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| Founded | December 1945[1] | ||||||
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| Ceased operations | 1978 (merged with Air New Zealand) | ||||||
| Focus cities | Christchurch, Wellington, Auckland | ||||||
| Frequent-flyer program | NAC Flightcard | ||||||
| Fleet size | 25 (1 April 1978) | ||||||
| Parent company | Government of New Zealand | ||||||
| Headquarters | Wellington, New Zealand | ||||||
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New Zealand National Airways Corporation, popularly known as NAC, established by the New Zealand National Airways Act, 1945,[1] was the national domestic airline of New Zealand until 1978 when it amalgamated with New Zealand's international airline, Air New Zealand. The airline was headquartered in Wellington.[2]
NAC was itself a government-led amalgamation of RNZAF 40 Transport Squadron, Union Airways and a number of other smaller operators, including the country's first commercial air service Air Travel (NZ) Ltd. At the time of its inception (1945), it was equipped with de Havilland Dragon Rapides, de Havilland Fox Moths, Douglas DC-3s, Lockheed Electras, Lockheed Lodestars, and one de Havilland Express which latter was returned to the RNZAF before the official 1947 inaugural start date. Although chiefly a domestic airline, in late 1947 NAC also provided international services to some nearby South Pacific countries, using converted ex-Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) Short Sunderland IIIs, as well as long-range Douglas DC-3Ds to Fiji via Norfolk Island.
By the time of the merger with Air New Zealand, the fleet consisted of 25 aircraft, Boeing 737s and Fokker F27s. Engineering workshops were set up at Christchurch, Whenuapai (Auckland), Palmerston North, Gisborne and Nelson.
- ^ a b New Zealand National Airways Act, 1945 (Act 28). 1945.
- ^ "World Airline Directory 1975". Flightglobal.com. 20 March 1975. Retrieved 16 October 2012.