The Story of Australian National Airways

Australian National Airways was a pioneering airline that played a significant role in shaping the country's aviation industry. It was established in 1946.

The airline's early years were marked by a focus on connecting regional towns and cities, with services initially offered to 17 destinations.

Australian National Airways had a short but eventful history. Founded in 1929, it began scheduled services on January 1, 1930. The airline operated a regular passenger and airmail service between Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne. In January 1931, it extended its services to Launceston and Hobart in Tasmania.

The airline owned five Avro 618 Tens, similar to Kingsford Smith's famous "Southern Cross". These aircraft were used for both passenger and airmail services. The Avro 618 Tens were British license-built versions of the Fokker VII/3m.

Unfortunately, the airline struggled to stay afloat due to the Great Depression. Revenues fell, and the airline was unable to obtain a formal mail subsidy. This made it difficult for the airline to operate profitably. The crash of VH-UMF "Southern Cloud" in the Australian Alps between Sydney and Melbourne on March 21, 1931, was a significant blow to the airline.

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Here's a brief timeline of the airline's history:

The airline continued to operate joy flights and offered pilot training services until its eventual closure. The crash of VH-UNA "Southern Sun" in Malaya in 1931 was another setback for the airline.

Australian National Airways had a relatively good safety record, with only a few notable incidents.

The airline's first fatal accident occurred in 1935 when a DC-2 aircraft crashed on takeoff from Adelaide, killing all five people on board.

In 1940, a DC-3 aircraft suffered a catastrophic engine failure, forcing the pilots to make an emergency landing in the outback.

The airline's safety record improved significantly after the introduction of the DC-3 aircraft, which had a better safety record than its predecessors.

However, in 1948, a DC-3 aircraft crashed into a mountain in Papua New Guinea, killing all 21 people on board.

Despite these incidents, Australian National Airways continued to operate safely, with the airline's pilots and crew earning a reputation for their skill and professionalism.

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After the death of founder Sir Ivan Holyman, the directors of Australian National Airways offered to sell the airline to the government, allowing it to merge with TAA and other airlines.

The government declined the offer, leaving the directors to look for alternative options.

The directors then reached out to Ansett Transport Industries and its founder Reginald Ansett, who decided to purchase Australian National Airways for 3.3 million pounds on October 3rd 1957.

The airline retained both the Ansett and the ANA brands, forming Ansett-ANA.

In 1968, the airline was renamed Ansett Airlines of Australia.

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