Airlines of New South Wales
Encyclopedia
Airlines of New South Wales (also known as Air New South Wales, Ansett NSW and Ansett Express) callsign "NEWSOUTH" was an Australia
n domestic regional airline
that operated from 1959 until its merger into Ansett
in 1993. It was formed by Reg Ansett
's takeover of Butler Air Transport
. Airlines of New South Wales operated air passenger services in New South Wales
, and later in other Australian states. In 1964–65 the airline fought a High Court
case, Airlines of New South Wales Pty Ltd v New South Wales (No 2)
, that was significant in adjudicating the spheres of constitutional power of the national
and state
governments in respect of air navigation.
was expanding the operations of his company, Ansett Transport Industries (ATI), in the Australian domestic aviation market. Ansett wanted to acquire Arthur Butler's company, Butler Air Transport
, but Butler refused a deal that would have given Butler a seat on ATI's board. Ansett had already acquired a 40 percent interest in Butler Air Transport when he had purchased the ailing Australian National Airways
in 1957. Reg Ansett, in what one author described as "a spectacular initiative", then used nine of his own aircraft to fly Ansett nominee shareholders to a Butler Air Transport meeting, taking over the company from Arthur Butler. After a legal battle, Reg Ansett
gained full control of Butler Air Transport in 1958. The company was renamed as Airlines of New South Wales on 17 December 1959, and flew its first commercial flight on 19 December that year. The airline operated services from Sydney to regional New South Wales centres, and later to other Australian cities. In 1964, Airlines of New South Wales was a subsidiary of Ansett Transport Industries. In 1968 or 1969 it was renamed Ansett Airlines of New South Wales, which at the time of the Australian government's 1978 Domestic Air Policy Transport Review was one of five regional airlines operating in Australia. In 1981 the airline was renamed Air New South Wales; in March 1990 it was renamed Ansett NSW and later that year it was again re-badged as Ansett Express, which in 1993 was merged into Ansett, ending Airlines of New South Wales's history as a separate entity.
In addition to providing scheduled passenger services, the airline also conducted tourist operations, with actor Steve Dodd
working for them as a guide in central Australia in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
case about the powers of the state
and national
governments to regulate aviation.
Airlines of New South Wales and East West Airlines
were two commercial airlines operating services in regional New South Wales. Jack Renshaw
's New South Wales government was seeking to manage the allocation of routes between airlines, threatening to reduce the number of routes available to Airlines of New South Wales. Airlines of New South Wales had a Commonwealth licence to operate flights between Sydney and Dubbo, but did not have a licence under newly-passed state laws regulating aviation. On 23 October 1964, the airline sought an injunction from the High Court to prevent New South Wales from enforcing laws that would prevent it from servicing the Sydney to Dubbo route. On 26 October the airline increased the pressure, by operating—at a financial loss—an indirect route to Dubbo via Canberra, thus crossing a state border and therefore seeking to avoid the application of the New South Wales laws.
On the 3 February 1965 the court, in Airlines of New South Wales Pty Ltd v New South Wales (No 2)
, found that air navigation within a state can be regulated by the Commonwealth to the extent that it provides for the safety of, or prevention of physical interference with, interstate or foreign air navigation. While Airlines of New South Wales won the case, as late as 1984 Airlines of New South Wales (by then trading as Air New South Wales) was continuing to share the New South Wales regional market with East West Airlines, with each having a monopoly over certain intrastate air passenger markets.
In 1963, the airline commenced services to Bathurst, New South Wales
, and was the city airport terminal's first tenant.
crashed at sea during a pilot training flight, with the loss of three lives. On 1 April 1965, a Douglas C-47
on a scheduled passenger flight crashed. The plane was written off, but there were no fatalities.
There was also an incident in 1986 involving an F27. Passengers on a Sydney-bound flight from Dubbo were prepared for an emergency landing as Dubbo staff had found a nose wheel component on the runway. Passengers prepared for an emergency landing and were instructed to brace as it was thought the nose wheel would fail. The plane landed safely and was then inspected by engineering on the apron at Sydney airport.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n domestic regional airline
Regional airline
Regional airlines are airlines that operate regional aircraft to provide passenger air service to communities without sufficient demand to attract mainline service...
that operated from 1959 until its merger into Ansett
Ansett Australia
Ansett Australia, Ansett, Ansett Airlines of Australia, or ANSETT-ANA as it was commonly known in earlier years, was a major Australian airline group, based in Melbourne. The airlines flew domestically within Australia and to destinations in Asia during its operation in 1996...
in 1993. It was formed by Reg Ansett
Reg Ansett
Sir Reginald Myles "Reg" Ansett KBE was an Australian businessman and aviator; best known for founding Ansett Transport Industries Limited, which owned one of Australia's two leading domestic airlines between 1957 and 2001...
's takeover of Butler Air Transport
Butler Air Transport
Butler Air Transport was a limited liability company created by Cecil Arthur Butler to operate air transport primarily among New South Wales airports in Australia, from 1934 until 1959.-History:...
. Airlines of New South Wales operated air passenger services in New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, and later in other Australian states. In 1964–65 the airline fought a High Court
High Court of Australia
The High Court of Australia is the supreme court in the Australian court hierarchy and the final court of appeal in Australia. It has both original and appellate jurisdiction, has the power of judicial review over laws passed by the Parliament of Australia and the parliaments of the States, and...
case, Airlines of New South Wales Pty Ltd v New South Wales (No 2)
Airlines of New South Wales Pty Ltd v New South Wales (No 2)
Airlines of New South Wales Pty Ltd v New South Wales 113 CLR 54 was a High Court of Australia case about the validity of Commonwealth regulations about intrastate air navigation...
, that was significant in adjudicating the spheres of constitutional power of the national
Government of Australia
The Commonwealth of Australia is a federal constitutional monarchy under a parliamentary democracy. The Commonwealth of Australia was formed in 1901 as a result of an agreement among six self-governing British colonies, which became the six states...
and state
States and territories of Australia
The Commonwealth of Australia is a union of six states and various territories. The Australian mainland is made up of five states and three territories, with the sixth state of Tasmania being made up of islands. In addition there are six island territories, known as external territories, and a...
governments in respect of air navigation.
History
In the late 1950s, Reg AnsettReg Ansett
Sir Reginald Myles "Reg" Ansett KBE was an Australian businessman and aviator; best known for founding Ansett Transport Industries Limited, which owned one of Australia's two leading domestic airlines between 1957 and 2001...
was expanding the operations of his company, Ansett Transport Industries (ATI), in the Australian domestic aviation market. Ansett wanted to acquire Arthur Butler's company, Butler Air Transport
Butler Air Transport
Butler Air Transport was a limited liability company created by Cecil Arthur Butler to operate air transport primarily among New South Wales airports in Australia, from 1934 until 1959.-History:...
, but Butler refused a deal that would have given Butler a seat on ATI's board. Ansett had already acquired a 40 percent interest in Butler Air Transport when he had purchased the ailing Australian National Airways
Australian National Airways
Australian National Airways was Australia's predominant carrier from the mid-1930s to the early 1950s.-The Holyman Airways Period:On 19 March 1932 Flinders Island Airways began a regular aerial service using the Desoutter Mk.II VH-UEE Miss Launceston between Launceston, Tasmania and Flinders...
in 1957. Reg Ansett, in what one author described as "a spectacular initiative", then used nine of his own aircraft to fly Ansett nominee shareholders to a Butler Air Transport meeting, taking over the company from Arthur Butler. After a legal battle, Reg Ansett
Reg Ansett
Sir Reginald Myles "Reg" Ansett KBE was an Australian businessman and aviator; best known for founding Ansett Transport Industries Limited, which owned one of Australia's two leading domestic airlines between 1957 and 2001...
gained full control of Butler Air Transport in 1958. The company was renamed as Airlines of New South Wales on 17 December 1959, and flew its first commercial flight on 19 December that year. The airline operated services from Sydney to regional New South Wales centres, and later to other Australian cities. In 1964, Airlines of New South Wales was a subsidiary of Ansett Transport Industries. In 1968 or 1969 it was renamed Ansett Airlines of New South Wales, which at the time of the Australian government's 1978 Domestic Air Policy Transport Review was one of five regional airlines operating in Australia. In 1981 the airline was renamed Air New South Wales; in March 1990 it was renamed Ansett NSW and later that year it was again re-badged as Ansett Express, which in 1993 was merged into Ansett, ending Airlines of New South Wales's history as a separate entity.
In addition to providing scheduled passenger services, the airline also conducted tourist operations, with actor Steve Dodd
Steve Dodd
Steve Dodd , is an Indigenous Australian actor, notable for playing indigenous characters across seven decades of Australian film. After beginning his working life as a stockman and rodeo rider, Dodd was given his first film roles by prominent Australian actor Chips Rafferty...
working for them as a guide in central Australia in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
High Court case
In the 1960s, Airlines of New South Wales was at the centre of an Australian High CourtHigh Court of Australia
The High Court of Australia is the supreme court in the Australian court hierarchy and the final court of appeal in Australia. It has both original and appellate jurisdiction, has the power of judicial review over laws passed by the Parliament of Australia and the parliaments of the States, and...
case about the powers of the state
States and territories of Australia
The Commonwealth of Australia is a union of six states and various territories. The Australian mainland is made up of five states and three territories, with the sixth state of Tasmania being made up of islands. In addition there are six island territories, known as external territories, and a...
and national
Government of Australia
The Commonwealth of Australia is a federal constitutional monarchy under a parliamentary democracy. The Commonwealth of Australia was formed in 1901 as a result of an agreement among six self-governing British colonies, which became the six states...
governments to regulate aviation.
Airlines of New South Wales and East West Airlines
East-West Airlines (Australia)
East-West Airlines was an Australian regional airline founded in Tamworth, New South Wales in 1947. It operated to major regional city-centres and connected these centres to various provincial capitals. It was purchased from its original founders in a share buy-out by Bryan Grey and Duke Minks...
were two commercial airlines operating services in regional New South Wales. Jack Renshaw
Jack Renshaw
John Brophy "Jack" Renshaw AC was an Australian politician. He was Labor Premier of New South Wales from 30 April 1964 to 13 May 1965.-Early life:...
's New South Wales government was seeking to manage the allocation of routes between airlines, threatening to reduce the number of routes available to Airlines of New South Wales. Airlines of New South Wales had a Commonwealth licence to operate flights between Sydney and Dubbo, but did not have a licence under newly-passed state laws regulating aviation. On 23 October 1964, the airline sought an injunction from the High Court to prevent New South Wales from enforcing laws that would prevent it from servicing the Sydney to Dubbo route. On 26 October the airline increased the pressure, by operating—at a financial loss—an indirect route to Dubbo via Canberra, thus crossing a state border and therefore seeking to avoid the application of the New South Wales laws.
On the 3 February 1965 the court, in Airlines of New South Wales Pty Ltd v New South Wales (No 2)
Airlines of New South Wales Pty Ltd v New South Wales (No 2)
Airlines of New South Wales Pty Ltd v New South Wales 113 CLR 54 was a High Court of Australia case about the validity of Commonwealth regulations about intrastate air navigation...
, found that air navigation within a state can be regulated by the Commonwealth to the extent that it provides for the safety of, or prevention of physical interference with, interstate or foreign air navigation. While Airlines of New South Wales won the case, as late as 1984 Airlines of New South Wales (by then trading as Air New South Wales) was continuing to share the New South Wales regional market with East West Airlines, with each having a monopoly over certain intrastate air passenger markets.
Aircraft
- DH 84 Dragon/DH 84B Dragon ExpressDe Havilland Dragon|-See also:-References:Bibliography ISBN 0-85177-813-5...
- Douglas DC-3Douglas DC-3The Douglas DC-3 is an American fixed-wing propeller-driven aircraft whose speed and range revolutionized air transport in the 1930s and 1940s. Its lasting impact on the airline industry and World War II makes it one of the most significant transport aircraft ever made...
- Douglas C-47C-47 SkytrainThe Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota is a military transport aircraft that was developed from the Douglas DC-3 airliner. It was used extensively by the Allies during World War II and remained in front line operations through the 1950s with a few remaining in operation to this day.-Design and...
- Convair CV-440 Metropolitan
- Shorts Sunderland
- Fokker F-27
- Fokker F-28
Destinations
- SydneySydneySydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
- Dubbo
- CasinoCasinoIn modern English, a casino is a facility which houses and accommodates certain types of gambling activities. Casinos are most commonly built near or combined with hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships or other tourist attractions...
- AlburyAlbury, New South WalesAlbury is a major regional city in New South Wales, Australia, located on the Hume Highway on the northern side of the Murray River. It is located wholly within the boundaries of the City of Albury Local Government Area...
- Narrandera
- CanberraCanberraCanberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
- BathurstBathurst, New South Wales-CBD and suburbs:Bathurst's CBD is located on William, George, Howick, Russell, and Durham Streets. The CBD is approximately 25 hectares and surrounds two city blocks. Within this block layout is banking, government services, shopping centres, retail shops, a park* and monuments...
- Cooma
- Coffs Harbour
In 1963, the airline commenced services to Bathurst, New South Wales
Bathurst, New South Wales
-CBD and suburbs:Bathurst's CBD is located on William, George, Howick, Russell, and Durham Streets. The CBD is approximately 25 hectares and surrounds two city blocks. Within this block layout is banking, government services, shopping centres, retail shops, a park* and monuments...
, and was the city airport terminal's first tenant.
Incidents
Airlines of New South Wales aircraft had two reportable accidents. On 12 December 1960, a Douglas DC-3Douglas DC-3
The Douglas DC-3 is an American fixed-wing propeller-driven aircraft whose speed and range revolutionized air transport in the 1930s and 1940s. Its lasting impact on the airline industry and World War II makes it one of the most significant transport aircraft ever made...
crashed at sea during a pilot training flight, with the loss of three lives. On 1 April 1965, a Douglas C-47
C-47 Skytrain
The Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota is a military transport aircraft that was developed from the Douglas DC-3 airliner. It was used extensively by the Allies during World War II and remained in front line operations through the 1950s with a few remaining in operation to this day.-Design and...
on a scheduled passenger flight crashed. The plane was written off, but there were no fatalities.
There was also an incident in 1986 involving an F27. Passengers on a Sydney-bound flight from Dubbo were prepared for an emergency landing as Dubbo staff had found a nose wheel component on the runway. Passengers prepared for an emergency landing and were instructed to brace as it was thought the nose wheel would fail. The plane landed safely and was then inspected by engineering on the apron at Sydney airport.
External links
- Air Times website, operated by air timetable collectors, showing images of historical timtables issued by Airlines of New South Wales.