List of defunct airlines of Australia

This is a list of defunct airlines of Australia.[1]

Airline Image IATA ICAO Callsign Commenced
operations		 Ceased
operations		 Notes
A
Aboriginal Air ServicesI820002006
Ad Astral Aviation AT 1986 2016
Adastra Aerial Surveys19441973Founded by Frank William Follett. Acquired by East-West Airlines. Operated de Havilland Fox Moth, Lockheed Hudson, de Havilland Dragonfly, Douglas C-47A[2]
Adelaide Airways19351957Formed by the Adelaide Steamship Company. Merged with the Orient Steam Navigation Company and the Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand Limited in 1936 to form Australian National Airways (ANA)
Advance AirlinesDR19741981
Aero-Tropics Air ServicesHCATI19992008
AeropelicanOTPELPELICAN19712013Former staff of Aeropelican went on to establish FlyPelican using the former Aeropelican fleet. Operated Cessna 402, de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter, Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante, Swearingen Metroliner
Air AustraliaVCAGCSTRATEGIC20082012Formed as Strategic Airlines. Operated Airbus A320-200, Airbus A330-200
Air Beef19491962Formed as a consortium of Australian National Airways and MacRobertson Miller Airlines to transport beef. Operated Bristol Freighter, Lockheed 10, Douglas DC-3[3]
Air Kangaroo IslandUV19901996Operated DHC-6 Twin Otter, Short 330[4]
Air QueenslandQNAQNBUSHAIR19811988Absorbed into Australian Airlines
Aircrafts [sic] Pty19281948Formed by John Ronald Shafto Adair. Operated Avro Avian, Waco 10, de Havilland DH.60 Moth, de Havilland Hawk Moth[5]
Airlines of New South WalesWXNEWSOUTH19591993Absorbed into Ansett
Airlines of Northern AustraliaBT19821985Operated Fokker F27, Fokker F28[6]
Airlines of South AustraliaGJALSA19601986Subsidiary of Ansett Australia
Airlines of South AustraliaRTLRT19872006Independent airline formed by a merger of Lincoln Airlines and Augusta Airways
Airlines of Western AustraliaMVAWAAIRWA19811984Operated Fokker F28[7]
AirSwift Aviation20002007Merged into Skytrans Airlines[8]
Airtex Aviation19822010
Albatross AirlinesUX19791998[9]
Ansett Air Freight19892000
Ansett AustraliaANAAAANSETT19362002
Ansett ExpressWXNSWNEWSOUTH19591993Operated Aérospatiale N 262, Fokker F28, Fokker 50, DHC-6 Twin Otter
Arkaroola19681973Renamed Science Aids. Operated Cessna 206[10]
Asian Express AirlinesHJAXF19962008Renamed from Premier Airlines in 1996 and rebranded as Tasman Cargo Airlines in 2008
Associated Airlines19382000Air services on behalf of Consolidated Zinc and BHP. Operated de Havilland Heron, Grumman Gulfstream[11]
Augusta AirwaysBH19831998Acquired Lincoln Airlines and renamed Airlines of South Australia. Operated Aero Commander 500[12]
Aus-AirNOAUSAUS-AIR19561999
Australia Asia AirlinesIMAAUAUSTASIA19901996Subsidiary of Qantas
Australian Air Charterers19561982Renamed Aus-Air. Operated Piper Navajo, Piper Apache, Piper Twin Comanche, Piper Cherokee Six
Australian airExpressXMXMEQANTAS19922013[13]
Australian Airlines (1986-1993)TNAUSAUSTRALIAN19861993Operated Airbus A300B4, Airbus A320, Boeing 727, Boeing 737-300, BAe Jetstream 31, DHC Dash 8 Douglas DC-9[14]
Australian AirlinesAOAUZAUSTRALIAN20022006Subsidiary of Qantas
Australian National Airways19301931
Australian National Airways (ANA)19361957Sold to Ansett Airways and they merged to form Ansett-ANA
Australian Regional Airlines of Queensland19881993Was a subsidiary of Australian Airlines. Operated DHC Dash 8, DHC-6 Twin Otter, Fokker F27[15]
B
BackpackersXpress2005Not launched
BonzaABBNZBONZA20232024Operated Boeing 737-8[16]
Brindabella AirlinesFQBRIBRINDABELLA19942013
British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines19461954Taken over by Qantas
Bush Pilots AirwaysQNAQNBUSHAIR19511981Became BPA then renamed Air Queensland in 1981
Butler Air Transport19341959Absorbed into Ansett as Airlines of New South Wales
C
Carnarvon Air Taxis19631979Renamed Skywest Airlines[17]
Charter Cruise Air19831994Renamed Aircruising Australia. Operated Fokker F27 Friendship[18]
Coastal Airways 1962 1984 Absorbed into Ansett
Commodore Airlines19791985Operated Short 360[19]
Compass AirlinesYMCYMCOMPAIR19901991Operated Airbus A300-600, Airbus A310-200
Compass Airlines MkIIYMCYM19921993Formed as Southern Cross Airlines, and purchased the name and "goodwill" of the original Compass Airlines (Australia). Operated McDonnell Douglas MD-80#MD-82, McDonnell Douglas MD-80#MD-83
Connair (Australia)CK19701979Established as Connellan Airways in 1943. Renamed Northern Airlines. Operated Douglas DC-3[20]
Connellan AirwaysCX19391980Acquired by East-West-Airlines
D
E |- East-West AirlinesEWEWAEASTWEST19471993Absorbed into Ansett
Eastland AirDKELA19912003
Emu AirwaysTL19702005
F
Flight WestYCFWQUNITY19872001Sold to Queensland Aviation Holdings
Flinders Island Airways19321933Merged with Holyman's Airways to form Tasmanian Aerial Services[21]
Fly CorporateFC20162020Rebranded as Link Airways[22]
G
Global AirGAGGLOBAL AIRGROUP19972005Operated Boeing 747SP
Golden Eagle Airlines
Great Western Aviation19982006
Guinea Airways19271959Renamed Airlines of South Australia. Operated de Havilland DH.37, Airco DH.9, Junkers W 34, de Havilland DH.60 Moth, Westland Widgeon, Junkers F 13, de Havilland Fox Moth[23]
H
Hart Aircraft Service19291938Sold to Victorian & Interstate Airways
Hazelton AirlinesZLHZLHAZELTON19532001Acquired by Australiawide Airlines and merged with Kendell Airlines to form Rex Airlines
Holden's Air Transport19281936Founded by Les Holden. Operated de Havilland DH.60 Moth, de Havilland Giant Moth, Avro Avian[24][25]
Holyman's Airways19341936Merged with Adelaide Airways and West Australian Airways to form Australian National Airways[26]
Horizon AirlinesBNHZAHORIZ AIR19992004Established as International Aviation in 1998. Acquired by Macair Airlines. Operated Hawker Siddeley HS 748, Short Skyvan, Swearingen Metroliner
I
Impulse AirlinesVQIPUIMPULSE19922004Absorbed into QantasLink, Operated Beechcraft C99, Beechcraft 1900D, British Aerospace Jetstream 41, Hawker Siddeley HS 748, Boeing 717
Inland Pacific Air19932007Acquired by Skytrans Airlines. Operated DHC-6 Twin Otter, Swearingen Merlin II[27]
IPECINIPA19761993Renamed Independent Air Freighters
J
Janami Air19821999Merged into Aboriginal Air Services. Operated Cessna Grand Caravan[28]
Jetcraft Air CargoJCCJETCRAFT19892008Renamed Toll Priority. Operated Fairchild Metroliner[29]
JetGoJGJGOJETGO20112018
K
Kendell AirlinesKDKDAKENDELL19712002Acquired by Australiawide Airlines and merged with Hazelton Airlines to form Rex Airlines
L
Lincoln AirlinesRTLRT19871998Renamed Augusta Airways. Operated Embraer Bandeirante[30]
Lip-Air19971999Renamed Aero-Tropics Air Services. Operated Aero Commander 500[31]
Lloyd Aviation . QUEENSLAND 1969 1990Operated Embraer Bandeirante, Mohawk 298, Fokker F28-4000, Cessna 500, CASA C-212, Short 330
M
MacAir AirlinesCCMCKMACAIR19962009
MacRobertson Miller Airlines (MMA)MVMILLER19271981In 1963 became a division of Ansett Transport Industries and was renamed MacRobertson Miller Airline Services. Renamed Airlines of Western Australia in 1981.
McKinlay Air Charter19922000Renamed MacAir Airlines in May 1998
Murray Valley Airlines19791986Operated Short 360, Piper Chieftain[32]
N
National Jet SystemsNCNJS19902009Renamed Cobham Aviation Services Australia[33]
New England Airways 1931 1935 Floated as Airlines of Australia in 1935
Newcastle Aviation19941995Acquired by Pel-Air[34]
Ngaanyatjarra Air19821999Merged into Aboriginal Air Services. Operated Cessna 208 Caravan[35]
Ngurratjuta Air19871999Merged into Aboriginal Air Services. Operated Cessna 208 Caravan, Cessna 210[36]
Noosa AirOF19751983Established as Whitaker Pty in 1970. Merged into Sunstate Airlines[37]
Norfolk AirN5NFKNORFIK AIR20062011
Norfolk AirlinesUGNIA19881991Established as Norfolk Island Airlines[38]
Norfolk Island AirlinesUGNIA19731992
Norfolk Island Airlines20172018Used Nauru Airlines aircraft
Norfolk Jet ExpressYE19972005
North Queensland Airways19361938
Northern Airlines19791981Established as Connair in 1970[39]
O
O'Connor AirlinesUQOCMOCONNOR19732007
Oxley AirlinesVQ19741994Founded by Brian Peel. Acquired by Impulse Airlines. Operated Beech King Air, Beech 99, Beech 1900, Embraer Bandeirante, Piper Navajo[40]
OzJetO7OZJAUSJET20052012
P
Pacific Air ExpressPEPAQSOLPAC19932021
Premiair Aviation19671982Founded by Don Kendell. Renamed Kendell Airlines[41]
Premier Airlines19941996Renamed Asian Express Airlines. Operated Boeing 727-100 on behalf of DHL Aviation[42]
Promair19891993Operated Piper Navajo[43]
PY Air19821999Merged into Aboriginal Air Services. Operated Embraer Bandeirante[44]
Q
Qantas Empire Airways19341967Renamed Qantas[45]
Queensland Airlines19491958Acquired by Ansett. Operated Handley Page Dart Herald, Piaggio P.166[46]
Queensland Pacific Airlines19881991
Queensland Pacific Airways19711972Absorbed by Bush Pilots Airways
Queensland Regional AirlinesQ720032007
Qwestair19891995Subsidiary of Pel-Air. Operated Beech Super King Air[47]
R
Regional Pacific AirlinesQT20012010
RegionalLink Airlines20042006Formed by the merger of Emu Airways and Airnorth[48]
RossairRF19821988Merged with Airnorth and Tillair to form Air North International[49]
Rossair CharterRFS19632017[50]
S
Seaplane Safaris20042006Merged with Sydney Harbour Seaplanes and Southern Cross Seaplane to form Sydney Seaplanes. Operated DHC-2 Beaver, Cessna 185[51]
Seawing Airways20042006Operated DHC-2 Beaver[52]
Singleton Air Services19801988Founded by Paul Rees. Renamed Yanda Airlines. Operated Cessna 402[53]
SkyAirWorldS9SYWSKY AIR20062009
Skymaster Air Services20072010Operated Piper PA-31P-350 Mojave[54]
Skyport19751993Integrated into Airnorth[55]
Skytrans RegionalQ6SKP20072015Peter Collings and Johnathan Thurston re-launched Skytrans[56]
Skywest AirlinesXROZW19802013Established as Carnarvon Air Taxis in 1963. Rebranded as Virgin Australia Regional Airlines[57]
Slingair Heliworks19842013Renamed Aviair[58]
Somerset Airways19501963Taken over by Bush Pilots Airways. Operated Auster J-1N Alpha, Beech Bonanza[59][60]
Southern Australia Airlines19922002Established in 1981 as Sunstate Airlines. Merged into Qantas. Operated BAe 146[61]
Southern Cross Airlines19921993Renamed Compass Airlines (Australia) prior to starting operations. Refer to Compass Airlines MkII (Australia) for operated fleet.
Southern Cross AirwaysYK19781982Established as Air Charter Tours in 1970. Operated Beech Queen Air, Cessna 402[62]
Southern Pacific Regional Airlines19911993Operated Frakes Mohawk[63]
Stillwell Airlines19371942Established as Civil Flying Services in 1960. Acquired by Skywest Airlines (Australia). Operated Fairchild Metroliner[64]
Sungold Airlines19861989Acquired by Queensland Pacific Airlines. Operated BN-2 Islander, Partenavia P.68[65]
Sunshine Express AirlinesCQEXL19982006Ceased all scheduled operations. Charter only.
Survey & Inland Transportation19391943Founded by Edward Connellan. Renamed Connellan Airways[66]
Sydney Harbour Seaplanes19932006Took over Aquatic Air. To Sydney Seaplanes. Operated DHC-2 Beaver[67]
T
TamairGGTMR19501998Established as Tamworth Air Taxi Service in 1949. Renamed Eastern Australia Airlines. Operated Piper Chieftain, Cessna 310, Cessna 152[68]
TasairTA19982012
Tasmanian Aerial Services19331933Formed by the merger of Flinders Island Airways and Holyman's Airways[69]
Tasmanian Airways19261935
Tigerair AustraliaTTTGGTIGOZ20072020Acquired in stages by Virgin Australia Holdings between 2012 and 2014. Brand retired in 2020.
Tillair19831988Merged with Airnorth and Tillair to form Air North International[70]
Trans Australia AirlinesTNTAATRANSAIR19461994Rebranded as Australian Airlines in 1986. Acquired by Qantas in 1992. Brand retired.
Trans Regional Airlines19821982Operated Embraer Bandeirante[71]
Trans-West Air Charter19671979Renamed Transwest Airlines. Operated BN-2 Islander, Beech King Air, De Havilland DHA-3 Drover, Piper Apache[72]
TransairJT20022006
Transtate Airlines19962000Operated Embraer Bandeirante, DHC-6 Twin Otter
Transwest Airlines19791982Established as Trans-West Air Charter in 1967. Acquired by Skywest Airlines (Australia). Operated BN-2 Islander, Beech King Air, Beech Baron, Cessnas[73]
U
V
V AustraliaVAVAUVEE-OZ20092011[74]
Vincent Aviation AustraliaBFVIN20042014
Virgin BlueDJVOZ20002011Operated Boeing 737-400, Embraer E170, Embraer E190[75]
W
West Australian Airways19211936Purchased by Adelaide Airways
Whitaker Pty19701975Renamed Noosa Air[76]
X
Y
Yanda AirlinesYE19882001

See also

References

  1. ↑ ch-aviation.ch
  2. ↑ "Adastra Aerial Surveys". Airline History. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
  3. ↑ "Air Beef". aussieairliners.org. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  4. ↑ "Air Kangaroo Island". Airline History. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  5. ↑ "Aircrafts [sic] Pty". The Museum of Australian Commercial Aviation. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  6. ↑ "Airlines of Northern Australia". ATDB-aero. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  7. ↑ "Airlines of Western Australia". Airline History. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  8. ↑ "AirSwift Aviation". Airline History. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  9. ↑ "Albatross Airlines". Airline History. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  10. ↑ "Arkaroola". Airline History. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  11. ↑ "Associated Airlines". Airline History. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  12. ↑ "Augusta Airways". Airline History. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  13. ↑ "Australian airExpress". Airline History. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  14. ↑ "Australian Airlines". Airline History. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  15. ↑ "Australian Regional Airlines of Queensland". Airline History. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  16. ↑ "Bonza officially collapses after creditors approve airline liquidation". Nine News. 2 July 2024.
  17. ↑ "Carnarvon Air Taxis". Airlines History. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  18. ↑ "Charter Cruise Air". Airlines History. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  19. ↑ "Commodore Airlines". Airline History. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  20. ↑ "Connair". Airline History. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  21. ↑ "Flinders Island Airways". Airline History. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  22. ↑ "Fly Corporate". Airline History. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  23. ↑ "Guinea Airways". The Museum of Australian Commercial Aviation. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
  24. ↑ "G-AUFT de Havilland D.H.60 Moth". edcoatescollection.com. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
  25. ↑ "Holden's Air Transport". Airline History. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
  26. ↑ "Holyman's Airways". Airline History. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  27. ↑ "Inland Pacific Air". Airline History. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
  28. ↑ "Janami Air". Airline History. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  29. ↑ "Jetcraft Air Cargo". Airline History. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  30. ↑ "Lincoln Airlines". Airline History. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  31. ↑ "Lip-Air". Airline History. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  32. ↑ "Murray Valley Airlines". Airline History. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  33. ↑ "National Jet Systems". Airline History. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  34. ↑ "Newcastle Aviation". Airline History. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  35. ↑ "Ngaanyatjarra Air". Airline History. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  36. ↑ "Ngurratjuta Air". Airline History. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  37. ↑ "Noosa Air". Airline History. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  38. ↑ "Norfolk Airlines". Airline History. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  39. ↑ "Northern Airlines". Airline History. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  40. ↑ "Oxley Airlines". Airline History. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  41. ↑ "Premiair Aviation". Airline History. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
  42. ↑ "Premier Airlines". Airline History. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
  43. ↑ "Promair". Airline History. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
  44. ↑ "PY Air". Airline History. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  45. ↑ "Qantas Empire Airways". Airline History. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  46. ↑ "Queensland Airlines". Airline History. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  47. ↑ "Qwestair". Airline History. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  48. ↑ "RegionalLink Airlines". Airline History. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  49. ↑ "Rossair". Airline History. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  50. ↑ "Rossair Charter". Airline History. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  51. ↑ "Seaplane Safaris". Airline History. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  52. ↑ "Seawing Airways". Airline History. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  53. ↑ "Singleton Air Services". Airline History. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
  54. ↑ "Skymaster Air Services". Airline History. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
  55. ↑ "Skyport". Airline History. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
  56. ↑ "Skytrans Regional". Airline History. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  57. ↑ "Skywest Airlines". Airline History. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  58. ↑ "Slingair". Airline History. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  59. ↑ "Somerset Airways". Airline History. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  60. ↑ "VH-SAH Auster J-1N Alpha". edcoatescollection. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  61. ↑ "Southern Australian Airlines". Airline History. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  62. ↑ "Southern Cross Airways". Airline History. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  63. ↑ "Southern Pacific Regional Airlines". Airline History. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  64. ↑ "Stillwell Airlines". Airline History. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  65. ↑ "Sungold Airlines". Airline History. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  66. ↑ "Survey & Inland Transportation". Airline History. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  67. ↑ "Sydney Harbour Seaplanes". Airline History. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  68. ↑ "Tamair". Airline History. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  69. ↑ "Tasmanian Aerial Services". Airline History. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  70. ↑ "Tillair". Airline History. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  71. ↑ "Trans Regional Airlines". Airline History. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  72. ↑ "De Havilland Drover VH-FDS". qam.com.au. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  73. ↑ "Transwest Airlines". Airline History. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  74. ↑ "Uzu Air". Airline History. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  75. ↑ "Virgin Blue". Airline History. Retrieved 5 July 2021.
  76. ↑ "Whitaker Pty". Airline History. Retrieved 19 June 2021.

Bibliography

  • Affleck, A. H. (1964). The wandering years. Longmans, Green and Co. Ltd.
  • Brogden, S. (1960). The history of Australian aviation. Melbourne: The Hawthorn Press.
  • McGrath, Tony (2020). In Western Skies: A Brief History of Commercial Aviation in Western Australia - The First Hundred Years. Carlisle, WA: Hesperian Press. ISBN 9780859058216.
  • Airline history of Australia. Kogarah: Aironautica.

Further reading

  • Eleison N., Flying Matilda : Early days in Australian aviation, Angus and Robertson, Sydney, 1957
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