loading image

Pennsylvania Central Airlines changed its name to Capital Airlines in 1948. The airline established its hub at Washington D.C., the nation’s capital, and it introduced the first sustained low-fare coach service in the United States. Capital used its company name as a territorial signifier to identify with the capital city. For its brand, a stylized eagle symbol was developed with a rigid, airplane-like wing that blended the natural with the mechanical. The eagle flew under a constellation of stars arrayed like destinations on a route map. In 1961, Capital was absorbed by United Air Lines. This image was posted on March 10, 2022.