SKOGA

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Cover of SKOGA Timetable and Rates publication of 1954. The aircraft in the picture is an Ilyushin Il-12. The Chinese name of the airline, 中蘇民航公司, is printed at the bottom.

SKOGA was a joint Sino-Soviet airline, based in Beijing, China, which operated from 1950 to 1954. The name SKOGA (Russian: СКОГА) is the acronym of Sovyetsko-Kitaiskoe Obschestvo Grazhdanskoi Aviatsii (Soviet-Chinese Civil Aviation Company Russian: Советско-Китайское общество гражданской авиации). The Chinese name was 中蘇民航公司 (simplified: 中苏民航公司; pinyin: zhōngsū mínháng gōngsī), translating to Sino-Soviet Civil Aviation Company in English.

[edit] History

On 27 March 1950, the Chinese and Soviet governments signed an agreement to establish a Sino-Soviet civil aviation joint-stock company, owned in equal share by each party. With a starting capital of 42 million roubles, the Chinese side provided airports, buildings, warehouses, and maintenance facilities. The Soviets contributed aircraft, communication equipment, transportation means, maintenance facilities and airports on Soviet territory. Management offices were set up in Beijing, Shenyang and Ürümqi.

SKOGA was formally established on 1 July 1950, immediately commencing services from Beijing to Chita via Shenyang, Harbin and Hailar, utilising Russian Lisunov Li-2 aircraft. This route was initially served once weekly, the frequency later being increased to three services weekly, departing Beijing on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and returning from Chita on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Routes to Irkutsk and Almaty (in present day Kazakhstan) were also added. From May 1952, Ilyushin Il-12 aircraft were operated.

On 12 October 1954, the Chinese and Soviet governments announced that from the 1 January 1955, SKOGA would come completely under Chinese control. From this time, SKOGA ceased operations, and was superseded by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) to handle Chinese air traffic.