Amphibian Airways

In 1950 a group of interested Invercargill men, including Arthur Hamilton, Fred Adams, Harry English and Arthur Duthie formed Amphibian Airways and set about importing the company’s first aircraft, Grumman G-44A Widgeon. Amphibian Airways Ltd was registered on 27Feb1951 and its air service licence issued. The company officially started its charter operations on the 16Mar1951 with Jim Monk being the first pilot. On the 25Jul1961 Amphibian Airways’ chairman of directors, Arthur Hamilton, announced that the shareholders had accepted a take-over bid by NZ Tourist Air Travel. The airline took over Amphibian Airways on the 09Aug1961. On the 11Dec1964, the company merged with Te Anau-based Ritchie Air Services and then merged into NZ Tourist Air Travel

Ritchie Air Services was formed by Ian Ritchie in 1960. On Labour Weekend 1960 and over the summer of 1960/61. Ritchie Air Services started operating scenic flights from Te Anau. The company merged with NZ Tourist Air Travel on the 11Dec1964. The airline took over Amphibian Airways on the 09Aug1961. On the 11Dec1964, the company merged with Te Anau-based Ritchie Air Services and then merged into NZ Tourist Air Travel

[ – New Zealand Tourist Air Travel was founded in Aug1954. On the 20Oct1954 the Air Services Licensing Authority granted a licence to the company to operate air charter and air taxi services, using amphibious aircraft. The airline did commence operations until 21-Jun1955. May1965 saw a further expansion of the fixed wing operation with another merger, this time with Queenstown-based Southern Scenic Air Services Limited and its subsidiary West Coast Airways. Mount Cook Airlines opened negotiations with the company about the possibility of a merger. A bid was made by Mount Cook Airlines and this was finally accepted on the 31Dec1967 with the company becoming part of Mount Cook Airlines on the 01Jan1968]Mount Cook Airline was formed as NZ Aero Transport in 1920 at Timaru by Rodolph Wigley. Operations started on 30-Jun1920. Renamed to Mount Cook Air Services, specialising in scenic flights, agricultural work and rescue missions in 1954. Then renamed to Mount Cook Airline on 06Nov1961 when it started sceduled services. Had NZ Tourist Air Travel merge in on 01Jan1968. Now fully owned by ANZ). On 09Dec2019, the Air New Zealand Link was retired with all services operated under the Air New Zealand banner
< regional scheduled services out of Christchurch >]

[ – Mount Cook Airline was formed as NZ Aero Transport in 1920 at Timaru by Rodolph Wigley. Operations started on 30-Jun1920. Renamed to Mount Cook Air Services, specialising in scenic flights, agricultural work and rescue missions in 1954. Then renamed to Mount Cook Airline on 06Nov1961 when it started sceduled services. Had NZ Tourist Air Travel merge in on 01Jan1968. Now fully owned by ANZ). On 09Dec2019, the Air New Zealand Link was retired with all services operated under the Air New Zealand banner
< regional scheduled services out of Christchurch >]

[ – Air New Zealand originated on 26Apr1940 as Tasman Empire Airways Limited (TEAL), a company operating trans-Tasman flights between New Zealand and Australia. TEAL became wholly owned by the New Zealand government in 1965, whereupon it was renamed Air New Zealand. Operations started on 01Apr1965. The domestic side was started in 1947 as NZNAC (New Zealand National Airways Corporation) trading as National Airways. In 1978 the New Zealand government merged all the owned airlines under the ANZ name. The 3 airlines that made up Air New Zealand Link were all merged back under the parent company
< international and regional passenger and cargo airline >]

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