One notable African American-owned airline in Black history is the Newark-based Universal Airlines (UA). Founded in 1945 by 22-year-old Western Maryland College graduate, Percy Julian Turner, Universal Airlines became the first African American-owned airline in the United States.

The airline began by offering charter service and cargo flights, but eventually expanded to provide passenger flights between airports in the Northeast, particularly serving African American communities. Despite facing the challenges of segregation and racial discrimination in the aviation industry at the time, Universal Airlines grew to become a successful and popular choice for many African American travelers.

Unfortunately, Universal Airlines faced financial difficulties in the early 1960s and eventually ceased operations in 1963. However, the legacy of Percy Julian Turner and Universal Airlines remains an important part of Black history and the ongoing struggle for equal opportunities and representation in the aviation industry.