note
Major Australian domestic scheduled passenger and cargo operator. Founded and owned by the government of Australia (Australian National Airways Commission), airline commenced flights with surplus DC-3 leased from Australian Air Force in September 1946 between Melbourne and Sydney. First turboprop a Vickers Viscount was introduced in December 1954. In 1960, TAA begun to fly to Papua New Guinea, taking over QANTAS route. First jet was introduced in November 1964 when the first Boeing 727 was delivered. First service to New Zealand was operated in December 1980 between Hobart and Christchurch. TAA was the first airline to order Airbus in Australia. First Airbus A300 was delivered in June 1981 and was put into service on dense domestic routes between Melboune, Sydney and Brisbane. This was the first time a wide body jet was used on a domestic route. Efforts by the government to merge TAA and QANTAS date as back as 1981. Government's policy of 2 domestic airlines and QANTAS serving as sole international carrier was formed after World War II and was difficult to repeal. TAA struggled financially and efforts to increase efficiency, including re-branding to Australian Airlines in 1986 did not bear fruit. Finally in September 1992 TAA and QANTAS were allowed to merge. Airline was integrated gradually into QANTAS until April 1996. This gave QANTAS domestic network, however an icon of Australia's airline industry was lost.
founded - demised (age)
February 8 1946 - April 30 1996 (50)
headquarters
, Melbourne
web
base airports
related operators
current /stored fleet (0)
