In order to acquire the assets of defunct New England Airways (Pty.), Ltd., the British Pacific Trust, Ltd. forms this carrier in fall 1935. Using an Avro 10 and a Monospar ST.12, Airlines of Australia undertakes daily Sydney-Brisbane and Brisbane-Toowoomba service, along with twice-daily flights from Sydney to Newcastle and twice-weekly frequencies from Brisbane to Townsville.
The first of four Stinson Model A Tri-Motors is delivered in April 1936 and is christened City of Lismore. With seconded American Airlines pilot H. D. Bowyer at the controls, the plane, during its inaugural flight, completes the 510-mi. Sydney to Brisbane service in a record 2 hrs. 45 min. On July 1, the carrier is one of four merged to form ANA (Australian National Airlines [Pty.], Ltd.); the partner, allowed to retain its previous identity and function as a subsidiary, is permitted to purchase Rockhampton Aerial Services (Pty.), Ltd. on September 14, along with its route from Rockhampton to Brisbane.
Weekly Townsville-Mount Isa services are initiated on February 27, 1937, following this with twice-weekly Cairns-Cooktown flights, beginning on May 17. Flights are inaugurated Cairns-Rutland Plains during the summer.
Employing an ANA Douglas DC-2, the company begins daily Brisbane to Adelaide service on August 30, via Sydney and Melbourne. ANA purchases the British Pacific Trust shares in the carrier late in the year.
Services, often integrated with those of ANA, are maintained in 1938. During the year, two Stinson Model As are lost in crashes, although one is replaced. On May 29-30, 1939, the new DC-3 Kyilla is employed to begin Sydney-Brisbane night flights, the first in Australian commercial history.
The Kyilla operates with ANA during 1940-1941 while the company’s lone DH 89A, the Memma, and two Stinson Model A Tri-Motors, the City of Grafton and City of Townsville, fly the carrier’s routes with increasing difficulty following the outbreak of war.
On July 1, 1942, the carrier is finally absorbed by ANA. The war, however, prevents the larger carrier from finally taking over the services of its subsidiary until January 1, 1943.
World History
