Commission File No.
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                                   FORM 8-A

                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             WASHINGTON, DC 20549

               FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES
                  PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(B) OR 12(G) OF THE 
                        SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                          TRANS WORLD AIRLINES, INC.
            (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


             Delaware                                   43-1145889
(State of incorporation or organization)   (I.R.S. employer identification no.)

                                One City Centre
                              515 N. Sixth Street
                           St. Louis, Missouri 63101

                   (Address of principal executive offices)

   If this Form relates to the registration of a class of debt securities and is
effective upon filing pursuant to General Instruction A.(c)(1), please check the
following box [ ].

   If this Form relates to the registration of a class of debt securities and is
to become effective simultaneously with the effectiveness of a concurrent 
registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933 pursuant to General 
Instruction A.(c)(2), please check the following box [ ].

       SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(B) OF THE ACT:


Title of each class                        Name of each exchange on 
to be registered                           which each class is to be registered

Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share    American Stock Exchange


     SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(G) OF THE ACT:

                     Warrants to Purchase Common Stock   

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ITEM 1.  DESCRIPTION OF REGISTRANT'S SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED.

         General:

         The descriptions of the Registrant's Common Stock and Warrants for
         Common Stock are hereby incorporated by reference from the Registrant's
         Registration Statement No. 333-26639, as amended (including any
         prospectus contained therein filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the
         Securities Act of 1933).


ITEM 2.  EXHIBITS.

         Exhibits filed with the Commission and the American Stock Exchange:
         
         Exhibit
         Number     Description
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           1.       Form of TWA Warrant Agreement dated as of March 31, 1997
                    between Trans World Airlines, Inc. ("TWA") and American
                    Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as Warrant Agent
                    (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.18 to Registration
                    Statement No. 333-26639)

           2.       Form of Warrant to Purchase Common Stock (contained in 
                    Warrant Agreement incorporated by reference from Exhibit
                    4.18 to Registration No. 333-26639)

        Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange 
Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be 
signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized.

                                       TRANS WORLD AIRLINES, INC.
                                              (Registrant)



Date: September 5, 1997                By: /s/ Richard P. Magurno
                                           ----------------------
                                           Richard P. Magurno
                                           Senior Vice President and 
                                           General Counsel


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