicopter. Photo: Ken Fielding via Flickr

New York Airways’ final rotorcraft was the Sikorsky S-61, which was configured similarly to the BV 107-II, with capacity for up to 25 people.

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The end of New York Airways

There were many operational advantages to providing scheduled passenger service by helicopter, including quick onboarding and disembarking, and the ability to land in locations where an airplane could not. But there were disadvantages, too.

As fuel prices rose, profitability was difficult to achieve. Helicopter noise was problematic, and there were serious safety concerns.

Top of the former Pan Am building in New York City
Top of the former Pan Am building where the 1977 tragedy occurred. Photo: Gordon Bevan via Flickr

On May 16, 1977, a New York Airways S-61 experienced a landing gear collapse caused by metal fatigue. The helicopter tipped over onto its starboard side, killing four individuals who were waiting to board. The main rotor blade broke apart, and the pieces tumbled down the 59 stories from the helipad to Madison Avenue below, killing a pedestrian. The tragedy resulted in the permanent closure of the Pan Am building’s heliport.

Unfortunately, the airline had yet another fatal accident. In April 1979, a rotor blade came off a New York Airways S-61 that had made an emergency landing at Newark International Airport, killing three people and injuring a dozen others. This was the last straw for the carrier, which filed for Chapter XI bankruptcy protection under the Federal Bankruptcy Act the following month.