The Australian National Airlines Commission was appointed on 12 February 1946 after the Australian National Airlines Act was assented to on 16 August 1945. On 3 June 1946, Lester Brain was made General Manager and in July a National Airlines School was established near Melbourne. In August, Trans-Australia Airlines (TAA) was adopted as the operating title for the airline to avoid confusion with Australian National Airways.

On 9 September 1946 a trial air service was opened between Melbourne and Sydney and on 7 October the first public flight was scheduled on the Sydney - Melbourne route. Within three months of the first public flight all state capitals were served. The function of the airline was to maintain and operate airline services for the transport of passengers and goods by air within Australia.  

In August 1986 the name of the airline was changed from Trans-Australia Airlines to Australian Airlines.

Australian Airlines was converted to a public company, wholly owned by the Commonwealth, on 13 April 1988 and subsequently purchased for $400 million by Qantas Airways on 14 September 1992. However, Australian Airlines retained its separate identity as a registered company.

The Corporation, Head Office and State Offices, was fully merged with QANTAS Airways Limited on 1 November 1993 and commenced operating as Qantas Airways. The process of full amalgamation and the possible closure of offices had not been completed as of 1 November 1993. It is likely to be done gradually.

Sources

List of Commonwealth Bodies (Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Public Administration), June 1993

The Financial Review, 8 September 1992 p25


Historical agency address
by 1955    -31 Oct 1965: 339 Swanston Street, Melbourne
31 Oct 1965-?          : 50 Franklin Street, Melbourne

Legislation administered
Creation: Commonwealth of Australia Acts, No. 31 of 1945, Australian National Airlines Act 1945
Australian Airlines (Conversion to Public Company) Act 1988, No. 6 of 1988
Qantas Sale Act 1992, No. 196 of 1992
Qantas Sale Amendment Acts, No. 60 of 1993 and No. 168 of 1994