27 Facts About Ed Acker

Charles Edward Acker was born on April 7,1929 and is an American businessman who was CEO of Braniff Airways, Air Florida, and Pan American World Airways.

Ed Acker was born in Dallas, Texas, on April 7,1929 His father was a railroad worker and farmer but his mother was vice president of one of the largest architectural firms in Dallas, Texas.

Ed Acker has stated that they never tried to influence his career path or decisions.

Ed Acker skipped second and eighth grades and attended North Texas State University during his Freshman year where he played basketball.

Ed Acker transferred to and graduated from Southern Methodist University where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Psychology.

Ed Acker was a broker for three years when investment counseling firm Lionel D Edie, asked Acker to open a Dallas, Texas office.

Ed Acker was with Lionel D Edie for seven years supervising sales and counseling.

Ed Acker then accepted a position as Chief Financial Officer of the Greatamerica Corporation, who was a Lionel D Edie client, and led Greatamerica's takeover of Braniff International Airways and National Car Rental in 1964.

Ed Acker traveled to Los Angeles, California in 1964 to discuss a possible merger between a revitalized Braniff under the administration of Greatamerica and Continental Airlines.

Ed Acker met with Continental's legendary founder and Chairman Robert Six to discuss the possible merger which would put both companies under the Greatamerica umbrella.

Ed Acker knew little of the airline business not even knowing the basic measurements of airline performance such as RPM or revenue passenger mile.

Ed Acker requested that Braniff send someone over to teach Acker the ins and outs of running an airline as far flung as Braniff.

Ed Acker was tutored by Braniff Vice President Tom Robertson who was shocked to learn that he knew little about the complex airline business.

Ed Acker would spend 60 percent of his time at Braniff and 40 percent at Greatamerica.

Ed Acker was promoted to the Presidency of Braniff in 1970 while his close associate Harding Lawrence, was elevated to Chairman of the Texas-based air carrier.

Ed Acker left Braniff in 1975 to accept the presidency of Transway International, a transportation conglomerate based in New York City.

Ed Acker remained with Transway for one year and then became President of Gulf United, Co.

Shortly thereafter, Acker led a group of investors who purchased a controlling interest in Air Florida, a low-cost carrier which reminded Acker of his competition with Southwest in Texas.

Air Florida's growth under Ed Acker was exemplary with the carrier only serving six routes in January, 1978, but by the end of 1978 the small carrier was flying 17 routes.

Ed Acker was able to keep overhead costs low as the airline's 1800 employees were mostly not unionized.

Later in 1982, Ed Acker was appointed chairman and CEO of Pan Am, where he quickly moved to expand the airline's route network after several years of contraction, and to lower the airline's ticket prices in order to compete with low-cost competitors such as Laker Airways.

Ed Acker received strong employee group support by stating that he would not accept any salary until Pan Am was profitable.

Employees proclaimed themselves "Acker Backers" that joined the C Edward Acker Pan Am recovery bandwagon.

Ed Acker kept the airline alive only by selling its transpacific routes to United Airlines for $750 million.

Ed Acker later advised on the founding of Atlantic Coast Airlines a Delta Connection and United Express carrier.

Ed Acker is Chairman of the Management of Martinaire Partners, LLC, a Dallas, Texas, based scheduled freight feeder airline serving UPS.

Ed Acker has two sons and one daughter and is married to Sandy Ed Acker.