Northeast pioneered service from its Boston base throughout the New England states and into Canada in the 1930s. By the time Northeast merged with Delta on August 1, 1972, its famous Yellowbirds were jetting to Florida, the Bahamas and Bermuda, and across country to Los Angeles, California.

The most iconic "yellow airline" of the 1970s was Hughes Airwest, famous for its distinctive "Sundance Yellow" and "Universal Blue" livery. Backed by billionaire Howard Hughes, the airline’s planes were affectionately (and sometimes mockingly) dubbed "Flying Bananas." Their marketing campaign prominently featured the catchphrase "Top Banana in the West," and the bright yellow color scheme extended to the flight attendant uniforms and cabin interiors. The airline operated a vast network across the Western United States, Canada, and Mexico. While other airlines like Southwest utilized some yellow in their "desert gold" liveries, Hughes Airwest was the only carrier to fully commit to an all-over, vibrant banana-yellow fuselage. The airline eventually merged into Republic Airlines in 1980, which later became part of Northwest and finally Delta Air Lines, but the "Flying Banana" remains a legendary symbol of 1970s aviation kitsch and brand identity.