(1989-1996). Formed as a wholly owned subsidiary of Qantas Airways (Pty.), Ltd. in 1989, Australia-Asia is created to avoid the diplomatic prohibition placed upon the flag line’s previous service to Taiwan. Because of political difficulties, the new entrant does not immediately begin revenue services.
In fact, it is not until mid-1991 that Chairman John F. Ward and General Manager Roger Parks lease a Boeing 767-338ER from the parent. On November 10, scheduled flights are initiated to Taipei from Sydney, followed by Brisbane. The service is the first to be offered direct from Australia to Taiwan and cuts 2 hours off the next shortest connection via Hong Kong. Traffic figures will not be released.
Successful operations continue in 1992-1993. On March 25, 1994, the B-767-338ER is replaced by the Boeing 747SP-38, the City of Gold Coast-Tweed. The City of Traralgon, another B-747SP-38, is chartered from the parent on April 18. Each will undertake one weekly 8-hr. 45-min. roundtrip flight from Sydney to Formosa. Enplanements for the year total 83,972 and a total of 20.7 million FTKs are carried.
When Qantas Airways (Pty.), Ltd. is privatized in 1995, the need for the artificial airline largely ends. The political implications of a private company dealing with Taiwan are viewed differently in Beijing from those of a state corporation. As a result, the exclusive business of Australia Asia with the Republic of China winds down.
The City of Gold Coast-Tweed and City of Traralgon, repainted in Qantas colors, are returned to the parent organization on June 27, 1996. The company remains in low-key operation, maintaining its listing in the directories published by Macmillan, Flight International, and other concerns. It will be folded back into its parent before the end of the year.
AUSTRALIAN AERIAL SERVICES (PTY.), LTD.: Australia (1924-1934). Early in 1924 AAS is formed at Sydney as a subsidiary of the Larkin Aircraft Company, Ltd. On June 2, Capt. Frank Roberts, flying a Sopwith Wallaby, begins to transport mail from Sydney to Adelaide. Later in the summer, a Sopwith Antelope and two Sopwith Gnus are placed in service. The first de Havilland DH 50 employed in Australia is placed on the Sydney-Adelaide service in early November.
The Sydney-Adelaide service is opened for DH 50 passengers on January 1, 1925. The Cootamundra-Sydney segment of the route is withdrawn on July 19 and replaced two days later with twice-weekly frequencies from Broken Hill-Mildura and Melbourne-Hay. Services are maintained with little change in 1926-1929.
Weekly flights from the QANTAS (Queensland and Northern Territories Aerial Services [Pty.], Ltd.) Camooweal stop to the Northern Territory town of Daly Waters are inaugurated on February 19, 1930;
Here the mail is put on a truck and sent by road to Birdum from where it is dispatched to Darwin by train. The Broken Hill-Mildura and Melbourne Hay routes are closed on June 9 for lack of traffic.
The Daly Waters end of the service from Camooweal is extended to Birdum Creek (mail only) in January-March 1931. The company’s operations are taken over by QANTAS on November 1, 1934.
World History
