note

Regional airline founded by Don Kendell, an icon of Australia's aviation learned to fly at age 19. He could not find enough work to keep flying and in 1955 moved to Great Britain where he become pilot with British European Airways. Upon his return to Australia in 1959, he farmed for couple of years before he and his wife founded air charter company in Wagga Wagga called Premiair Aviation using Piper Cherokee aircraft. Air charter turned into scheduled airline service in 1971 when Premiair won contract on Wagga Wagga - Melbourne route previously flown by Ansett. At the same time name changed to Kendell Airlines. Kendell used Piper Navajo on the route. Kendells network grew steadily and soon Canberra and Sydney were added to the network. In May 1975 first pressurized aircraft, a Swearingen Metro joined the fleet. Kendell took over Airlines of South Australia network in 1986. Kendell Airlines was also first to operate SAAB 340s in Australia when it introduced the type in February 1985. Kendell was very well run airline earning prestigious ATW regional airline of the year award in 1992. In March 1996 Kendell started to operate "Capital Shuttle" between Sydney and Canberra in cooperation with Ansett Australia. Since then, Kendell operated as a feeder for Ansett Australia until Ansett's demise in 2001.

founded - demised (age)

1967 - 2001  (34)

headquarters

86 Baylis St. POBox 78, Wagga Wagga, NSW

web

base airports

YSWG Forest Hill Wagga Wagga

related operators

Ansett Australia