On Fri. Oct. 16, 2015, one of the major merger airlines departed from Charlotte-Douglas International Airport for the last time. The end to the US Airways brand set the final step for the American Airlines merger airline which began in 2013.

Crew members took this as a memorable event in history and took pictures as the flight began to depart.

Flight attendant Jennifer Swingle said, “It’s sad. [It’s] the start of something new, but it is the end of something that has been an amazing journey.”

The last flight of US Airways was flown by a veteran of US Airways of the past 30 years, Captain Aaron Emsberger. He admitted this trip was bitter sweet.

Emsberger said, “I’m excited, though, about this day and have been looking forward to it for the last month and a half since I was awarded this trip.”

The Charlotte-Douglas International Airport was a major hub for US Airways. The airport’s Interim Director Brent Cable, mentioned that Charlotte would now become the second biggest hub for American Airlines, which now becomes the largest airline in the U.S..

Cable said, “We grew up with US Airways, and before that Piedmont, so we always want to be mindful of our history and honor those who built that history and made Charlotte what it is.”

Two fire trucks prepared a staged water cannon salute on the tarmac as the aircraft pulled away from the gate, taking with it the end of a group that helped shape Charlotte aviation history.