South West African Airways

South West African Airways (SWAA) was the first commercial air service in South West Africa (now Namibia). It operated from 1930 until 1935, when it was taken over by South African Airways.

South West African Airways
IATA ICAO Callsign
- - -
Commenced operations1930
Ceased operations1935
Parent companyJunkers Flugzeug und Motorenwerke AG
HeadquartersWindhoek, South West Africa

History

South African military forces occupied German South West Africa during World War I, and South Africa continued to administer the territory after the war, under a mandate from the League of Nations.

In 1930, the administration invited tenders for an air mail and passenger carrier service. The successful tenderer was the Junkers aircraft company in Germany, which then formed South West African Airways. Naturally, SWAA's fleet consisted of Junkers. The company was founded by F. Hoepfner, a German air ministry official. Regular flight services started in August 1931. The crew's chief pilot was the British aviator F.C.J. Fry.[1]

The SWAA's red and white logo depicted three stylised aircraft within a circle.

SWAA flew passengers on routes in South West Africa, and into South Africa, and an air-mail service from Windhoek and Kimberley[2].

In 1932, SWAA amalgamated with Union Airways in South Africa, but continued to operate under its own name. In 1935, South African Airways, which had taken over Union Airways in 1934, bought out SWAA for 14,000 rands.[1]

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References
  1. Ben R. Guttery (1998). Encyclopedia of African Airlines. Ben Guttery. p. 135. ISBN 9780786404957.
  2. "SAA takes over the South-West African Airways (SWAA)". Sahistory.org.za. 1 February 1935. Retrieved 13 December 2017.

Bibliography
  • Illsley, John W. (2003). In Southern Skies: A Pictorial History of Early Aviation in Southern Africa 1816-1940. Johannesburg, South Africa: Jonathan Ball Publishers. ISBN 978-1868421688.
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