ZONDA (ZONAS OESTE Y NORTE DE AEROLINEAS AR-GENTINAS, S. A.): Argentina (1946-1949). In order to insure state participation in the postwar development of the nation’s air transport industry, in 1945 the government of Argentina decrees the establishment of several joint-stock carriers in which it would hold some interest. In addition, the map of Argentina is divided into six regional zones of influence that would be allocated to the new operators.
On February 23, 1946, LAAN (Lineas Aereas Argentinas Noroeste, S. A.) is formed to take over zones III and V in the northwest. Important destinations included were once flown as part of the cabotage arrangement by Pan American-Grace Airways (PANAGRA) and feature such cities as Cordoba and Tucuman.
Given the geographical location of LAAN’s district up against the Chilean border and the initials of that country’s airline (LAN Chilean Airlines, S. A.), it is decided to change the name of the Argentine operation in June to ZONDA. The remainder of the year is primarily devoted to assembling a fleet that comes to comprise 17 Douglas DC-3s, 10 de Havilland DH 89A Dragon Rapides, 2 Avro Ansons, and several miscellaneous types. In August, unscheduled proving flights are started and the first revenue flight is completed in mid-November, Buenos Aires-Salto.
Regularly scheduled domestic services are inaugurated on January 2, 1947. Among them are two nonstop direct ex-Pan American-Grace Airways (PANAGRA) flights out of Buenos Aires: Expreso El Tucumano and Expreso El Cordobes. The first international flight occurs in October when the Mendoza route is pushed to Santiago de Chile. Night service is simultaneously opened from Buenos Aires to Cordoba.
ZONDA’s domestic and regional services are maintained throughout the remainder of the year and 1948. During the latter year, Convair CV-240s are ordered to replace the DC-3s; however, they will not be delivered in the lifetime of the airline. On May 3, 1949, ZONDA is one of four companies merged to form the new state company Aerolineas Ar-gentinas, S. A.
ZULIANADE AVIACION, S. A.: United States (1985-1997). With its name taken from the state of Zulia, Zuliana is established by Edgar J. Valles at Caracas, Venezuela, in 1985 as an all-cargo charter airline. A Douglas DC-8-54F is obtained with which to begin scheduled passenger charter operations and permission is requested of the U. S. DOT for authority to serve New York, Houston, Miami, and San Juan. Operations commence in 1991 to Miami, Maracaibo, Medellin, and Bogota, with the company’s main hub transferred to Miami.
Flights continue in 1992-1993 as two DC-9-31Fs are acquired. As the economy improves in 1994, additional passenger charter business is acquired and the fleet is expanded by the addition of one each Boeing 727227 and B-727-295.
The latter aircraft is put out of service in 1995. Enplanements through August total 274,963. In 1996, the fleet includes 3 DC-9-32s, 2 DC-9-31Fs, the leased B-727-227, and 2 newly acquired Douglas DC-8-54Fs. Traffic is mixed. Customer bookings for the first 8 months plunge 26.8% to 216,848, but 6.31 million FTKs are operated, a 19.5% increase.
Services cease in 1997.
World History
