Compagnie des Messageries Aériennes
Encyclopedia
Compagnie des Messageries Aériennes was a pioneering French
airline
which was in operation form 1919 - 23, when it was merged with Grands Express Aériens
to form Air Union
.
, Louis Renault
and René Caudron. The first commercial route, a mail and freight service between Le Bourget Airport, Paris
and Lesquin Airport, Lille
, was started 18 April 1919 using ex-military Breguet 14
s. In August, a service was started to Brussels, Belgium
. On 19 September, an international passenger service between Paris - Le Bourget Airport and London (Hounslow Heath Aerodrome
) was started, also using Breguet 14s.
The company was merged with Grands Express Aériens
to form Air Union
on 1 January 1923.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
airline
Airline
An airline provides air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines lease or own their aircraft with which to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for mutual benefit...
which was in operation form 1919 - 23, when it was merged with Grands Express Aériens
Grands Express Aériens
The Compagnie des Grands Express Aériens was a pioneering French airline established 20 March 1919 and operating until merged with Compagnie des Messageries Aériennes to form Air Union on 1 January 1923....
to form Air Union
Air Union
Air Union was a French airline established 1 January 1923 as the result of a merger between the airlines Compagnie des Messageries Aériennes and Compagnie des Grands Express Aériens...
.
History
Compagnie des Messageries Aériennes was established February 1919 by Louis-Charles Breguet. Other founders were Louis BlériotLouis Blériot
Louis Charles Joseph Blériot was a French aviator, inventor and engineer. In 1909 he completed the first flight across a large body of water in a heavier-than-air craft, when he crossed the English Channel. For this achievement, he received a prize of £1,000...
, Louis Renault
Louis Renault (industrialist)
Louis Renault was a French industrialist, one of the founders of Renault and a pioneer of the automobile industry....
and René Caudron. The first commercial route, a mail and freight service between Le Bourget Airport, Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and Lesquin Airport, Lille
Lille
Lille is a city in northern France . It is the principal city of the Lille Métropole, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the country behind those of Paris, Lyon and Marseille. Lille is situated on the Deûle River, near France's border with Belgium...
, was started 18 April 1919 using ex-military Breguet 14
Breguet 14
-See also:-References:*Tomasz J. Kowalski, Samolot Breguet 14, TBiU no.197, Warsaw 2002, ISBN 83-11-09461-6...
s. In August, a service was started to Brussels, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. On 19 September, an international passenger service between Paris - Le Bourget Airport and London (Hounslow Heath Aerodrome
Hounslow Heath Aerodrome
Hounslow Heath Aerodrome was a grass airfield, operational 1914-1920. It was situated in the London borough of Hounslow, and in 1919 was the location from which the first scheduled daily international commercial air services took place.-1909-1914:...
) was started, also using Breguet 14s.
The company was merged with Grands Express Aériens
Grands Express Aériens
The Compagnie des Grands Express Aériens was a pioneering French airline established 20 March 1919 and operating until merged with Compagnie des Messageries Aériennes to form Air Union on 1 January 1923....
to form Air Union
Air Union
Air Union was a French airline established 1 January 1923 as the result of a merger between the airlines Compagnie des Messageries Aériennes and Compagnie des Grands Express Aériens...
on 1 January 1923.
Accidents and incidents
- On 15 March 1923, Farman F.60 GoliathFarman F.60 GoliathThe Farman F.60 Goliath was an airliner produced by the Farman Aviation Works from 1919. It was instrumental in the creation of early airlines and commercial routes in Europe after World War I.-Design and development:...
F-AEIE overran the runway on landing at CroydonCroydon AirportCroydon Airport was an airport in South London which straddled the boundary between what are now the London boroughs of Croydon and Sutton. It was the main airport for London before it was replaced by Northolt Aerodrome, London Heathrow Airport and London Gatwick Airport...
and collided with a building. The aircraft was later repaired and returned to service. - On 3 December 1923, Goliath F-AEIF, which may have been operated by CMA, crashed at Littlestone, Kent.
Fleet
- Breguet 14Breguet 14-See also:-References:*Tomasz J. Kowalski, Samolot Breguet 14, TBiU no.197, Warsaw 2002, ISBN 83-11-09461-6...
(2 passengers) - Farman F.60 GoliathFarman F.60 GoliathThe Farman F.60 Goliath was an airliner produced by the Farman Aviation Works from 1919. It was instrumental in the creation of early airlines and commercial routes in Europe after World War I.-Design and development:...
(12 passengers, 15 aircraft) - Blériot-SPAD S.27Blériot-SPAD S.27-See also:...
(2 passengers, 10 aircraft) - Blériot-SPAD S.33Blériot-SPAD S.33The Bleriot-SPAD S.33 was a small French airliner developed soon after World War I. A great success, the S.33 dominated its field throughout the 1920s, initially on CMA's Paris-London route, and later on continental routes serviced by Franco-Roumaine...
(5 passengers, 15 airfraft)