TEAL

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IATA TE	ICAO n/a	Callsign Teal
Founded		1939
Fleet size		18
Destinations		Auckland, Sydney,Wellington, Melbourne, Fiji, Tahiti, Cook Islands
Parent company		New Zealand Govt.
Headquarters		Auckland, New Zealand
Key people
Website: http://www.teal.co.nz/teal/default.htm

Tasman Empire Airways Limited (TEAL) was the forerunner of Air New Zealand. It was first registered in Wellington as a limited liability company on 26 April 1940. The shares were originally held by the New Zealand government (20%), Union Airways (19%), BOAC (38%) and Qantas (23%).

1 Initial Services
2 The Coral Route
3 Other Routes
4 The Fleet
5 Lockheed Electra L-188 Crash
6 Ownership Transfer
7 Source

[edit] Initial Services

The inaugural service, from Auckland to Sydney on 30 April of that year, was flown by one of its two Short S30 flying boats. The first four months of operation saw a weekly return service between Auckland and Sydney. This was expanded to thrice fortnightly with connections to San Francisco using Pan Am flights from Auckland.

In the first year, the annual report revealed that 130 trans-Tasman flights had been completed carrying 1461 passengers for a profit, prior to tax and dividends of NZ£31 479.

By 1944, the trans-Tasman frequency had increased to three weekly return flights.

After World War II shareholding passed to equal ownership by the governments of New Zealand and Australia. Four Short Sandringhams and later Short Solents were acquired, as well as an ex Royal New Zealand Air Force PBY Catalina for survey flights.

[edit] The Coral Route

The Coral Route is one of the most famous routes flown by TEAL. It was initiated by NZNAC in 1947 but after a survey, was taken over by TEAL in 1951 with the inaugral Auckland - Suva and Suva - Labasa flights in June. However, later that year the Suva - Labasa route was dropped in favour of a monthly extension to the Cook Islands and Tahiti. The Coral Route was born.

Next year, due to its popularity, the Coral Route was increased to a fortnightly service.

In 1960, the final Coral Route flight returned to Auckland. It was also the worlds last scheduled international flying boat service. It was operated by Short S.45 Solent flying boat "Aranui" which had survived replacement by DC-6 and Electra landplanes by several years compared to her contemporaries. Aranui is now restored and on display at the Museam of Transport and Technology in Auckland.

[edit] Other Routes

[edit] The Fleet

TEAL operated both landplanes and flying boats.

Shorts S.30 Empire Class

The first services were flown by Shorts S.30 Empire Class flying boats. Between 1940 and 1947, TEAL operated two of these. A third S.30 was destined for TEAL but war shortages in England led to a delay and eventual cancellation of its delivery.

Shorts S.25 Sandringham Mk IV 'Tasman Class'

In 1946, TEAL acquired 4 Shorts S.25 Sandringham IV 'Tasman Class' flying boats. They were a passenger transport variation of the Short Sunderland. However they were grounded for 6 months in 1948 due to engine cooling issues and disposed of at the end of 1949.

Consolidated Boeing P2B-1 Catalina

TEAL flew two Boeing-built Consolidated P2B-1 Catalinas from 1947 until 1949. They were loaned from the RNZAF and used as training aircraft.

Short S.45 Solent Mk IV

The replacements for the S.25 were the Shorts S.45 Solent IV of which TEAL also acquired 4. They were delivered during 1949 with one setting a new trans-Tasman crossing record of 5 hours 37 minutes. The Solents continued flying until 1954 with the introduction of the Douglas DC-6 landplanes. However, Solent 'Aranui' continued on the Coral Route until 1960.

Douglas DC-6

The Douglas DC-6 was flown by TEAL between 1954 and 1961. Three were transferred to TEAL after the break-up of British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines. The aircraft started replacing the flyingboats in May and June and meant the transfer of Auckland's International Airport from Mechanics Bay to Whenuapai, where it was to remain until 1965. In September 1956, work was completed on the skin of the DC-6's to allow a 2000lbs increase in payload. By 1961, they were handed over to the RNZAF to be used as troop transporters.

Lockheed L-188 Electra

The last new type to be operated by TEAL was the Lockheed L.188 Electra. Three of this type were operated between 1959 and 1972 by which time TEAL had merged with NZNAC to form Air New Zealand. The Electras were sold in 1972 to United States interests.

[edit] Lockheed Electra L-188 Crash

On March 27 1965, a Teal Lockheed Electra L-188 ZK-TEC Akaroa, on a training flight, landed heavily following a flight idle approach to Whenuapai. One of the main gear legs failed and the aircraft caught fire. There were 6 people on board who evacuated with no injuries.

[edit] Ownership Transfer

In April 1961, Australia decided to support the wholly Australian owned Qantas and the New Zealand government bought out the Australian Government shareholding, giving New Zealand 100% ownership. The airline changed to its present name, Air New Zealand on 1 April 1965.