Trans Australia Airlines

Trans Australia Airlines was 1946-1992 a major Australian airline based in Melbourne and based on the Melbourne Airport.

History

Duopoly TAA and ANA

Air Minister Arthur Drakeford appointed 1946 the Australian National Airlines Commission and planned jointly with Daniel McVey, Director General of the air traffic authority, the two- airline strategy ( Two Airlines Policy). According to this policy, Trans Australia Airlines was founded in 1946 as a private airline with the Government of Australia as the sole shareholder. In the same year the TAA took to flight operations, it was obliged to annually repay a dividend to the state.

Trans Australia Airlines was thus early 1950s closely with the Australian National Airways privately owned (ANA ) connected. The two airlines dominated the domestic market of Australia, where both carried the bulk of their passengers. Until the 1970s, TAA was considered the most customer-friendly of the two domestic fliers in Australia and also campaigned with the slogan Fly the Friendly Way. Run by Private Owner Ivan Holyman ANA, weakened by corporate takeovers, had to be supported by the state, so that they remained competitive with the TAA - also had to postpone planned innovations long the TAA because the ANA just could not finance. Third party providers have been disadvantaged by the authorities and had to move in the regional air transport or freight transport.

Duopoly TAA and Ansett

When Ivan Holyman died in 1957, the Supervisory Board of ANA was willing to sell the company to the TAA. The government rejected the proposal, and to date unsuccessful competitors Reginald Ansett ( Ansett Airways ) bought the ANA below market value. Even at the time of the Ansett ANA ( Ansett through the acquisition was highly loaded ) remained the private cartel partner of the TAA structurally weaker. Instead of the planned modern jet aircraft, TAA had to continue to use the Lockheed Electra Mk2 turboprop aircraft to have no advantage over the ANA. This situation improved only slowly. This unique regulatory policy on the airline market has been recognized worldwide for their stability.

In the late 1970s, the regulation of air traffic was gradually loosened, which became known as the Open Skies policy. TAA invested in the A300, while Ansett Australia opted for the Boeing 767. 1986 TAA was renamed Australian Airlines. Only at the beginning of the 1990s entered the first viable competitor to the Australian market and the duopoly broke up. 1992 Australian Airlines was acquired by the Australian also, state-controlled Qantas and incorporated into the new parent. Qantas was privatized in 1995.

Subsequent use of the name

The name of Australian Airlines was used between 2001 and 2006 by Qantas for the name of a low cost airline again.

Time line