Organized by the Robert Dollar Company as Dollar Airlines, Ltd. at Tahiti in 1953. The remainder of the decade is taken up with attempts to begin operations over a route to Honolulu. Initially, the Australian operator Trans-Ocean Airways, Ltd. is acquired, together with its two Shorts S.25 Solents (a third is later purchased from the U. K.). Christmas Island A-bomb tests prevent the start-up of services.
Following establishment of the U. S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in mid-decade, significant modifications to the Solents are require in order that they might meet airworthiness requirements of the new government agency. About the time these are completed, the French begin to build a new landplane airport at Tahiti that will eliminate the value of flying boats.
In late 1959, an arrangement is made with Trans World Airlines (TWA) for the lease of a Lockheed L-1049E, which is christened Bounty in honor of the ship made famous by the British mutiny. At long last, it is employed to commence scheduled flights from Hawaii to Tahiti on April 2, 1960. Passengers reaching the French island are able to complete the final sector from Bora Bora to Papeete aboard the Short Sandringham flying boat operated by Reseau Aerien Interinsulaire, S. A.
The new Tahiti airport is opened on September 20, 1961 and the airline, now renamed, offers a new Honolulu to Samoa frequency beginning on March 14, 1962. A second L-1049A is purchased from Trans World Airlines (TWA) on June 7.
The CAB, on January 28, 1963, grants the mainland U. S. to Tahiti route to Pan American World Airways (1). While the decision awaits presidential pleasure, the major U. S. carrier and the little Polynesian operator reach accord on September 18. Pan Am will rent its competitor’s route for 20 years, paying 50% of operating profit for the first decade and 10% for the second.
On November 12, President Kennedy grants Pan American World Airways (1) the route, which now makes Juan Trippe’s deal with South Pacific unnecessary. Faced with an inevitable end, South Pacific allows itself to be acquired by the major in November 1964.
SOUTH PACIFIC AIRLINES OF NEW ZEALAND, LTD.: New Zealand (1960-1966). With support from Ansett Airlines of Australia (Pty.), Ltd. and over 800 small shareholders, privately owned SPANZ is established by Capts. Rex Daniell and Robert Anderson at Auckland in the fall of 1960 to operate scheduled and charter services, largely on behalf of the tourist industry, to provincial centers. Capt. Daniel had led RNZAF No. 24 Squadron (C-47) during the Normandy Invasion in 1944.
Employing a pair of Douglas DC-3s outfitted with large “Viewmas-ter” windows, revenue flights commence on December 14 to New Plymouth, Hamilton, Taupo, Napier, Masterton, Nelson, Hokitika, Wigram, Wanaka, Timaru, Oamaru, Queenstown, and Alexandra.
After Ansett withdraws its support in October 1964, SPANZ soldiers on alone. Without support from the Australians and facing stiff competition from the state-owned domestic carrier New Zealand National Airways Corporation, Ltd., the airline is finally forced to shut its doors on February 28, 1966.
Forty years later, beginning on December 8, 2000, the company’s founders and a number of former employees will join aviation enthusiasts from around the world in a weeklong celebration of the company’s memory.
World History
