In December 1958, U.S. airlines began regular jet-powered passenger service on transcontinental routes, using aircraft such as the Boeing 707. The new flights dramatically reduced travel times between coasts compared with propeller-driven planes. Early December schedules were heavily publicized and often booked by business travelers eager to save time. Jet service also changed passenger expectations about comfort and speed. The move marked the beginning of the modern jet age in American commercial aviation. It set the stage for mass air travel to become a routine part of American life.
