Aerovias Q

  September 1945 to June 1961

  Cuba

TYPE: Airline

IATA/ICAO CODES: Nil

HEADQUARTERS: Havana

FORMER NAME: Nil

SUBSEQUENT NAME: Cubana (merger)

Aerovias Q was a private Cuban airline formed on 28 September 1945 by Manuel Quevedo Jaureguízar. It started operating in 1946 with Douglas DC-3s, from Havana to Nueva Gerona, a holiday resort on the Isle of the Pines. The fleet expanded with Commandos and Budd Conestogas. Aerovias Q developped a strong scheduled passenger network from its Havana hub: Key West, FL on 24 February 1947; Merida and Veracruz on 1 July 1949 (suspended 1951); and West Palm Beach, FL in June 1952. In the 1950's, Aerovias Q added Douglas DC-4s to its fleet, with service to Key West, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach, FL.

It seems likely that Aerovias Q was involved in the smuggling of contraband from early in its history. It operated from Havana’s joint civil-military Columbia Airport, and was apparently was able to source fuel, spare parts and other supplies from the Cuban military. This became increasingly true after 14 May 1957 when Manuel Quevedo Jaureguízar sold (or was forced to sell) 75% of his shares to Julio lglesiasde la Torre, who in turn transferred them over to President Fulgencio Batista.

When the Communists took over Cuba, four Commandos and one DC4 remained in the fleet. International services were cancelled, and Aerovias Q was merged into Cubana with Expreso Aereo Interamericano and Cuba Aeropostal in May 1959. Its operation blended slowly into Cubana's, and the last flight in Aerovias Q colors occurred in late 1961.

1948 to August 1961

Aerovias Q operated a total of six Commandos, mostly used for scheduled passenger transport.

• Curtiss C-46A-15-CU Commando: CU-C555 / CU-T555
• Curtiss C-46A-41-CU Commando: CU-C807
• Curtiss C-46A-55-CK Commando: CU-C554 / CU-T554 / CU-T583, CU-C556
• Curtiss C-46D-10-CU Commando: CU-C202
• Curtiss R5C-1 Commando: CU-C145