 Union Airways' Karoro at Milson in November 1936 | |
| Founded | April 1935 |
|---|---|
| Commenced operations | 15 January 1936 |
| Ceased operations | 31 March 1947 |
| Operating bases | Mangere, Milson, Rongotai, Taieri |
| Secondary hubs | Palmerston North |
| Focus cities | Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin |
| Alliance | ANA, TEAL |
| Parent company | Union Company |
| Headquarters | Dunedin |
| Key people | F Maurice Clarke, Norrie Falla |
Union Airways of New Zealand Limited was New Zealand's first major airline. It was founded in 1935 by local shipping giant Union Company. Its services reached main centres from Auckland to Dunedin and extended to Gisborne and the West Coast of the South Island. Union Airways was instrumental in the establishment of Australian National Airways and TEAL.
In April 1946 the Government of New Zealand bought all the shares in Union Airways, later forming New Zealand National Airways Corporation which took over on 31 March 1947 all Union Airways operations assets and facilities adding them to those taken from other local airlines.