Braniff Plans to Move Main Office to Orlando

Braniff Inc. announced Thursday that it will move its headquarters to Orlando from Dallas and expand support facilities in Orlando and in Kansas City to the tune of $40 million and 1,400 jobs in the next year.

Kansas City will remain the airline’s primary hub, Braniff Chairman William G. McGee told a news conference in Orlando. But the carrier wants to participate “in one of the most dynamic growth areas of the country” by moving its corporate base to Orlando.

The airline, which began operating in central Florida a year ago with the acquisition of Florida Express, will build new maintenance facilities at both Kansas City and Orlando as well as a headquarters building in Orlando, McGee said.

“This aggressive expansion program coupled with our already announced plans to increase our fleet by a net of 22 additional aircraft this year will fuel a 35% companywide growth in employment over the next 12 months,” McGee said.