San Francisco International Aiport plays host to last ever US Airways flight

SAN FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (KGO) -- SFO is taking part in some airline history tonight. The final U.S. Airways flight took off from the airport Friday night at 9:55 p.m.

The last U.S. Airways crew prepared to fly their passengers from SFO to Philadelphia after a history in aviation that began in 1939. All-American Aviation was the airline's name back then.

There were people who flew in to San Francisco just to get on the historic last flight. More than 2,000 people were on standby. Many of the wanted that final boarding pass that showed the flight number 1939, designated for the year the airlines began.

"In 1939, of course, we started picking up the mail using a hook. As the little single engine planes flew over, we went through World War II providing pilots there, Korea, 9/11 of course," said U.S. Airways Capt. Doug Rice.

One hundred eighty passengers took the historic last flight, including Glenda Yerse who still had her flight attendant uniform from 1970 when it was Alleghany Airlines.

"I flew on propeller planes with 50 passengers and I served them all by myself. I was the only flight attendant on board," Yerse said.

Many of these passengers are aviation fanatics who've been on this historic last trip that started in Philadelphia. It went on to Charlotte, North Carolina, then Phoenix before reaching SFO for its final leg.

"When I get into Philadelphia, I'll be crying because I'll be sad that U.S. Airways will be gone," said Patrick O'Conner, an aviation fanatic.

U.S. Airways will now become American Airlines, with more than 6,700 daily flights operated by more than 100,000 employees. American Airlines becomes the largest airline in the world.