The Curtiss Commando Page
The Curtiss Commando Page
  1. Home
  2. Operators
  3. Civilian Operators
  4. Argentina
  5. ALA (Austral Lineas Aereas)

ALA (Austral Lineas Aereas)

Operator Identification

  February 1957 to present

  Argentina

TYPE: Airline

IATA/ICAO CODES: AU / AUT

HEADQUARTERS: Buenos Aires Aeroparque, Argentina

OTHER NAMES: Compania Austral de Transportes Aereos SACI (1957-1971), ALA (Austral Lineas Aereas) (1971-present), Austral (dba)

Ala austral linea aerea

Operator History

Compania Austral de Transportes Aereos SACI was founded in February 1957 by  Alberto L. de Ridder and E. Montal, who had founded Aerovias Monder two years prior. The company started off with a cargo Commando purchased for $120,000 from Monder, and two 54-seat passenger Commandos purchased for $270,000. Aerovias Monder was formally absorbed on 23 December 1957. The three aircraft were baptized on 22 January 1958 by company's management and the Minister of Aeronautics. Austral started domestic scheduled services on 23 January 1958, offering five weekly flights between Buenos Aires Aeroparque and the south of the country, a total capacity of 270 seats in each direction. A freight service was also offered every two weeks. Besides this focus on southern Argentina, Austral also operated international flights to Montevideo, Uruguay, and Puerto Montt & Punta Arenas, Chile. The company's first pilots were Argentinian World War II veterans who has fought as volunteers with the Royal Air Force.

By March 1958, the flight schedule was as follows:

  • Monday: departed Buenos Aires Aeroparque at 01:00, arrived at Bahia Blanca at 03:10; departed at 03:30 to Trelew, arrived at 05:40; departed at 06:10 to Comodoro Rivadavia, arrived at 07:30.
  • Tuesday: departed Buenos Aires Aeroparque at 02:10, arrived at Comodoro Rivadavia at 05:40; arrived at Rio Gallegos at 08:35; arrived at Rio Grande at 10:10.
  • Wednesday: departed Buenos Aires Aeroparque at 01:00, arrived at Bahia Blanca at 03:10; departed at 03:30 to Trelew, arrived at 05:40, departed at 06:10 to Comodoro Rivadavia, arrived at 07:30.
  • Thursday: Buenos Aires Aeroparque to Bahia Blanca, Trelew, Comodoro Rivadavia and finally arriving at Rio Gallegos at 09:55.
  • Friday: Buenos Aires Aeroparque to Bahia Blanca, Comodoro Rivadavia and Rio Gallegos.

The company's slogan was: "an effort of private initiative for the progress of Patagonia". Austral was proudly taking its roots in the 1930's Compagnie General Aeropostale and Aeroposta Argentina, keeping the "Spirit of the Line" alive.

After the 1962 demise of TSA (Transcontinental SA), Austral took over parts of its routes and Commando fleet. In mid-1962, flights to Asuncion, Paraguay were inaugurated using Commandos, later replaced by Douglas DC-6s. In 1966, Austral acquired a 30% stake in Aerotransportes Litoral Argentino, and the services of both companies were integrated. In June 1971, the two airlines formally merged under the name ALA (Austral Lineas Aereas). At this point, their common fleet was made up of BAC111 jets, NAMC YS-11 turboprops and some older propliners including Commandos.

Austral became a government-owned company in 1980. After poor economic performances, there were two failed attempts to re-privatize Austral in 1981 and 1983. In late 1987, another privatization attempt saw the holding company Cielos del Sur take over Austral. Austral was nationalized again in 2008 and remains the second largest airline in Argentina after Aerolineas Argentina.

Commando Operations

February 1957 to July 1979*

Austral was Argentina's largest Commando operator, with a total of 11 aircraft. It operated them both in 54-seat passenger and cargo configurations.

LV-FSA was Austral's first owned Commando, in full-cargo configuration, in December 1957. From December 1959, LV-GJS joined it to ensure availability during LV-FSA's maintenance downtimes. Both were involved in operation "Tuco" from October 1960, where meat was carried from Mendoza, Argentina to Chile, and onions on the way back, each airplane performing two to three return flights a day.

Commandos Operated

Last edited: 15/12/2023