Air Ceylon - History

History

Air Ceylon was established in 1947 as the state-owned airline company, initially operating scheduled domestic flights using Douglas C-47 Dakota aircraft. International services with Douglas DC-4s commenced in 1949, in a co-operation with Australian National Airways (ANA), which acquired a 49% stake in Air Ceylon. The longest route flown was to London Heathrow airport.

The partnership with ANA lasted until 1953, when it was replaced by new international co-operations: In 1956 with KLM, which included the lease of 2 Lockheed Constellation airliners for long-haul flights, and with BOAC in 1962, allowing the re-launch of flights to London using the de Havilland Comet.

From the mid-1960s, the Hawker Siddeley HS 748 became the aircraft mainly used on Air Ceylon's short-haul routes, along with the Aérospatiale N 262. When Bandaranaike International Airport was completed in 1967, Air Ceylon opened its hub there. A Hawker Siddeley Trident 1E jet airliner was purchased in 1969 and it was operated on South East Asia regional routes until it was withdrawn in July 1978.

In 1972, Union de Transports Aériens (UTA) became Air Ceylon's partner, introducing French-made aircraft into the fleet. UTA ended the partnership on 31 March 1977, leaving Air Ceylon without a European aide. In 1978, Air Ceylon was shut down by the Sri Lankan government due to bankruptcy, and Air Lanka became new national carrier.