The former location of Braniff International Airways’ flight attendant school has been listed on the Dallas real estate market. The school was located near Dallas Love Field Airport (DAL), where Braniff Airways was based. Since the airline shutdown over 40 years ago, the building has become a historic landmark in the local community. Over the past four decades, it has been repeatedly bought and sold by various parties, with the last transaction in 2019. Now the building is up for grabs once more.
Own a piece of aviation history
This latest real estate offering is an opportunity for any aviation enthusiast to own a piece of history. However, it is unlikely that an avgeek will flip the bill on this historic building, as it will likely be turned into an office or apartment complex. Whatever its fate may be, it is unlikely that its future will be as memorable as its past. According to The Dallas News, the iconic white and gray building was built in 1968 with the sole intention that it would become a college for hostesses at Braniff Airways. It served its purpose well for over a decade until the airline met its fate in 1982.
Following the airline closure, the building operations were terminated. This left the five story, 60,000 square-foot building with outstanding real estate without a purpose. It was later bought and sold by multiple companies. However, the building has been vacant for over eight years.
The current owner Centurion American Development Group, has owned the building for four years since procuring it in 2019. When the group obtained the building, it planned to convert it into a hotel. However, the hotel business quickly became less than lucrative when the pandemic hit the following year. Therefore, the company never went ahead with the project, leaving it in its current state.
After deciding that retrofitting the building to become a hotel would not be worth the cost, the company chose to part with it entirely. The building is listed for sale with Davidson Bogel Real Estate. In the listing, the building is described as a redevelopment opportunity. The description goes on to read,
“The property remains a landmark to this day with tremendous frontage on the Dallas North Tollway and the proximity to Uptown, downtown Dallas and Dallas Love Field Airport.”
A nearly forgotten airline
Braniff International, like many great aviation companies, started in the early days of aviation. The company was founded by the Braniff brothers in 1930, with just two planes flying across the central US. As time went on, the airline grew to become one of the most prominent US airlines.
Things were looking good until the late 70s, when fuel prices skyrocketed along with inflation. This put Braniff in a problematic situation. While other airlines were also struggling, Braniff just couldn’t reconciliate its cash flow. Without sufficient finances to stay afloat, the airline could no longer remain in operation. In May 1982, the airline’s time in the sky ended.
Source: Dallas News, Aerotime Hub
