Australian Airlines

QANTAS VIRTUAL AIRWAYS

The Australian VA of choice

Qantas Airways Limited has announced that it is to start and operate a new low frills international airline called "Australian Airlines".  Sound familiar?  See a resemblence?  Well you should.  From humble beginnings to becoming Trans Australian Airlines (TAA), then renamed to "Australian Airlines", Australian Airlines already has a long and proud history in Australian Aviation.  So where did it all start?, and where does Qantas fit in to all this?  

HISTORY

In 1946, the Commonwealth Government established the Australian National Airlines Commission which operated as Trans-Australia Airlines.  TAA was effectively the government's new domestic state airline in direct and fierce competition with the already existing independent carrier, Australian National Airways - ANA.  

TAA quickly took over QANTAS's domestic route network allowing the two state airlines to handle domestic and international services independently.

Initial types in use were Douglas DC-3 and DC-4, and Lockheed Lodestar aircraft.  In 1949, the Convair 240-5 was added to the fleet, by which time T.A.A. also operated DH-84 Dragon aircraft on behalf of the Flying Doctor Service.  

Convair Cv-240 of Trans Australian Airlines

With the advent of turbo-prop aircraft, Viscounts joined the fleet in 1954.

Viscount VH-TVF of TAA at Southend in 1967 - Peter Goodearl

This type was followed by Fokker F-27 Friendships in 1958...

Fokker F-27 Friendship in TAA 1960s orange livery

Fokker F-27 Friendship VH-TFD in the later blue 1970s  livery - Paul Robinson

and the Lockheed Electra in 1959.  De Havilland Drovers replaced the ageing Dragon in the R.F.D.S. operation.  Helicopter operations were commenced in 1956 with Hiller 360s, later replaced by Bell 47Gs.

Viscount VH-TVF of TAA at Southend in 1967 - Peter Goodearl

In the early 1960s, a number of smaller aircraft were acquired for minor routes.  Types used included Piper Aztec, Beech Queenair, and a single Grumman Mallard for a short period.  DC-6B aircraft were also in use in this period.

Douglas DC-6b of Trans Australian Airlines

T.A.A. expanded into New Guinea in 1960, operating "Sunbird" services mainly with DC-3s and DHC-6 Twin Otters, with an assortment of miscellaneous types, including Piper Aztecs, Catalinas and various Cessna types.  A Bristol Freighter car transporter was also used.

Bristol 170 Freighter of Trans Australian Airlines

1964 saw the introduction of Boeing 727-100 series jets on all main routes. TAA was ahead of its time with regard to special liveries.  Click the following link to check out the special Central Australian TAA livery. 

Boeing 727-76 in 1970s livery at Brisbane in 1977 - Paul Robinson

These were followed by Douglas DC9-32s in a new jet-age 'T-Jet livery.  

Douglas DC-9-32 in early 1960s livery

Early 727s were gradually replaced with later models and were joined by the Boeing 737-300.  

In 1986 TAA was renamed Australian Airlines and the new livery was very modern with the old jumping kangaroo logo on the fin and the title 'AUSTRALIAN' on the fuselage.

Boeing 737-300s and 737-400s were added to the fleet.

Boeing 737-300 VH-TAJ of Australian Airlines - Peter Gates

The most modern airliners from the TAA fleet also saw service in the new Australian Airlines fleet the largest type was the Airbus A300 widebody jet.  

Airbus A300 VH-TAC of Australian Airlines Brisbane 1993 - Andy Kennaugh

The airline lost it's identity when the Qantas purchased this airline in 1992.

The Present

Australian airlines has been given a new lease of life with the announcement by QANTAS management that Australian Airlines will be resurrected as a new low cost International Airline initially concentrating on flying routes into Asia beginning October 2002. This new venture is expected to take over some of the current unprofitable Qantas routes from which QAL intend to withdraw over the next 6 months.  With restructuring and costings restructure differing from Qantas, Australian Airlines is a long term growth prospect which promises benefits for tourism and employment. Qantas always retained the rights to the name Australian Airlines and believe it is the perfect name for this new low cost operation in the international arena.  Australian Airlines will initially connect Cairns to six Asian ports which the higher-cost Qantas is unable to service profitably.  Qantas hopes to eventually expand the airline to every mainland capital city, building on an initial fleet of four Boeing 767-300s serviced by around 350 staff. This new mini airline will operate much like the Australia-Asia venture did in the 1980's. In july 2006, in line with restructuring of the new LCC Jetstar domestic and international brand, QAL management disbanded the new Australian Airlines and again bought to and end the brand Australian Airlines from the domestic and international market. 

Please find below links to download historic TAA, Australian and the 767 Australian Airline aircrafts.  When newer up to date versions of these aircraft are available, or when we make new aircrafts, we will endeavour to make them available as soon as possible. Please enjoy these historic Australian Airlines aircrafts available for your download. 

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Last updated 13 February 2007
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