South West African Airways
Encyclopedia
South West African Airways 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
.
, 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 SWAA's red and white logo depicted three stylised aircraft within a circle.
SWAA flew mail and passengers on routes in South West Africa, and into South Africa.
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.
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
). It operated from 1930 until 1935, when it was taken over by South African Airways
South African Airways
South African Airways is the national flag carrier and largest airline of South Africa, with headquarters in Airways Park on the grounds of OR Tambo International Airport in Kempton Park, Ekurhuleni, Gauteng. The airline flies to 36 destinations worldwide from its hub at OR Tambo International...
.
History
South African military forces occupied German South West Africa during World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, and South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
continued to administer the territory after the war, under a mandate from the League of Nations
League of Nations
The League of Nations was an intergovernmental organization founded as a result of the Paris Peace Conference that ended the First World War. It was the first permanent international organization whose principal mission was to maintain world peace...
.
In 1930, the administration invited tenders for an air mail and passenger carrier service. The successful tenderer was the Junkers aircraft company in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, which then formed South West African Airways. Naturally, SWAA's fleet consisted of Junkers.
The SWAA's red and white logo depicted three stylised aircraft within a circle.
SWAA flew mail and passengers on routes in South West Africa, and into South Africa.
In 1932, SWAA amalgamated with Union Airways
Union Airways
Union Airways of South Africa was the first South African commercial airline. It operated as an independent company for five years, from 1929 to 1934, before being taken over by the government as South African Airways.-History:...
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.