Connellan Airways (laterConnair) was an airline headquartered inAlice Springs,Australia.^[3] It operated scheduled flights as well other air transport services throughout theNorthern Territory from 1939 to 1980.^[1][4]

The company was founded in 1939 asSurvey & Inland Transport byEdward Connellan, an aviation pioneer.^[1] In 1938, Connellan had conducted two aerial surveys of the Northern Territory, and after discussion withJohn McEwen, the then responsible Federal Minister, undertook a fortnightly mail run betweenAlice Springs andWyndham, Western Australia. He also signed a contract with theRoyal Flying Doctor Service.^[5]

In the midst ofWorld War II, Connellan consolidated his air services, which had grown viable and included more routes, and registeredConnellan Airways on 23 July 1943. In the post-war years Connellan Airways grew, acquiring new routes and equipment. In February 1951 it became alimited company, with many of the shares held by station people and staff. In 1963 Connellan Airways became a regular public transport operator. The Royal Flying Doctor Service continued to charter Connellan Airways aircraft up to 1965, when it purchased two aircraft from the company, but continued using Connellan pilots until 1973.^[5]

In 1970 the company name was changed toConnair. Over the next decade, financial difficulties had to be faced. Subsequently, Connair was sold toEast-West-Airlines on 14 March 1980 and renamed toNorthern Airlines;^[6] it went into liquidation in 1981.^[5][7] After the sale, theConnellan Airways Trust was set up, using some of the proceeds.

TheCentral Australia Aviation Museum is located in the original Connellan Airways Hangar. It is a part of theAraluen Cultural Precinct.

• On 20 January 1972, aBeechcraft 65-80 Queenair Aircraft (registered VH-CMI ) crashed upon departingAlice Springs Airport for a scheduled service toAyers Rock, killing all on board, being the six passengers and pilot. It was later determined that the engine failure had caused a fire in the left wing during takeoff, and an intense fire weakened the structural integrity of the left wing attachment, and the left wing fell off before the pilot had had a reasonable chance to return to land - the pilot had reacted correctly.^[8]
• On 23 October 1975, a Connairde Havilland Heron (registered VH-CLS) crashed during an approach toCairns Airport following a scheduled passenger service fromMount Isa asFlight 1263, killing the eight passengers and three crew on board. It was later determined that the pilots had not adhered to the standard operational procedures for amissed approach when the airplane could not be properly aligned with the runway.^[9][10]
• On 5 January 1977, a former employee of the airlinedeliberately crashed a stolenBeechcraft Baron light aircraft into the Connair headquarters atAlice Springs Airport, in asuicide attack. Four other people were killed in the incident, among them Roger Connellan (son of founder Edward Connellan), and four were injured. This is known as theConnellan air disaster.

Many of the business records for Connellan Airways are held byLibrary & Archives NT; these include:

• NTRS 622, Flight manifests and trip records, 1941 - 1976
• NTRS 623, Civil aviation flight record books, 1939 - 1972
• NTRS 919, Administration, operations and traffic manuals, 1943 - 1976
• NTRS 920, Aircraft typed notes and service manuals, 1936 - 1976
• NTRS 981, General administrative, flight and promotional records, 1934 - 1980

There are also records held at theNational Archives of Australia who have created the following fact sheet:Edward John Connellan and Connellan Airways.

• List of defunct airlines of Australia
• Aviation in Australia

• Central Australian Aviation Museum
• Connellan Airways Trust

• Defunct airlines of Australia
• Airlines established in 1939
• Airlines disestablished in 1980
• Australian companies established in 1939
• Companies based in the Northern Territory

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