South Pacific Airlines of New Zealand

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.

History

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-ANA was a major shareholder. SPANZ was established in direct competition with NAC, although the airline's policy to link larger secondary towns. 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.

Aircraft

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 aircraft). The DC-3s were unique as they were equipped with enlarged elongated cabin windows, giving them the name "Viewmaster". They also had refurbished interiors up to the standard of more modern types then operating. This caused the Government owned National Airways Corporation to upgrade its large fleet of DC-3s.

SPANZ had wanted to operate the Convair 440 handed down from Ansett-ANA but the civil aviation authority said that the airports to be used were substandard for the type. Just before the end, SPANZ had been given approval to operate Fokker F-27s.

Routes

SPANZ operated (or planned to operate) from most large secondary towns with either paved or compacted grass runways.

Hubs Palmerston North, Christchurch.

Destinations Kaitaia, Auckland, Rotorua, Matamata, Opotiki, Gisborne, Wairoa, Masterton, Wellington, Nelson, Blenheim, Hokitika, Alexandra, Dunedin, Queenstown, Gore, Invercargill.

Ahead of its time

SPANZ was going to be part of Reginald Ansett's dream of operating a Pan-Pacific airline using the help of US carrier Braniff Airlines in which he had holdings. During the SPANZ era, it as well as Ansett ANA and Braniff all shared the same style of livery in anticipation of this.

In the era of heavy global regulation of air routes, this plan was not to eventuate. It was only realised when the Virgin Group expanded into Australasia with Virgin Blue in 2001 and NZ subsidiary Pacific Blue Airlines in 2004. This airline then created a seamless service in the Pacific with the creation of V Australia in 2009.

References

Airlines of New Zealand Scheduled passenger Air Chathams Air Napier Air New Zealand Link Air Nelson Eagle Airways Mount Cook Airline Air2there Fly My Sky Golden Bay Air Great Barrier Airlines Jetconnect (Qantas) Jetstar Airways Mainland Air Sounds Air Stewart Island Flights Sunair Cargo / charter / scenic Air Freight NZ Air Post Air Safaris Air Wanganui Air West Coast Airwork Flight Hauraki Glenorchy Air Mountain Air Real Journeys Ridge Air Salt Air Skylink Former airlines Air National Air Travel (NZ) Ltd Ansett New Zealand Aspiring Air CityJet flyDirect Freedom Air Island Air Charters KiwiJet Kiwi International Newmans Air NAC Origin Pacific Airways Skybus SPANZ Straits Air Freight Express Tasman Empire Airways Limited Union Airways Vincent Aviation Virgin Australia Airlines (NZ)