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. Union Airways were founded by Major Allister Miller, a World War I flying ace, who had recruited some 2000 South Africans for service in the Royal Air Force. The word "Union" referred to the official name of the country at that time: the Union of South Africa. The company was financed by the Atlantic Refining Company, and supported by a small government
Bechuanaland National Airways Bechuanaland National Airways Bechuanaland National Airways was an airline of the Bechuanaland Protectorate and was based in Francistown. The airline was formed on 1 October 1965 with a government grant by Johnny Gibson and took over the route network of privately owned Bechuanaland Safaris. Assistance from British airline Autair International Airways was given, seeing Autair providing Bechuanaland National Airways with its first two aircraft, Douglas DC-3s. The airline was also technically supported by Air Trans Africa. Operations of the airline commenced on 15 November 1965, and the airline immediately began the development of a large domestic air network from Francistown