Air Vietnam

  June 1951 to April 1975

  South Vietnam

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TYPE: Airline

IATA/ICAO CODES: VN / AVN

HEADQUARTERS: Saigon

FORMER NAME: Nil

SUBSEQUENT NAME: Vietnam Airlines (assets remaining in Vietnam transferred in 1975)

Air Viet Nam was founded on 8 June 1951 as the government-owned national airline of Vietnam, with a fleet of Cessna 170's and Douglas DC3's & DC4's. It initially operated only domestically. Upon the country's partition in 1955, Air Vietnam's ownership was transferred to the government of South Vietnam, of which it became the national airline. Passenger traffic increased with the start of the Vietnam War, and Vickers Viscounts were added to the fleet, along with more DC3's and DC4's. Eventually, Boeing 707's, 727's and 747's were leased from Air France and Pan Am to serve international destinations.

In the mid-1960's, Air Viet Nam established a joint venture with Continental Air Services (CASI). Under this agreement, CASI would share passengers and cargo routes with Air Vietnam on certain domestic and international routes, and both airlines would share hangars and flightlines. CASI also took care of a portion of the aircraft maintenance, with heavy engine overhaul done in Hong Kong by China Airlines, and some in Taiwan by Air Asia. CASI paid a portion of its revenues to Air Vietnam for the routes and privileges, and operated aircraft from Saigon with the dragon emblem of Air Vietnam.

During the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975, Air Vietnam assisted South Vietnamese citizens to escape to neighboring countries. Crews worked long hours ferrying South Vietnamese citizens to Thailand, Taiwan, the Philippines, and other Southeast Asian countries to escape the invading North Vietnamese army. Most aircraft managed to escape eventually, and the leased ones were returned to their lessors while only one Boeing 707 and one Boing 727 were taken over by North Vietnam's Vietnam Airlines.

June 1968* to November 1970*

Air Vietnam operated at least one Commando leased from China Airlines and flown by Taiwanese crews.

• Curtiss C-46D-10-CU Commando: B-1513