People Express was launched on April 30, 1981, with Boeing 737 flights from Newark to Buffalo, Columbus and Norfolk; Jacksonville and Cleveland Hopkins were added a month later.

In December PE had 42 weekday departures from EWR to Baltimore/Washington, Boston Logan, Burlington, Buffalo Niagara, Port Columbus, Jacksonville, Norfolk, Sarasota-Bradenton, Syracuse Hancock and Palm Beach plus some flights around the periphery of the hub-and-spokes.

On May 26, 1983, People Express began non-stop flights from Newark to London's Gatwick Airport with a leased Boeing 747-227B previously operated by Braniff International Airways.

The cover of the May 1, 1986, People Express timetable had the following message: "We're Flying The Widest Plane To The Highest Place: Introducing The Only 747 Service From New York To Denver.

People Express also bought two commuter air carriers, Britt Airways in the U.S. Midwest and Provincetown-Boston Airlines (PBA) which served New England and Florida.

[3] On August 2, 1985, the company announced it was launching daily Boeing 747 service between Brussels and Newark at the prices of $149; to promote the new route, fares were discounted to $99 until September 30.

[citation needed] Debt pressure on the carrier forced a change in philosophy, as People Express sought to lure business travelers who would pay higher fares.

Aircraft cabins were redesigned to include a first-class section, a frequent flyer plan was initiated, and the simplified fare structure was abandoned in favor of the now-usual "revenue management" pricing.

The failed integration and enormous debt stretched People Express too far, and in June 1986, the company announced that it was working with an investment bank to seek buyers for part, or all, of the airline.

In the end, People Express was forced to sell entirely to Texas Air Corporation for roughly $125 million in cash, notes, and assumed debt.

People Express ceased to exist as a carrier on February 1, 1987, when its operations were subsequently merged as well into Continental Airlines via a joint marketing agreement.

The route map includes service operated by commuter air carriers Provincetown-Boston Airlines (PBA) in Florida and the U.S. northeast, and Britt Airways in the U.S. midwest.

People Express operated the following jet aircraft types at the time of its merger with Continental Airlines: On the episode of animated sitcom The Simpsons, Homer Simpson describes 1985 as the year "People Express introduced a generation of hicks to air travel" in the 1985-set flashback episode "Homer's Barbershop Quartet" The PeopleExpress headquarters were on the grounds of Newark International Airport.