2. The New Era

Quantum was founded in 1982. The airline was formed by three executives, one a former Vanguard pilot, one a former Cardinal Pilot, and the head pilot of Quantum until 2008, when he became a full-time executive. The airline started as a small low cost airline in Memphis, TN. The core value of Quantum was and is frequency. The airline started flights to Baltimore, MD and Charlotte, NC on the same day with an MD-81. The airline eventually had focus cities (although the airline never had hubs) in Baltimore, Charlotte, Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas, Memphis, New Orleans, and Salt Lake City. The airline acquired over 100 McDonnell-Douglas Super 80s, with the largest amount at one time in service being 125. This livery became iconic as Quantum quickly rose to become the largest and most flown domestic-only low cost carrier in the US. Quantum had the most MD-88s ever acquired by any airline, as many prefered the 737-400/800 and the A320-200.
In 1997 Quantum ordered the first batch of 25 737-800 NG aircraft from Boeing. Quantum chose the 737-800 due to McDonnell-Douglas's imminent merger into Boeing. While the MD-80 seated 166 passengers, the new 737 offered 175 seats. It was introduced on the Milwaukee-Houston route. The 737 was an instant success among customers, allowing for a slightly larger overhead bin, a quicker ride, and a familiar aircraft. Quantum rapidly expanded in the period from 2000-2008. The airline became the third largest airline by passengers carried daily in the US during 2007. Also in that year Quantum operated its first international route, flying to Montego Bay the Caribbean. In 2008 Quantum began flights to Canada. Quantum ordered 737 aircraft in batches of 25. The 737-800 is set to be replaced by the 737 MAX-8 starting in 2018. Quantum hopes to have the whole 737NG fleet replaced by 2035.
The airline built several terminals for itself to improve passenger traffic at its largest airports. It was the largest presence in Baltimore, Charlotte, Fort Lauderdale, Memphis, and New Orleans. In Baltimore the 50-gate terminal served from 1990 on. The terminal is served by an underground subway system with 10 lines. It also has a spotters tower. Spotters must receive security clearance and are granted the top 3 floors. The 3 floors below it are reserved for passengers who want to spot. In Charlotte the 56 gate Terminal F handles over 40,000 passengers a day. In Fort Lauderdale, the airline has its flight training center on the airport grounds, as well as a training center in Opa-Locka and a 35 gate terminal. I In Memphis, the 30 gate terminal is supplemented with a training center for every type of employee and hosts a simulation center where pilots and dispatch students learn cooperatively. In New Orleans, the John Cross Terminal has 30 gates and serves many destinations. The terminal has 4 gates shared with codeshare partner Gulf Air. Salt Lake City is also home to a 50 gate terminal.