Braniff, among the nation's top 10 trunk carriers, would be the first major domestic airline to fail. Its troubles stem from the recession, intense fare-cutting and, above all, a strategy of rapid expansion in an attempt to take advantage of the new freedom made possible by deregulation of the airline industry in 1978.

Why did Braniff go under?

The airline ceased air carrier operations in May 1982 because of high fuel prices, credit card interest rates and extreme competition from new airline startups created by the Airline Deregulation Act of December 1978. Two later airlines used the Braniff name: the Hyatt Hotels-backed Braniff, Inc.

Why is Braniff at the end of South Park?

The Braniff sign at the end of the credits was used for fun in the first episode. Braniff is originally an airline. Trey and Matt got permission to use the sign for every episode.