Which airline introduced the first regular commercial DC-3 passenger service in 1936?

American Airlines introduced the first regular commercial DC-3 passenger service in 1936.

The Douglas DC-3 transformed airline economics because it was faster, more comfortable, and more reliable than many earlier airliners. American Airlines helped develop the aircraft by working with Douglas on a sleeper-airliner version called the DST, or Douglas Sleeper Transport. The daytime passenger version became known as the DC-3.

American’s first scheduled DC-3 service began on June 25, 1936, linking Newark and Chicago. The aircraft allowed airlines to carry passengers profitably without relying as heavily on mail subsidies. Its success helped make passenger air travel a mass-market service.

The DC-3 is often associated with military aviation because thousands were built as C-47s during the Second World War. However, its commercial breakthrough came through American Airlines’ scheduled passenger operations. The aircraft’s durability also allowed some examples to remain in service for decades.