Airline (US TV series)
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| Airline | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Reality |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Starring | Many different Southwest staff |
| Country of origin | Originally the UK, United States |
| Original channel | A&E Network |
| Original run | January 5, 2004–December 15, 2005 |
Airline is 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 is broadcast on the A&E Network, and is centered on passengers and flights originating out of Southwest hubs 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, a fair percentage being intoxicated would-be passengers, which compose most of the comedy for the show. It also takes a look at employees' adventures both on and off the job, including a customer service supervisor going to his high school reunion and the ceremony surrounding a 30-year pilot Steve Palmason's last flight before retirement in which the classic retirement "water cannon" taxi is performed, where 2 firetrucks shoot an arch of water over the plane. The plane is filled with his family members and they decorate the plane so he sees it after landing. Southwest founder Herb Kelleher is even on hand for the celebration. 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, and famous American Idol reject William Hung.
On December 15, 2005, A&E announced that they were canceling Airline after 70 episodes. The program still airs but does not have a regular time slot.
The show broadcasts throughout the world including the UK on ITV, Australia on the Seven Network, Sweden on Kanal 5 and Latin American on A&E Mundo.
[edit] Series guide
- Series 1 18x30' (2004)
- Series 2 26x30' (2004)
- Series 3 26x30' (2005)
[edit] Cast
- Yolanda Martin, Customer Service Supervisor, LAX
- Mike Carr, Customer Service Supervisor, LAX
- Steve Ramirez, Customer Service Supervisor, LAX
- Susie Boersma, Customer Service Supervisor, LAX
- Colleen Bragiel, Customer Service Manager, Chicago Midway
- Val Brown, Customer Service Manager, Chicago Midway
- Anita Herbert, Customer Service Supervisor, Chicago Midway
- Denise Brown-Bess, Customer Service Supervisor, Chicago Midway
- Veolia Hewitt-Norris, Customer Service Supervisor, Chicago Midway
