He gained experience as
a joyride pilot, then a charter pilot, looked for work as a pilot in
Alice Springs, failed to find it, and signed on as a bulldozer driver.
He saved enough to pay for a boat trip to England, where he obtained a
job with British European Airways (BEA) in 1955, aged 25.
In 1959, now married with a
son, Don returned to Australia. It was to be six years before he set
up his own charter operation at Wagga Wagga, which he was to run so
differently from the way BEA worked. In the meantime he farmed, but
found life too quiet.
The charter operation
flourished, assisted by some good years on the land. Rural agents were
flown all over S.A. and Queensland to buy stock. In 1966, Premiair
Aviation (a partnership with his wife) was formed and a year later
Premiair Aviation Pty Ltd was registered.
Kendell
Airlines operated its first regular passenger operation on 18 October
1971 when the Piper PA31/310 VH-DAP flew Wagga Wagga to Melbourne
direct. Ansett Airlines of Australia had vacated the route in July, in
favour of Kendell. In the first week 36 passengers were carried. On 3
July 1972, Kendell extended its Melbourne to Wagga Wagga flights to
West Wyalong & Sydney (Flights to the latter city were ceased on 17
March 1973). On 19 March 1973, Kendell commenced Wagga Wagga to
Canberra with Griffith added on 20 August 1973. This route was sold
effective 16 March 1981. Also on 19 March 1973 a West Wyalong to Cowra
service was commenced to connect with the East-West Sydney to Cowra
flights. However, this service was short lived as it ceased on 31 July
1973.
In 1979, the airline moved
into turbo-prop. operations when the first Swearingen Metro II was
added to the fleet. Passenger growth and additional routes taken over
from Ansett saw the delivery of the first SAAB 340A in February 1985.
Until 1981, Don Kendell
combined his many duties as head of the airline with regular trips as
a pilot. He stopped commercial flying that year because of age and the
difficulty of having so many other things to attend to right up until
he stepped on board an aircraft. During March 1984, Kendell Airlines
(Australia) Pty Ltd was registered in Victoria.
Kendell made its first foray
into South Australia on 22 May 1983 when it commenced Melbourne to
Mount Gambier route replacing the Ansett Fokker F.27.
In the mid-1980s, when Ansett
(via News Ltd/TNT) bought 35% of Kendell Airlines, Don Kendell and his
wife resisted overtures to sell the remainder. However, in June 1990,
when doom clouds laden with deregulation fears massed over the
industry, the rest of the Company was sold, but Don Kendell continued
to sit on the board.
Kendell Airlines made its
first scheduled flight into Adelaide on 17 November 1985 when the
Adelaide to Mount Gambier route was taken over from Airlines of S.A. (A.S.A.)
On 18 February 1986 the
General Manager of A.S.A., Mick Connelly announced the impending
closure of the airline on 30 June 1986 and that all routes would be
handed over to Kendell. This was as the result of A.S.A.�s loss of the
lucrative Santos Moomba contract during 1985 and competition from
smaller, regional airlines, which operated a spread of services with
more efficient and cheaper to operate aircraft. Due to the size of
A.S.A�s Fokker F27s they were rapidly becoming an unsuitable aircraft
for the route structure on which they were operating.
Takeover of routes occurred
on:
10 March 1986 Adelaide to
Ceduna and Streaky Bay, Adelaide to Broken Hill.
Streaky Bay ceased on 2 August
1991.
28 June 1986 Adelaide to Port
Lincoln, Adelaide to Whyalla.
23 August 1986 Adelaide to
Woomera, Olympic Dam and Coober Pedy � ceased Woomera 10 February
1997.
2 May 1987 Adelaide to Yulara
via Coober Pedy � ceased Yulara 28 June 1997.
1 October 1990 Adelaide to
Kingscote.
During February 1992, Kendell
Airlines was awarded the Air Transport World magazine�s worldwide
�Regional Airline of the Year� award.
30 October 2000 Adelaide to
Canberra � ceased 13 September 2001
Kendell ceased operations in
S.A. on 13 September 2001 as the Ansett Administrators closed the
airline the next day, but re-commenced operations on 27 September
2001. The Ansett subsidiary was later sold to Australiawide Airlines
Ltd trading as �Regional Express�. Kendell Airlines ceased operations
on the 31 July 2002 and the following day the �Kendell� name passed
into history. On 1 August Australiawide Airlines Ltd was issued with
its �Air Operators Certificate� and, on 6 August, the new airline
�Regional Express� was launched. (Note: Another source states that
Kendell & Hazelton were officially sold 1 August and began operating
as Regional Express on 5 August. This will be clarified).
---------------------------------------------
FLEET LIST (S.A. OPERATIONS)
Swearingen Merlin IV/Metro
II/Metro 23
VH-BIF SW SA226TC C/N TC-270
REG�D 250286 WFS 93 SOR 121093
VH-BIS SW SA226TC C/N TC-284
REG�D 070981 WFS 140794 SOLD 120894
VH-KAN SW SA227DC C/N DC-838B
REG�D 220893 WFS 140901
Re-entered service 031001.�The
First Settlement in South Australia � Kingscote Kangaroo Island�.
VH-KDJ SW SA227DC C/N DC-797B
REG�D 070892 WFS 140901
Re-entered service 280901.
�City of Portland�
VH-KDO SW SA227DC C/N DC-837B
REG�D 170893 WFS 140901
Re-entered service 031001.
�Spirit of Coober Pedy�
VH-KDQ SW SA226TC C/N TC-326
REG�D 300580 WFS 240895 SOLD 181095
�Progress of Albury-Wodonga�
VH-KDR SW SA226TC C/N TC-289
REG�D 240579 WFS 260995 SOLD 301195
VH-KDT SW SA227DC C/N DC-800B
REG�D 090992 I/S 110992 WFS 140901
Re-entered service 111001.
�Spirit of Ceduna�
VH-KED SW SA227DC C/N DC-845B
REG�D 100394 WFS 140901
Re-entered service 231001.
Leased to Air North 311001 to 310102. �Spirit of King Island�.
VH-KEU SW SA227DC C/N DC-846B
REG�D 100394 WFS 140901
Re-entered service 270901.
�Sunraysia Chaffey Trail�
VH-KEX SW SA227DC C/N DC-872B
REG�D 030395 WFS 140901
VH-SWP SW SA226T C/N AT-033
LSD 0686 REG�D 100986 WFS 150993
SOLD 0993.
VH-WGV SW SA226TC C/N TC-287
REG�D 010586 WFS 0983 SOLD 0594
VH-WGX SW SA226TC C/N TC-312
REG�D 300483 WFS 280494 SOLD 0694
VH-WGY SW SA226TC C/N TC-256
REG�D 170686 WFS 220794 SOLD 120894
Seating Capacity � Metro II 16
seats, Metro III 19 seats
-----------------------------------------------------------
SAAB 340A/SAAB 340B
VH-EKD SAAB 340A C/N 155 REG�D
090889 I/S 220889 WFS 140901
Re-entered service
111001.�City of Wagga Wagga�
VH-EKG SAAB 340B C/N367 REG�D
290595 WFS 140901
Re-entered service 081001.
VH-EKH SAAB 340B C/N 369 REG�D
290695 WFS 140901
Re-entered service 081001.
VH-EKT SAAB 340A C/N 085 REG�D
080390 WFS 140901
Re-entered service 181001.
�City of Burnie�
VH-KDB SAAB 340A C/N 008 REG�D
261191 WFS 140901
Re-entered service 081001.
VH-KDI SAAB 340A C/N 131 REG�D
271088 WFS 140901
Re-entered service 141201.
�City of Whyalla�
VH-KDK SAAB 340A C/N 016 REG�D
160285 WFS 140901
Re-entered service 031001
�City of Mount Gambier�
VH-KDP SAAB 340A C/N 052 REG�D
300486 WFS 140901
Re-entered service 031001.
�City of Broken Hill�
VH-KEQ SAAB 340A C/N 011 REG�D
080197 WFS 140901
Re-entered service 041001.
VH-LPI SAAB 340A C/N 151
LEASED 0797, REG�D 090200 SOR 250501
�Spirit of Devonport�.
Seating Capacity � 34 seats
------------------------------------------
CANADAIR CL600/2B19
VH-KJF CL600/2B19 C/N 7336
REG�D 130899 WFS 140901
�City of Launceston�. SOR
170702 TO C-FZTU
VH-KJG CL600/2B19 C/N 7357
REG�D 031299 WFS 140901
�City of Melbourne�. SOR
050702 TO C-FZTZ
VH-KJJ CL600/2B19 C/N 7361
REG�D 081299 WFS 140901
�City of Hobart�. SOR 050702
TO C-FZTW
VH-KJN CL600/2B19 C/N 7367
REG�D 121000 WFS 140901
�City of Canberra�. SOR
050702 TO C-FZTY
VH-KJQ CL600/2B19 C/N 7372
REG�D 250200 WFS 140901
�City of Brisbane�. SOR 050702
TO C-FZTT
VH-KJS CL600/2B19 C/N 7401
REG�D 020600 WFS 140901
�City of Rockhampton�. SOR
050702 TO C-FZTH
VH-KJU CL600/2B19 C/N 7405
REG�D 160600 WFS 140901
�City of Adelaide�. SOR 250702
TO C-FZSZ
VH-KJV CL600/2B19 C/N 7422
REG�D 080900 WFS 140901
�City of Sydney�. SOR 050702
TO C-FZSY
VH-KJX CL600/2B19 C/N 7471
REG�D 251001 WFS 140901
�City of Mackay�. SOR 200802
TO C-FSXX
VH-KJY CL600/2B19 C/N 7481
REG�D 280201 WFS 140901
�Sunshine Coast�. SOR 200802
TO C-FZUK
VH-KJZ CL600/2B19 C/N 7489 NTU.
LEASED TO EUROWINGS AS D-AKEN FROM 010401
VH-KXJ CL600/2B19 C/N 7508
REG�D 240501 WFS 140901
SOR 110402 TO G-ELNX
Seating Capacity � 50 seats
The only route operated by the
CRJs into S.A. was Canberra/Adelaide/Canberra
------------------------------------------------------
KENDELL AIRCRAFT THAT DID
NOT OPERATE IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA
AERO COMMANDER 500S
VH-KAC A/C500S C/N 3185 REG�D
091078 SOLD 160381
DE HAVILLAND DH114/2D/A1
VH-CLW DH114/2D/A1 C/N 14108
REG�D 160277 SOLD 0581
VH-KAM DH114/2D/A1 C/N 14123
REG�D 161275 SOLD 101280
PIPER PA31/310 NAVAJO
VH-CLU PA31/310 C/N 588 REG�D
72 SOLD 030778
VH-DAP PA31/310 C/N 3644 REG�D
1071 SOLD 290578
SWEARINGEN METRO
VH-BPL SW226TC C/N TC-272
LEASED 1979-1981
VH-EEF SW SA226TC C/N TC-331E
REG�D 010883 WFS 85
SWEARINGEN MERLIN IV
VH-CFO SA226AT C/N AT-33
LEASED 0283 � 0284 (Later VH-SWP)
SAAB 340B
VH-EKK SAAB 340B C/N 223
REG�D110297 WFS 140901
VH-EKN SAAB 340B C/N 372 REG�D
060995 WFS 140901
LEASED TO
MACAIR 010302 TO 0802
VH-EKX SAAB 340B C/N 257 REG�D
190696 WFS 140901
Re-entered
service 081001.
VH-KDQ (2) SAAB 340B C/N 325
REG�D 130396 WFS 140901
VH-KDR (2) SAAB 340B C/N 229
REG�D 170796 WFS 140901
VH-KDV SAAB 340B C/N 322 REG�D
140296 WFS 140901
NOTE:
Both KDQ (2) & KDV carried �Capital Shuttle� titles during service.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C/N =
Constructor�s Number
I/S =
In service
NTU =
Not taken up
REG�D =
Registered to a Kendell company
SOR =
Struck off Australian Civil Register
WFS =
Withdrawn from service
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
KENDELL TIMETABLE � ADELAIDE EFFECTIVE 30 JUNE
1996
(South Australian
operations)
Adelaide to Ayers
Rock
Ayers Rock to Adelaide