This compilation lists many of the inovative Firsts which can be attributed to the operation of TAA within Australia.
26/02/1947
Capt. Chapman with a DC4 operates the first double crossing of the Tasman in one day. Syd - Auckland - Syd.
1948
The Convair 240 was the first pressurised airliner to operate in Australia
06/1952
TAA was the worlds first airline to fly a Convair Liner 240 Transport for 10,000 hours.
09/02/1954
Queen Elizabeth's flight, Newcastle to Evans Head on TAA Convair TAQ, was the first flight in Australia by a ruling British Monarch. The Queen and Prince Phillip made six flights on TAA aircraft during the 1954 Royal Tour of Australia.
12/1954
TAA starts the first non-European Viscount service.
TAA introduced turbine powered aircraft with the Viscount.
This lead to TAA becoming the fourth Airline in the entire world to order an airliner that was not fitted with piston engines.
05/1955
Transair of May 1955 states that TAA Viscount TVF Ernest Giles, first Viscount in the world to be fitted with "slipper" tanks (for use on the Adelaide - Perth route).
10/1955
TAA introduced Economy class airtravel in Australia.
30/04/1956
TAA operated Australia's first commercial helicopter service (Yarra Bank, Melbourne)
1957
Introduced Packaged Holidays
08/1958
TAA Viscount 700 VH-TVE world's first Vicount to reach 10,000 hours and later it reached 20,000 hours.
02/1959
TAA, first Australian airline to win Cumberbatch trophy for "the best annual contribution to reliability in air-craft operation". Established in 1931 and awarded by the British Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators.
1960
First to carry one million passengers in a year, in Australia.
07/10/1966
TAA New Guinea Poster - First photographic airline poster in the world to be produced in full colour by the silk screen process.
15/08/1967
TAA's DC9 VH-TJJ, first aircraft into Tullamarine, excluding helicopters.
05/07/1970
Boeing VH-TJB, first domestic jet to be fitted with new smokeless engines.
19/06/1971
First scheduled domestic flight into Tullamarine was the Friendship VH-TQR, flight 205 Sydney to Melbourne.
1971
TAA was first to introduce point to point timetables.
1974
TAA Fokker F27 was the first aircraft to arrive in Darwin after cyclone Tracy.
1975
First to carry four million passengers in a year, in Australia.
05/1976
TAA introduces MACS Australia's first motel/hotel Availability Control System.
1977
TAA developed the incentive travel market.
1978
TAA introduced Apex..
TAA introduced Take 7 packages using Apex.
24/08/1979
TAA used a DC9-30, VH-TJL, as the first aircraft, in the world to be painted and used as a promotion for a holiday destination.
25/09/1979
TAA's Boeing 727 TJB had a 35 min movie camera, in fibre-glass and aluminium protective housing, mounted to the plane tail, to obtain Australian landscape and coastal footage for the use of an advertising campaign. It is believed this was a world first.
1980
First to carry five million passengers in a year, in Australia.
04/02/1981
TAA was the first major Australian domestic airline to employ male flight attendants.
22/07/1981
TAA introduced the first "wide body" aircraft on Australian domestic routes with the Airbus A300.
19/07/1982
TAA introduced a facility to receive ABC broadcasts on "in-flight" entertainment system.
04/10/1982
TAA introduced Business Class on the Airbus.
18/01/1983
TAA introduced Business Class on the Boeing and DC9 aircraft.
10/1984
TAA introduced Rain-check for delayed holidays.