South Pacific Airlines of New Zealand

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South Pacific Airlines of New Zealand (SPANZ) was a New Zealand airline, operating between 1960 and 1966. It is regarded as a forerunner to Ansett New Zealand.

SPANZ was founded in 1960 by Bob Anderson and Rex Daniell, who had formerly been pilots for NAC, the state airline of the time. The Australian airline Ansett was a major shareholder. SPANZ was established in direct competition with NAC, but the New Zealand aviation industry at the time was highly regulated in favour of the state carrier, and SPANZ struggled financially. In 1966, the airline was forced to call in the receivers, making its last commercial flight on 28 February.

SPANZ owned three Douglas DC-3 aircraft, named after New Zealanders Ernest Rutherford, Jean Batten, and George Bolt. It also leased a number of other planes.

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