When was Air New Zealand founded?
Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand originated in 1940 as Tasman Empire Airways Limited (TEAL), a company operating trans-Tasman flights between New Zealand and Australia. TEAL became wholly owned by the New Zealand government in 1965, whereupon it was renamed Air New Zealand. The airline served international routes until 1978, when the government merged it and the domestic New Zealand National Airways Corporation (NAC) into a single airline under the Air New Zealand name. Air New Zealand was privatised in 1989, but returned to majority government ownership in 2001 after near bankruptcy due to a failed tie up with Australian carrier Ansett Australia. In the 2017 financial year to June, Air New Zealand carried 15.95 million passengers.
Transport in New Zealand
A passenger ferry service also operated for many years between Wellington and Lyttelton (the port closest to Christchurch). This service was operated by the Union Steam Ship Company, and the passenger ferries typically operated an overnight service, although in later years the last of these vessels, the "Rangatira", operated alternate nights in each direction plus a daylight sailing from Lyttelton to Wellington on Saturdays (so as to get a balance of four sailings in each direction, each week). One of these passenger ferries, the "Wahine", was lost in a storm as it entered Wellington Harbour on 10 April 1968, with the loss of 51 passengers and crew. The final sailing of the Rangatira, which was custom built and entered service in 1972, was on 15 September 1976, after two money-losing years (subsidised by the government).
New Zealand's air travel sector is served by 15 airlines. The largest airline is Air New Zealand, a state-owned flag carrier.
Kiwi Travel International Airlines
By the end of 1995, Air New Zealand had established Freedom Air via its subsidiary Mount Cook Airline and operated in direct competition with Kiwi, offering the same routes and a similar fare structure. In early 1996, Kiwi replaced its Boeing 727 with a leased Boeing 757 from the UK-based company Air 2000, later replaced by a Boeing 737. Freedom Air also operated a Boeing 737. Kiwi also added a second aircraft, an Airbus A320, and expanded its network to include Christchurch and the Australian city of Melbourne. By September 1996, trans-Tasman fares reached historic lows of $199 for return tickets between Melbourne/Christchurch and Melbourne/Hamilton.
History of aviation in New Zealand
There had been some experiments with aerial topdressing in the 1930s and these continued after the war. By the early 1950s over thirty firms were operating, mainly using the de Havilland Tiger Moth. Specialist aircraft were developed, starting with the Fletcher Fu24, from an American design. Pacific Aerospace produced the Fletcher and other later designs. TEAL had maintained its trans-Tasman service during the war. After the war, its flying boats serviced the Coral Route to Tahiti via Fiji, Samoa and the Cook Islands from 1951 to 1960. TEAL became fully owned by the New Zealand government in 1961, and became Air New Zealand in 1965.
Ansett New Zealand
Ansett New Zealand was a wholly owned airline subsidiary of Ansett Australia, serving the New Zealand domestic market between 1987 and 2000. In order to comply with regulatory requirements relating to the acquisition of Ansett Australia by Air New Zealand, Ansett New Zealand was sold to News Corporation and later to Tasman Pacific Airlines of New Zealand in 2000, operating as a Qantas franchise under the Qantas New Zealand brand. It went into receivership and subsequently liquidation in 2001.
Aspiring Air
Aspiring Air was an airline based in Wanaka, New Zealand. It operated charter pleasure flights around New Zealand's Southern Alps and scheduled services three times daily to Queenstown, connecting with Air New Zealand. Its main base was Wanaka Airport.The airline was established in 1974, was wholly owned by Barrie McHaffie (Managing Director) and had 8 employees
Air Chathams
Air Chathams Limited is an airline based in Te One, the Chatham Islands, New Zealand. It was established in 1984 and operates scheduled passenger services between the Chatham Islands and mainland New Zealand along with routes between Auckland and Whakatane, and Auckland and Whanganui. Its main base is Chatham Islands / Tuuta Airport.
New Zealand National Airways Corporation
The pioneering turbo-prop powered Vickers Viscount first appeared in New Zealand in 1953 when an early model -700 was flown out for the London to Christchurch Air Race. Although suitably impressed, NAC management couldn't justify the cost of operating the airliner to what were then very substandard and limited airports; at the time only Christchurch and Auckland were capable. In 1954, after the NZ Government encouraged the development of nationwide airports and with the promise of Wellington Airport being completed in 1958, NAC ordered four of the new larger 800 series type.
New Zealand Air Training Corps
The Air Training Corps was formed in September 1941, at a time when New Zealand was considered to be at risk from Japanese invasion and the British were not in a position to help. Its purpose was to train potential airmen in basic airmanship and provide an insight into Air Force work to prepare young men for the RNZAF when they became of age.
Royal New Zealand Air Force
New Zealand's military aviation began in 1913 when the New Zealand Army was presented with two Blériot monoplanes by the United Kingdom. These machines were grounded after a young woman was given a joyride. Both aircraft were however handed back after war broke out.
History of Air New Zealand
In 1985 the first Boeing 767-200s were delivered. This type filled the medium range and payload gap vacated by the DC-8 and DC-10s. This allowed the airline to service the trans-Tasman route with a more intensive frequency to the major capitals not allowed by the larger Boeing 747s. Flights to Perth also used the aircraft. The Boeing 767 was also used for main trunk domestic services.
History of Air New Zealand
Having considering the DC-8 "Super Sixties" and the Lockheed L-1011, Air New Zealand ordered eight DC-10-30s, the first of which arrived on 27 January 1973. The DC-10s introduced a new paint scheme, with a koru featuring on the tail in the style of a Maori waka (canoe) stern post instead of the previously displayed Southern Cross; this scheme spread to the DC-8s during 1973. The longer range of the DC-10 opened up routes to Asia and eliminated the stop at Manila on the Auckland to Hong Kong route in 1975. As well as expanding trans-Pacific services. The first service to Perth was started in 1980.
Union Airways of N.Z. Ltd
New Zealand National Airways Corporation began business on 1 April 1947. The general manager of Union Airways took the same role in the new NAC. The aircraft, timetables and support services and most personnel were simply moved to the new operation.
Air New Zealand
In March 1999, Air New Zealand became a member of the Star Alliance. From 1999 through 2000, Air New Zealand became embroiled in an ownership battle over Ansett with co-owner News Limited over a possible sale of the under-performing carrier to Singapore Airlines.
Air New Zealand
Another new livery was announced on 12 June 2013. In conjunction with a NZ$20 million Memorandum of Understanding with the national tourism agency Tourism New Zealand for joint marketing, TNZ granted permission for Air New Zealand to use the "New Zealand Fern Mark", a standard fern logo used and managed by Tourism NZ and NZ Trade and Enterprise for international promotion, in its livery.
New Zealand Civil Air Ensign
On 16 November 1938, by an exercise of the Royal prerogative, the New Zealand Civil Air Ensign was instituted. Thereafter it was "recognised as the proper national colours to be flown by British aircraft registered in New Zealand"
Air Nelson
The airline was established and started operations in 1979. It was founded by Robert Inglis and Nicki Smith who later sold the airline to Air New Zealand. It has 517 employees (at March 2015).
Ansett New Zealand
Ansett New Zealand was the result of Ansett Australia's desire to expand into the New Zealand market, enabled by the relaxation of regulation in the aviation sector by the fourth Labour government. Ansett Australia formed a partnership with two New Zealand companies, Brierley Investments and Newmans, the latter being a tourism company which owned the unprofitable Newmans Air. Newmans Air formed the basis for a new expanded airline, the company being Bilmans Management Ltd, operating as Ansett New Zealand. Half its shares (the maximum allowed for a foreign company) were owned by Ansett Australia, with Brierley holding 27.5% and Newmans holding 22.5%. Subsequently, regulations were relaxed still further, and Ansett Australia took full ownership.
History of Air New Zealand
In October 1989 Air New Zealand was privatised with its sale to a consortium headed by Brierley Investments Ltd. Brierley retained 65%, with 30% to be sold to the New Zealand public, staff, and institutional investors — Qantas with 19.9%, Japan Airlines 7.5%, American Airlines 7.5%, and a New Zealand Government "Kiwi share" made up the balance. The Kiwi share has special powers to ensure that the majority shareholding is held by New Zealanders. In the same year Air New Zealand listed on the New Zealand Stock Exchange.
Airways New Zealand
The company was created 1987 as a State-Owned Enterprise having formerly being a division of the Ministry of Transport, a government department. This followed the recommendations of the 1986 Mason-Morris Review. Airways New Zealand is a commercial Air Navigation Service Provider (ANSP), responsible for managing all domestic and international air traffic operating within New Zealand's 30 million square kilometres of airspace over New Zealand, Tonga, Samoa and the Cook Islands. This involves:
Kapiti Coast Airport
On 24 October 2011, Air Nelson, a subsidiary of Air New Zealand, commenced flights between Auckland and Paraparaumu. Flights to Christchurch also operated from November 2013 but ceased in February 2016. All flights are operated with Bombardier Q300 50 seat aircraft. On 9 March 2018, Air New Zealand announced it was suspending its Kapiti Coast to Auckland service effective 3 April 2018 . This ended Air New Zealand operations on the Kapiti Coast after 7 years.
Koru
The logo of Air New Zealand, the national carrier, incorporates a "koru" design—based on the Ngaru (Ngāti Kahungunu) kowhaiwhai pattern—as a symbol of New Zealand "flora". The logo was introduced in 1973 to coincide with the arrival of the airline's first McDonnell Douglas DC-10 wide-body jet.
History of Air New Zealand
In 1947 a domestic competitor appeared in the form of the Government-owned National Airways Corporation (NAC), formed when the New Zealand government nationalised Union Airways and a number of other smaller operators. NAC was initially equipped with de Havilland Dragon Rapides, de Havilland Fox Moths, Douglas DC-3s, Lockheed Electras and Lockheed Super Electras. In the late 1940s NAC also provided international services to nearby South Pacific countries using converted ex-RNZAF Short Sunderlands. These were later supplemented by de Havilland Herons, Vickers Viscounts, Fokker Friendships and ultimately Boeing 737s. In 1972 NAC purchased a freight subsidiary, Straits Air Freight Express, which operated Bristol Freighters and Armstrong Whitworth AW.660 Argosy freighters.
Air Travel (NZ) Ltd
Air Travel's first scheduled flight took place in Fox Moth ZK ADI on 18 December 1934, from Hokitika to South Westland, and occurred shortly after the airline began delivering mail. In 1945, not long after Mercer died in an air crash, the company came under government control but continued until 1967, when the national air carrier NAC began flights into Hokitika. Eleven pilots flew for Air Travel between 1934 and 1947.
Mount Cook Group
Mount Cook Group was a New Zealand tourism and transport operator founded on 2 April 1912 by Rodolph Lysaght Wigley. Originally a road transport business, the "Mount Cook Tourist Company of New Zealand" became a public company in 1928. By 1930 Wigley had built it into the largest tourist organisation in New Zealand, and it was renamed "Mount Cook and Southern Lakes Tourist Company", the name adopted in the mid 1930s. In 1976 it became "The Mount Cook Group Ltd". The company was split in 1989 with various operations progressively sold off, with Air New Zealand retaining the airline businesses. The company remained (on paper) until 17 June 2013 when it was amalgamated into Air New Zealand Associated Companies Limited, a holding company for Air New Zealand's various businesses (and current "owner" of Mount Cook Airline).
Ansett New Zealand
In 1996, Air New Zealand made a bid to purchase half of Ansett Australia, after an open skies agreement for the former to fly within Australia was abruptly withdrawn. Anti-monopoly regulators did not want Air New Zealand to gain control of Ansett's operations in New Zealand, however, and it was therefore required that the two Ansett airlines would be separated. Ansett Australia would be owned by Air New Zealand and (until it was bought out) Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation, while Ansett New Zealand would be owned by News Corporation exclusively.
New Zealand Company
The New Zealand Company established settlements at Wellington, Nelson, Wanganui and Dunedin and also became involved in the settling of New Plymouth and Christchurch. The original New Zealand Company started in 1825, with little success, then rose as a new company when it merged with Wakefield's New Zealand Association in 1837, received its royal charter in 1840, reached the peak of efficiency about 1841, encountered financial problems from 1843 from which it never recovered, returned its charter in 1850 and wound up all remaining business with a final report in 1858.
Air New Zealand fleet
Air New Zealand introduced the Boeing 777-300ER in 2010 to replace the Boeing 747-400 on long-haul routes. The model was introduced to the flagship London Heathrow-Los Angeles-Auckland route (NZ1/NZ2) in April 2011.
Auckland CBD
Air New Zealand was formerly headquartered in Auckland CBD. In 2006, from late September to early October, the airline moved employees out of the four buildings it occupied in Auckland CBD and relocated them to the new headquarters in the Wynyard Quarter. In September 2003 Air New Zealand was the only one of the very largest corporations in New Zealand to have its headquarters within the Auckland CBD.
History of aviation in New Zealand
Trans-Tasman flights were attempted from the late 1920s. John Moncrieff and George Hood disappeared while making an attempt in early 1928. Later that year, Charles Kingsford Smith and his crew flew from Sydney to Christchurch. Further flights across the Tasman followed, and by 1940 Tasman Empire Airways Limited (TEAL), jointly owned by Union Airways, Imperial Airways, Qantas Empire Airways, and the New Zealand Government was able to start scheduled services. Flying boat services across the Pacific to the United States were also developed by TEAL and Pan Am.
Originair
Robert Inglis founded Air Nelson in 1979 with Nicki Smith. Air New Zealand purchased 50 per cent of the airline in October 1988, and then acquired the remaining share in 1996. The airline still exists today as one of Air New Zealand's regional subsidiaries, operating turboprop aircraft on domestic routes under the Air New Zealand Link brand. Inglis and Smith subsequently founded Origin Pacific Airways in 1996, to provide regional flights around New Zealand. It had a code-share agreement with Qantas' New Zealand subsidiary Jetconnect between 2001 and 2004, allowing Origin Pacfic's regional flights to connect with the larger airline's domestic and international routes. The termination of the code-share agreement resulted in Origin Pacific Airways losing 60% of its business, and the airline eventually went into liquidation in 2006.
Newmans Air
Ansett Australia had long held a desire to enter the New Zealand aviation market, and indeed between 1960 and 1966 had held a shareholding in South Pacific Airlines of New Zealand. The relaxation of regulation in the aviation sector in 1986 by the fourth Labour government allowed Ansett to take joint ownership of Newmans Air with a 50% share, along with NZ investment company Brierley Investments (27.5% shareholding). The remaining shares were kept by Newmans Group.
Air Travel (NZ) Ltd
Immediately following the second world war all New Zealand's air services were nationalised. The equipment and staff of Air Travel joined those of Union Airways in the new government-owned New Zealand National Airways Corporation but Air Travel's aircraft and their routes kept a separate identity for some long time.
New Zealand National Airways Corporation
The "new" Air New Zealand airline immediately suffered from low staff morale, a divided operating fleet and incompatible management systems. The ensuing years saw slow growth, recession, and a major aircraft accident.
Eagle Airways
Eagle Airways was a regional airline based in Hamilton, New Zealand and was wholly owned by Air New Zealand, operating regional services under the Air New Zealand Link brand. The airline was disbanded on 26 August 2016, with staff absorbed into Air New Zealand's other subsidiaries.
History of Air New Zealand
In late 2002 the New Zealand Government agreed in principle to allow Qantas to purchase a 22.5% shareholding at a cost of NZ$550 million; the purchase being subject to regulatory approval in both Australia and New Zealand. However, this proposal was met with resistance from the regulatory bodies in both countries — despite industry experts such as IATA head Giovanni Bisignani calling their opposition "misguided" and suggesting that the proposed alliance was a model example of the only possible method of survival for smaller airlines. In late 2003 the Australian and New Zealand regulatory bodies both rejected the alliance as being anti-competitive, despite a worldwide trend for airlines to consolidate (such as the 2003 acquisition of KLM by Air France). Air New Zealand and Qantas both announced they would appeal the decisions.
History of Air New Zealand
In November 2003 Air New Zealand extended the successful low-cost domestic Express concept to trans-Tasman routes. Early indications are that this move has also proved successful, with an estimated 10% increase of bookings in the first few months of operation. On 30 June 2004 the airline commenced non-stop services from Auckland to San Francisco, the first new international destination for eight years. In September 2004 Air New Zealand was named Best Long Haul Airline in the seventh annual Conde Nast Traveller UK Readers' Awards.
Union Company
In the 1930s Union Airways of New Zealand was formed by Union Steam Ship and it built an air service through New Zealand. Union Airways was nationalised by the government in 1947 and renamed National Airways Corporation.
Air New Zealand
On 27 March 2006, Air New Zealand embarked on a changeover to a new brand identity, involving a new Zambesi-designed uniform, new logo, new colour scheme and new look check-in counters and lounges. The new uniforms featured a colour palette mirroring the greenstone, teal, schist and slate hues of New Zealand; sea and sky (a Māori motif created by Derek Lardelli) fabric woven from merino wool; and curves inspired by the airline's logo symbol, the koru. A greenstone colour replaces the blue Pacific Wave colour, inspired by the colour of the pounamu, the prized gemstone found in New Zealand. The Air New Zealand Koru was woven through all Air New Zealand's signage and products.
Air New Zealand fleet
Air New Zealand introduced the Airbus A320-200 in 2003, and was the first non-Boeing aircraft in Air New Zealand's jet fleet since the McDonnell Douglas DC-10 was withdrawn in 1982. The A320-200 was introduced to replace the Boeing 767-200ER and the Boeing 737-300 on short-haul international routes to eastern Australia and the Pacific Islands.
History of Air New Zealand
In early 2002 Ralph Norris, formerly head of ASB Bank, one of New Zealand's main banks, was announced as the new CEO of Air New Zealand, and commenced the difficult task of pulling the airline back from near-death.
History of Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand started its first service to the mainland of China with the launch of Auckland to Shanghai in November 2006. Following that success Beijing was added on 18 July 2008. This route has since been terminated in July 2012. Flights to Bali resumed on 20 June 2012. Seasonal flights to Sunshine Coast a first for the Australian city began on 1 July 2012. This route made Air New Zealand the first overseas airline to fly into four cities of the Australian state of Queensland.
Air New Zealand
With the increased range of the Douglas DC-8s the airline's first jet aircraft, Air New Zealand began transpacific services to the United States and Asia with Los Angeles and Honolulu added as destinations in 1965. The airline further acquired wide-body McDonnell Douglas DC-10 airliners in 1973. The DC-10s introduced the new koru-inspired logo for the airline, which remains to this day.
Air Force Museum of New Zealand
The Air Force Museum of New Zealand, formerly called The Royal New Zealand Air Force Museum, is located at Wigram, the RNZAF's first operational base, in Christchurch, in the South Island of New Zealand. It opened on 1 April 1987 as part of the celebrations for the RNZAF's 50th anniversary, and is primarily a museum of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, its predecessor, the New Zealand Permanent Air Force and New Zealand squadrons of the Royal Air Force. The Air Force Museum of New Zealand's mission is to preserve and present the history of New Zealand military aviation for commemoration, learning, inspiration and enjoyment.
Union Airways of N.Z. Ltd
In March 1935 Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand, subsidiary of P & O, applied to New Zealand's Transport Coordination Board for a licence to operate a national trunk airline service together with three other companies: New Zealand Airlines of New Plymouth; Dominion Airways of Auckland (together they were Great Pacific Airways); and New Zealand Airways of Dunedin. The facilities at Rongotai being inadequate it was proposed the service would operate between Auckland, Milson (Palmerston North), Blenheim, Christchurch and Dunedin. In May having won a first licence to fly between Palmerston North and Dunedin (calling at Blenheim and Christchurch) Union Steam formed Union Airways Limited keeping for itself 600 of the planned issue of 1000 shares. The new Great Pacific Airways covered the rest of the North Island though, again, not Wellington and shared the South Island calls. There were strong protests from the Wellington resident Coordination Board member. Licence applications for other routes from other sponsors were firmly opposed by Union Steam.
The general public seemed unaware that no other country had commercial flying services without government subsidy. Only in United States were military and civil aviation clearly separated though civil was still subsidised. For their Brisbane-Darwin-Singapore service operating the same DH86 aircraft QANTAS Empire Airways received a greater subsidy per mile than proposed for the trunk route. The board had been directed to take into account the value of the usefulness of all the proposed airways facilities for auxiliary defence purposes.
New Zealand Special Air Service
The New Zealand Special Air Service, abbreviated as the NZSAS, was formed on 7 July 1955 and is the special forces unit of the New Zealand Army, closely modelled on the British Special Air Service (SAS). It traces its origins to the Second World War and the famous Long Range Desert Group that New Zealanders served with.
History of Air New Zealand
In 1982 the first Air New Zealand flight to London in its own right (via Papeete and Los Angeles) took place. Air New Zealand was now a global airline. By 1988, the airline was operating weekly roundtrip Boeing 747 service between Auckland and London via Dallas/Fort Worth.
Air New Zealand
In 2000, Air New Zealand announced that it had chosen instead to acquire the entirety of Ansett Australia (increasing its 50% stake in the carrier to 100%) for A$680 million from News Corporation Ltd. Business commentators believe this to have been a critical mistake, as Ansett's fleet, staffing levels and infrastructure far outweighed that of Air New Zealand. Subsequently, both carriers' profitability came under question, and foreign offers to purchase the Air New Zealand Group were considered. In September 2001, plagued by costs it could not possibly afford, the Air New Zealand / Ansett Group neared collapse. A failed attempt at purchasing Virgin Blue was the final straw, and on 12 September, out of both time and cash, Air New Zealand placed Ansett Australia into voluntary administration, following which Ansett was forced to cease operations. Air New Zealand announced a NZ$1.425 billion operating loss.
Freedom Air
The airline was established in 1995 as a response to the commencement of discount services between Australia and New Zealand by Kiwi Airlines and started operations on 8 December 1995 with a single Boeing 757. It was formed as South Pacific Air Charters by Mount Cook Airline.
Freedom Air
Freedom Air was Air New Zealand Group's low-cost airline which operated from December 1995 to March 2008. It ran scheduled passenger services from New Zealand to Australia and Fiji and charter services within New Zealand. Its main base was Auckland Airport.
History of Air New Zealand
In 1979 the crash of American Airlines Flight 191 led to a global grounding of all DC-10s, stranding hundreds of passengers on both sides of Air New Zealand's Los Angeles–Auckland route. The airline chartered a Pan Am Boeing 747 to transport stranded passengers and to keep a shuttle service open. The airline's two remaining DC-8s maintained a trans-tasman shuttle service along with its single international standard equipped 737-200, ZK-NAR. The decision not to take up NAC's purchase rights of the trans-tasman capable Boeing 727-200 had come back to haunt the airline. With no DC-8 replacement in sight Air New Zealand began looking for a mid-sized wide bodied jet and ordered the Boeing 767-200ER in 1983.
History of Air New Zealand
On 10 September 2001, in desperation Air New Zealand offered to sell Ansett to Qantas for $1. After two days' consideration Qantas declined, and Air New Zealand suspended trading in its shares (which had already dropped enormously) and placed Ansett in voluntary administration. Ansett was bankrupt, and Air New Zealand was in barely better shape. The following day Air New Zealand announced a staggering NZ$1,425 million loss: a NZ$1,321 million write-off of Ansett, and another NZ$104 million lost by Air New Zealand itself.
Air Safaris (New Zealand airline)
In 1996 Air Safaris won an award from the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand for safety. Director Kevin Ward said that the 1996 winning organisation, Air Safaris and Services (NZ), ""...set standards, and fly to them.."".
Air Nelson
In 1986, Air New Zealand announced it would start to scale back its Fokker F27 operations and smaller regional centres were the first affected. Air Nelson aircraft immediately replaced the F27 on those routes. Air Nelson grew their network at the same time and started operating non-stop service to Auckland, complementing F27 services. Air New Zealand also purchased a stake in Air Nelson (along with Eagle Airways) to secure the airline's support when deregulation saw the arrival of Ansett New Zealand.
Air New Zealand fleet
The first aircraft was handed over to Air New Zealand on 8 July 2014 at the Everett plant, and arrived in Auckland three days later. The first 787-9 service operated on 9 August 2014, from Auckland to Sydney and return.
Air New Zealand
In 2011, Air New Zealand introduced the Boeing 777-300ER airliner, as well as the Economy Skycouch, a set of three economy class seats that could be converted into a flat multi-purpose surface by raising the leg rests. After a four-year delay, Air New Zealand took delivery of its first Boeing 787-9 on 9 July 2014. On 12 September 2014, the airline withdrew the Boeing 747 after 33 years of service, leaving Air New Zealand with a completely twin-engined jet fleet.
Mainland Air
Mainland Air was established in 1991 by Queenstown businessman Christopher Kelliher. From 1995 to 2006 the airline operated courier flights for New Zealand Post between Dunedin and Christchurch. Later in 2007 the airline started a thrice weekly Dunedin to Alexandra and Queenstown service using a ten-seater Piper Chieftain. In March 2008 Mainland started a thrice weekly Dunedin to Invercargill service also using its Piper Chieftain aircraft. At that time Mainland were also considering services to Wanaka and Te Anau.
Later all these scheduled services were dropped due to lack of demand. Late 2009 Chris Kelliher sold the company to the Paterson family who owned Mainland’s major maintenance provider, Southair Ltd
Air New Zealand Link
Air New Zealand Link was formed as the brand name for regional services in 1991, covering the three airlines Air New Zealand had purchased interests in; Eagle Airways, Mount Cook Airline and Air Nelson. The three airlines were purchased as Air New Zealand found it not viable to operate its own regional services due to the introduction of new competition, Ansett New Zealand.
History of aviation in New Zealand
The history of aviation in New Zealand began in the late 19th century when balloon flights began. In the first decade of the 20th century, several New Zealanders began developing heavier-than-air craft with the first confirmed powered flight in New Zealand being made by Vivian Walsh in 1911. The First World War spurred the development of aviation in New Zealand. A flying school was established and several hundred New Zealanders went on to serve in British flying services in Europe.
Eagle Airways
The airline was established and started operations in 1969. It grew out of the Eagle Flying Academy owned and operated by Malcom Campbell and John Fairclough. In 1973, it became a commercial airline flying routes around the North Island of New Zealand using twin-engined Beechcraft Baron aircraft, capitalising on provincial routes not serviced by the national airline of the time, National Airways Corporation (NAC). 1976 saw the introduction of 9-seat Piper Chieftain aircraft. During 1979, Eagle moved into turbine operations with Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante aircraft and later, Fairchild Metro aircraft.
History of aviation in New Zealand
The First World War spurred the development of aviation in New Zealand. The Walsh brothers established the New Zealand Flying School at Kohimarama on Auckland Harbour, using flying boats to train over 100 pilots. Henry Wigram established the Canterbury Aviation Company at Sockburn, Christchurch. The company imported some aeroplanes and built more, and trained 182 pilots. Some 800 New Zealanders served with the Royal Flying Corps, Royal Naval Air Service and Royal Air Force during the war, 80% of those serving as aircrew. A further 60 New Zealanders served with the Australian Flying Corps. Twelve New Zealanders became squadron leaders and fifteen were considered to be aces, including Keith Park, Keith Caldwell, Harold Beamish, Clive Collett and Arthur Coningham. William Rhodes-Moorhouse, of New Zealand parentage, became the first airman to be awarded the Victoria Cross.
History of Air New Zealand
On 20 September 2004 the New Zealand High Court blocked Qantas' plan to buy 22% of Air New Zealand. Qantas and Air New Zealand decided not to lodge an appeal. However, both Ralph Norris and his counterpart at Qantas, Geoff Dixon, have stated that the airlines will continue to assess other forms of cooperation that will not conflict with competition regulations. In October 2004 SIA sold its remaining stake in Air New Zealand.
New Zealand National Airways Corporation
On 23 October 1948, NAC Lockheed Model 10 Electra ZK-AGK "Kaka" crashed on the south-western slopes of Mt Ruapehu in the centre of New Zealand's North Island while flying in clouds. The aircraft was flying from Palmerston North to Hamilton, but drifted right off track after passing over Whanganui and collided with the mountain killing all thirteen people on board. The wreckage was located a week later near the summit. The accident highlighted the lack of air navigation radio beacons in New Zealand at the time.
Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand currently operates a fleet of Airbus A320, Airbus A320neo family, Boeing 777 and Boeing 787 aircraft. Air New Zealand's regional subsidiaries, Air Nelson and Mount Cook Airline, operate additional domestic services using turboprop aircraft. Air New Zealand was awarded Airline of the Year in 2010 and 2012 by the "Air Transport World" Global Airline Awards. In 2014, Air New Zealand was ranked the safest airline in the world by JACDEC.
Union Airways of N.Z. Ltd
Wellington Blenheim Nelson Two De Havilland DH89
The first scheduled flight was from Dunedin to Christchurch on Wednesday 15 January 1936 and on it were: the mayor of Dunedin, Union Company's Dunedin manager, New Zealand Shipping Company's Dunedin manager, two officials of the Dunedin Aero Club and two other representatives of commercially interested parties. The pilot was A G Gerrard assisted by A V Jury who was also wireless operator.By the end of 1945 the government's intention to create a national airways corporation to monopolise civil aviation services had become The New Zealand National Airways Act.
History of Air New Zealand
1999 saw all five weekly services to Tokyo operated by Boeing 747-400s and an additional 747 arrived in Auckland. At the end of the year, Air New Zealand and United filed for anti-trust immunity with the United States Department of Transportation because of the two companies' alliance agreements.
History of aviation in New Zealand
Union Airways was merged into the government-owned New Zealand National Airways Corporation (NAC) in 1945. NAC took over other private interests, and expanded air services nationwide. Main aircraft types operated by NAC included the Douglas DC-3, de Havilland Heron, Vickers Viscount, Fokker F27, and the Boeing 737. Straits Air Freight Express (SAFE Air) was established in 1950 as a specialist freight carrier across Cook Strait, operating the Bristol Type 170 Freighter Mk.31. SAFE Air was bought by NAC in 1972 and became a separate maintenance operation under Air New Zealand before being sold in 2015. NAC was merged into Air New Zealand in 1978 to form one government-owned airline for domestic and international services.
Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand began as TEAL (Tasman Empire Airways Limited) in 1940, operating Short Empire flying boats on trans-Tasman routes. Following World War II, TEAL operated weekly flights from Auckland to Sydney, and added Wellington and Fiji to its routings. The New Zealand and Australian governments purchased 50% stakes in TEAL in 1953, and the airline ended flying boat operations in favour of land-based turboprop airliners by 1960. In 1965, TEAL became Air New Zealand—the New Zealand government having purchased Australia's 50% stake in the carrier.
History of Air New Zealand
The reality was rather different. In revenue terms, Air New Zealand was the 39th largest airline in the world, Ansett 32nd. However, both airlines were only marginally profitable and needed a substantial capital injection that neither was able to provide. The larger very successful airlines Qantas and SIA both made offers to buy the Air New Zealand group but needed regulatory approval to lift the 25% foreign ownership rule. The Clark government refused to make a decision. Deputy Prime Minister Jim Anderton said "the idea of selling our national airline to anyone would be an anathema", even though Air New Zealand was at that time already 49.9% foreign-owned: 25% by Singapore Airlines, and 24.9% by Brierley Investments, which was originally a New Zealand-based concern but had relocated to Singapore in 2000, and circumvented the foreign ownership restrictions by using a New Zealand-based trust to hold its Air New Zealand shares.
History of Air New Zealand
A low-cost subsidiary, Freedom Air, began operations in 1996. In 1997 South Korean flights were suspended because of the Asian financial crisis, and a small partnership was formed with United Airlines. In 1998 EVA Air and Air New Zealand jointly started operating Boeing 767 services between Taipei and Auckland. In addition, Air New Zealand received three new Boeing Boeing 737-300s to operate on flights between New Zealand and Australia.
Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand operates five fifth freedom routes (i.e. between two non-New Zealand destinations), the most notable being the daily Los Angeles – London Heathrow service, operating as an extension of one of its Auckland – Los Angeles services. The airline operates weekly flights from Rarotonga to Sydney and Los Angeles, in addition to flights connecting via Auckland. In 2012 – after securing a contract from the Australian government – Air New Zealand launched twice-weekly services from Sydney and Brisbane to Norfolk Island on its A320 aircraft, complementing its existing direct services from Auckland.
New Zealand National Airways Corporation
In 1975 the airline introduced a new "NAC Wings Of The Nation" livery - a two toned orange colour scheme with the 'Godwit' roundel on an orange tailfin. Air New Zealand DC-10s or DC-8s were often hired in to move burgeoning holidaymaker numbers which brought about the idea of purchasing the larger Boeing 727-200. This would've also allowed the airline to challenge Air New Zealand on Trans Tasman and Pacific Island routes. Boeing offered to buy back NAC's three original 737 models as trade-ins to help purchase costs and approached NAC with the then proposed B757/767 family, opening up new markets. McDonnell Douglas also joined in with a DC-10 offer to NAC, re-igniting the merger debate within the New Zealand Government.
History of Air New Zealand
In 1981 Air New Zealand ordered its first wide-bodied Boeing type; the Boeing 747-219 was delivered, starting the replacement of the DC-10s. The DC-10s were leased out, the last service being in 1983, and all were sold by the end of 1986.
Air New Zealand
Then CEO Rob Fyfe said of the rebranding: "Black has resonated well with our customers and staff who identify with it as the colour of New Zealand and a natural choice for our national airline. It inspires pride, is part of our Kiwi identity and a symbol of Kiwi success on the world stage." The airline began using black as its corporate colour ahead of a sponsorship campaign with NZ's rugby union team, the All Blacks, in 2011.
History of Air New Zealand
In 2001 Air New Zealand announced plans to buy 16 new Beechcraft 1900D aircraft to replace its Bandeirantes and Metroliners, which had served faithfully for 20 years, servicing airports without jet capability.
Airlines of New South Wales
In the late 1950s, Reg Ansett was expanding the operations of his company, Ansett Transport Industries (ATI), in the Australian domestic aviation market. Ansett wanted to acquire Arthur Butler's company, Butler Air Transport, but Butler refused a deal that would have given Butler a seat on ATI's board. Ansett had already acquired a 40 percent interest in Butler Air Transport when he had purchased the ailing Australian National Airways in 1957. Reg Ansett, in what one author described as "a spectacular initiative", then used nine of his own aircraft to fly Ansett nominee shareholders to a Butler Air Transport meeting, taking over the company from Arthur Butler. After a legal battle, Ansett gained full control of Butler Air Transport in 1958. The company was renamed as Airlines of New South Wales on 17 December 1959, and flew its first commercial flight on 19 December that year. The airline operated services from Sydney to regional New South Wales centres, and later to other Australian cities. In 1964, Airlines of New South Wales was a subsidiary of Ansett Transport Industries. In 1968 or 1969 it was renamed Ansett Airlines of New South Wales, which at the time of the Australian government's 1978 Domestic Air Policy Transport Review was one of five regional airlines operating in Australia. In 1981 the airline was renamed Air New South Wales; in March 1990 it was renamed Ansett NSW and later that year it was again re-badged as Ansett Express, which in 1993 was merged into Ansett, ending Airlines of New South Wales' history as a separate entity.
Australian National Airways
Meanwhile, efforts to expand operation northwards to Queensland were being thwarted by Airlines of Australia (AoA), its main competitor. Established in 1931 as New England Airways by G.A. Robinson and Keith Virtue of Lismore, it operated services in northern New South Wales and between Sydney and Brisbane, Queensland, expanding further into Queensland by taking over a number of struggling regional airlines during the mid-1930s. It was restructured as AoA in 1934 with funding by an investment group the British Pacific Trust. In 1936 it introduced Stinson Model A airliners in a regular service between Sydney and Brisbane, and later acquired Douglas DC-2s and Douglas DC-3s. After several months of fruitless negotiations with its financiers, ANA managed to gain a controlling interest in AoA in April 1937, although the two airlines retained separate public identities until 1942. Between them the two airlines operated four DC-2s and four DC-3s by the time of the outbreak of World War II, as well as several other aircraft including two Model As, two D.H.84s, two D.H.86s and nine de Havilland D.H.89 Rapides.
History of Air New Zealand
Meanwhile, Air New Zealand's financial position was deteriorating, and Ansett was losing market share to both Qantas and a new entrant on the Australian domestic market, Virgin Blue. The Air New Zealand board decided that the answer was to still spend more money, and buy Virgin Blue as well as Ansett. On condition that that deal went through, SIA was prepared to fund the purchase of 32 new aircraft for the Air New Zealand group. Virgin Blue, however, was growing fast, largely at the expense of Ansett; the initial A$120 million offer was deemed insufficient and in August Virgin Blue owner Sir Richard Branson, with his customary gift for publicity, put an end to negotiations when he tore up on television what he claimed was a A$250 million Air New Zealand cheque. Although the offer may have been genuine the cheque was not - it was actually a cheque from a book of one of the airport managers drawn on a Qantas' staff credit union account.
Royal New Zealand Air Force
In the Great War, New Zealand aircrew flew as part of the British Royal Flying Corps and Royal Naval Air Service. New Zealand pilots serving with British forces saw service in all theatres. Fifteen became aces, the top scorer being Keith Caldwell with, depending on how counted, more than 24 victories.
The government assisted two private schools to train pilots for the conflict. The Walsh brothers flying school at Auckland was founded by Leo and Vivian Walsh—pioneers who had made the first controlled flight in New Zealand. From 1915 pilots trained on the Walsh Brothers Flying Boats including Curtiss machines, aircraft of their own design and, later in the war, the first two aircraft made by Boeing.
History of aviation in New Zealand
After the war, the civil aviation industry began to take shape as aero clubs became active from the late 1920s and Trans-Tasman flights were attempted. The first major commercial aviation company, Union Airways of New Zealand, began services in 1936. Meanwhile, the nation had established its own air service, the Royal New Zealand Air Force, and during the Second World War it played a significant part in the country's contributions to the Allied war effort with thousands of New Zealanders being trained under the Empire Air Training Scheme and serving in Europe, the Mediterranean and the Pacific as part of both mixed Commonwealth formations and primarily New Zealand-manned squadrons.
Rob Fyfe
Robert Ian "Rob" Fyfe (born 6 May 1961) is a New Zealand businessman and a former chief executive officer (CEO) of New Zealand national airline Air New Zealand. Fyfe resigned as the airline's CEO as of 31 December 2012.
Ralph Cochrane
At the request of Group Captain T. M. Wilkes, New Zealand Director of Air Services, in 1936 Cochrane was sent to New Zealand to assist with the establishment of the Royal New Zealand Air Force as an independent service from the army. On 1 April 1937, Cochrane was appointed Chief of the Air Staff of the Royal New Zealand Air Force.
New Zealand National Airways Corporation
NAC entered an agreement in 1961 with the tourist route oriented Mount Cook Airlines, offering some of its light routes in both North and South Islands to Mount Cook with the latter airline staying away from the main trunk and larger provincial center routes. One such route was the Christchurch to Timaru and Oamaru DC-3 service in 1966. NAC also provided Mount Cook with a 'guarantor' back up when the airline purchased its first Hawker Siddeley HS 748 airliner and later a de Havilland Twin Otter. In 1973 NAC took a minor shareholding in the Mount Cook Group, the parent company of Mount Cook Airlines; Air New Zealand would later absorb this share when merger amalgamated the airlines.
Air Travel (NZ) Ltd
NAC bought the company's shares but operations were not fully absorbed into NAC until 1 October 1947. The final Air Travel flights were in late September 1947. Harry Worrall took charge of Air Travel after Bert Mercer's death and became a foundation director of NAC.
Invercargill Airport
In December 2018 Air New Zealand announced it would trial a direct service to Auckland, using the Airbus A320. The service will operate from 25 August 2019, departing Invercargill at 0600 on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and returning at 2130 on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday, and will be the airline's longest domestic flight. Air New Zealand said the new service is due to increasing demand for flights to Auckland, and it had worked with locals to achieve this.
History of Air New Zealand
After World War II TEAL re-equipped, initially with Short Sandringham and later with Short Solent flying boats, and a former RNZAF PBY Catalina also being used for survey flights. TEAL's initial schedule of two weekly flights from Auckland to Sydney was soon expanded with departures from Wellington, and flights to Fiji were also added during the early years.
Air New Zealand
The Air New Zealand symbol is a Māori koru, a stylised representation of a silver fern frond unfolding. A redesigned logo was unveiled on 21 March 2006. The "Pacific Wave" fuselage stripes were removed from short-haul aircraft in 2009, simplifying the overall livery, and was in the process of also being removed from long haul aircraft before the logo was changed again.
Mechanics Bay
The first aircraft connecting New Zealand with the rest of the world in the 1930s were flying boats. International flights from Britain by Imperial Airways via India, Singapore and Australia connected with TEAL for the Sydney to Auckland leg. Flights by Pan American from America via Hawaii also landed at Auckland. The Short Solent or Boeing 314 flying boats landed in Mechanics Bay, which was the centre of international aviation for New Zealand until the 1950s. Even after the construction of Auckland International Airport at Mangere in the 1960s, Mechanics Bay was still used by flying boats to the Pacific Islands, e.g. for the "Coral Route" to Fiji.
Newmans Air
Newmans Airways Limited, trading as "Newmans Air", was a wholly owned airline subsidiary of Newmans Group (most well known as the owners of Newmans Coach Lines) and served the New Zealand domestic market between 1985 and 1987. It was set up in direct competition with Mount Cook Airline to serve tourist routes. In 1986 Ansett Australia purchased a 50% shareholding, increasing this to 100% in 1987 when the airline was rebranded Ansett New Zealand.
In 1983 Newmans Group had launched a takeover bid for competing tourist company, Mount Cook Group, then still independently owned. Their reasons for wishing to buy the airline was to make more revenue from overseas passengers, instead of simply feeding them to Mount Cook's air operation. They also claimed that Mount Cook's HS 748 aircraft we no longer up to the standards expected by overseas tourists with Newmans intending to re-equip their airline with either De Havilland Canada Dash 7 or BAe 146s.
Flag of the Governor-General of New Zealand
New Zealand was established as the Colony of New Zealand, separate from New South Wales, in 1841. The colony became self-governing in 1853 following the passing of the New Zealand Constitution Act 1852. In 1869 the Admiralty directed that "Governors ...administering the Governments of British Colonies and Dependencies be authorised to fly the Union Jack, with the Arms or Badge of the Colony emblazoned in the centre thereof". There was at the time no colonial badge for New Zealand. Accordingly, in October 1869 the decision was made of including a Jack with the "Southern Cross, as represented in the Blue Ensign by four five-pointed red stars in the fly, with white borders to correspond to the colouring of the Jack; in the Jack by four five-pointed white stars on the red ground of the St George's Cross; and in the pendant by four stars near the staff similar to those in the Ensign".
Canada–New Zealand relations
The "Canada/New Zealand Air Transport Agreement" was signed in 1985. Both countries' respective national airlines, Air Canada and Air New Zealand, are members of the Star Alliance. In November 2007, Air New Zealand began a non-stop service between Auckland and Vancouver which operates three times a week.
Christchurch International Airport
Extensions to the domestic terminal were completed in 1975 with a new two level pier added, extending the total floor space to 16,000 square metres. In October that year, Air New Zealand began a weekly DC-8 service linking Christchurch to Nadi, Rarotonga and Papeete. Air New Zealand opened its No.1 Hangar at the airport in August 1979. In December 1980 the two Australian domestic airlines Ansett and Trans Australia Airlines commenced scheduled services from Hobart within a few days of each other.
In July 1984 a main runway extension was completed, the runway was lengthened 845 metres to the northeast, to a total of 3,287 metres. In February 1985 Newmans Air started scheduled de Havilland Canada Dash 7 services on the tourist routes. The first ever Air New Zealand Boeing 767 service to Melbourne and the inaugural Air New Zealand Boeing 747-200 service to Los Angeles via Honolulu and Nadi (known as the southern connection) departed in October 1985.
In October 1986 Singapore Airlines started Boeing 747 services to the city. The following month the first British Airways Boeing 747 flight from London arrived. In July 1987 Ansett New Zealand started flying on domestic trunk routes using Boeing 737 aircraft. Also in 1987 the terminal was extended to accommodate Ansett New Zealand and new Air New Zealand lounges; and domestic airbridges were added. Thai Airways began a weekly DC-10 service from Bangkok in November 1988. In March 1989 Air New Zealand introduced a weekly Boeing 747 service from Tokyo and the following month a Boeing 767 service to Perth was introduced. Although dropped years later, the Perth route was restored on a seasonal basis in 2013 with the same aircraft until 2016, when it was upgauged to a Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Also in April 1989 saw the first visit to Christchurch by a British Airways Concorde, on a world tour. In September 1990 stage 1 of the International Antarctic Centre tourist attraction was officially opened.
History of Air New Zealand
In March 1999 Ansett and Air New Zealand became full Star Alliance members. 1999 also saw the start of a long and confusing battle over ownership of Ansett. Ansett remained profitable but was having increasing difficulty in finding a way to rationalise its cost structure, and badly needed a capital injection to replace its elderly fleet. Of the two half owners, News Limited was more interested in selling out and investing the proceeds in other industries, while Air New Zealand did not have the funds to spare: with 102 aircraft, nearly 15,000 staff and a turnover of US$2.3 billion (compared with Air New Zealand's 72 aircraft, 9,200 staff and US$1.8 billion turnover) Ansett's need for capital was greater than Air New Zealand's ability to provide it—particularly given the age of Air New Zealand's own fleet.
History of aviation in New Zealand
Regulation of civil aviation was provided by a 1919 act of Parliament, which provided for registration of aircraft and licensing of pilots, flying schools, and personnel, as well as the registration of aircraft, and other matters. Aero clubs became active from the late 1920s, and the government provided some training aircraft and subsidies. Commercial aviation also began in the 1920s with some short-lived operations. The first major company was Union Airways of New Zealand, which began services in 1936 between Palmerston North and Dunedin via Blenheim and Christchurch. By 1939 the company was flying between Auckland, New Plymouth, Palmerston North, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.
Air New Zealand
In 1978, the domestic airline National Airways Corporation (NAC) and its subsidiary Safe Air were merged into Air New Zealand to form a single national airline, further expanding the carrier's operations. As a result, NAC's Boeing 737 and Fokker F27 aircraft joined Air New Zealand's fleet alongside its DC-8 and DC-10 airliners. The merger also resulted in the airline having two IATA airline designators: TE from Air New Zealand and NZ from NAC. TE continued to be used for international flights and NZ for domestic flights until 1990, when international flights assumed the NZ code.
Air New Zealand
On 15 November 2006 Air New Zealand announced it was withdrawing its application after a draft decision by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to not approve the code-sharing agreement.
History of aviation in New Zealand
In the post war years, the RNZAF acquired jet fighters, helicopters, maritime patrol and transport aircraft. The civil aviation industry also continued to grow with the national carrier, Air New Zealand, being formed in the 1960s, operating alongside smaller operators domestically, and internationally.
Airwork
Airwork was first established in 1936 by aircraft engineers Charles and Arthur (Bill) Brazier as an aircraft maintenance company originally assembling Tiger Moth biplanes at Rongatai Airfield. As the industry developed, Airwork moved into the engine overhaul business and in the 1970s became a listed company in which Brierley Investments built up a substantial shareholding. The Airwork group is one of New Zealand’s oldest aviation companies. Airwork Holdings Limited was listed on the New Zealand Stock Exchange (NZX) in 2013 with the code AWK. Airwork's profit has increased 52% in the year ending 30 June 2014. In October 2016, Chinese Zhejiang Rifa Holding Group offered $5.40 per share for 75 percent of the business. The offer closed in early March 2017 with 94.7 percent shareholder acceptance. On 27th September 2017, Rifa Jair Company, a unit of Zhejian Rifa Holding group Co, made a full takeover offer for all fully paid ordinary shares of Airwork Holdings at a 21 percent premium to the closing price on 26th September 2017.
Originair
Originair is an airline based in Nelson, New Zealand which operates domestic flights within New Zealand. It was founded in 2015 by local businessman Robert Inglis, who had previously founded Air Nelson and Origin Pacific Airways; and Nelson businessman Mike Curry. Originair commenced operations on 12 August 2015 with flights between Nelson and Palmerston North, with flights between Nelson and Wellington being added the following month. The airline began its operations with two British Aerospace Jetstream 32 aircraft, and now operates a fleet of three aircraft following the addition of a single Jetstream 31 aircraft.
Originair
In 2015, Nelson businessmen Robert Inglis and Mike Curry founded Originair in response to Air New Zealand's termination of direct flights between Nelson and Palmerston North. Due to the small size of the airline, flight operations were contracted out to Air Freight NZ, although the planes were painted in Originair's livery. The airline commenced operations on 12 August 2015 when flights between Nelson and Palmerston North began. Flights between Nelson and Wellington began the following month on 13 September 2015.
Union Airways of N.Z. Ltd
Union Airways of New Zealand Limited was New Zealand's first major airline. It was founded in 1935 by local shipping giant Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand. Its services reached main centres from Auckland to Dunedin and extended to Gisborne and the West Coast of the South Island. Union Airways was instrumental in the establishment of Australian National Airways and TEAL.