There have been many airlines that have come and gone over the years. Some have only lasted a short time, while others have seen many generations. There are numerous factors that decide whether an airline will survive or not and an effective marketing mix along with a realistic PESTE analysis is at the top of the list. When talking about airlines that have stood the test of time, American Airlines and Delta immediately come to mind. These airlines saw the birth of commercial aviation and the regulations that came with it. They also saw deregulation in 1978 and survived the grounding of commercial aviation due to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Both airlines survived the Great Depression and weathered the storm of the Great Recession. The brand of American Airlines and Delta Airlines was instantly recognizable through their effective advertising campaigns. Performing a marketing mix and PESTE analysis will provide further insights into how these airlines have been able to weather from the birth of commercial aviation to the upcoming era of Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) aviation. American Airlines has an extensive history that shows its innovation and longevity as a Part 121 air carrier. American Airlines was founded in 1930 as American Airways and served primarily as a mail carrier. In 1934 the airline was renamed American Airlines, and passenger flight operations began in 1936 (“History of AMR,” 2011). They continued with passenger flying into the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. The 1970s ushered in the jet age, which made increasing flight services easier and more efficient (“History of amr,” 2011). After deregulation in 1978, American Airlines moved to... middle of paper...). Retrieved from http://news.delta.com/index.php?s=18&cat=39Foust, D. (2009, May 14). How Delta emerged from bankruptcy. Retrieved from http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/09_21/b4132036798289.htmGreenberg, P. (Artist) (2006). Inside American Airlines [DVD].History of the AMR Corporation and American Airlines. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.aa.com/i18n/amrcorp/corporateInformation/facts/history.jspMcGrath, M. (2013, November 27). The merger between American Airlines and US Airways is officially cleared for takeoff. Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/sites/maggiemcgrath/2013/11/15/the-new-american-airlines-lands-a-new-ticker-symbol/United steelworkers USW; USW praises Delta's purchase of Philadelphia-area refinery. (2012). Transportation Business Journal, , 116. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.libproxy.db.erau.edu/docview/1011997555?accountid=27203