Abilene was also served by Pioneer Airlines from the mid 1940s to the mid 1950s with direct flights to Dallas Love Field, Houston Hobby Airport, Albuquerque, Fort Worth, Amarillo, Lubbock and other destinations in Texas and New Mexico with services being operated with Douglas DC-3 and Martin 2-0-2 twin prop aircraft. Pioneer was acquired and merged into Continental Airlines in 1955. Continental continued to serve Abilene with Douglas DC-3 aircraft flying to the destinations formerly served by Pioneer and also began new direct service from the airport to San Antonio. By the late 1950s, Continental was serving Abilene with larger aircraft such as the Convair 340 and Convair 440 twin prop aircraft as well as with the four engine, British-manufactured Vickers Viscount turboprop. In 1959, the airline was operating Viscount propjet flights on a daily basis direct to Dallas Love Field and Albuquerque. Continental subsequently ceased all flights into the airport and by 1964 was no longer serving Abilene. Continental would not return to the airport; however, Continental Connection feeder service operated by Colgan Air with Saab 340 turboprops was introduced many years later with service to Houston Intercontinental Airport until this service was terminated in 2008.