Australia Asia Airlines

Australia Asia Airlines
Founded	1990
Commenced operations	1990
Ceased operations	1996
Focus cities	Sydney; Taipei–Taoyuan;
Frequent-flyer program	Qantas Frequent Flyer
Fleet size	3
Parent company	Qantas
Headquarters	Botany Bay, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Key people	James Strong (CEO)

Short description: Defunct airline of Australia and Taiwan (1990–1996); former Qantas subsidiary

Australia Asia Airlines Boeing 747SP at Perth Airport in the mid-1990s.

Australia Asia Airlines (澳亞航空公司 Àoyà Hángkōng Gōngsī) was a wholly owned subsidiary of Qantas set up to operate services between Australia and Taiwan (Republic of China).^[1]

History

The subsidiary was established due to the People's Republic of China's objection to national carriers of countries with which it had diplomatic relations flying to Taiwan (Republic of China), which the former regarded as a breakaway province.^[2]

The airline operated two Boeing 747SPs^[3] and a Boeing 767^[4] seconded from the Qantas fleet, repainted in a modified livery, which did not display the Flag of Australia, or the kangaroo logo, which was replaced by a dynamic ribbon. It initially flew its flights using the IATA code IM but switched to Qantas's QF in 1994.

Australia Asia Airlines ceased operations in 1996 as Qantas could by then serve Taiwan in its own right due to it being completely privatized. Australia Asia Airlines' aircraft were then returned to Qantas service.^[5]

Destinations

Asia

Philippines
- Manila – Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Stop-over)
Republic of China (Taiwan)
- Taipei – Chiang Kai-shek International Airport (Focus city)