Aerovias Sud Americana
Operator Identification
1947 to May 1965
United States of America
TYPE: Cargo airline
IATA/ICAO CODES: Nil
HEADQUARTERS: Miami Springs, FL
OTHER NAMES: Aerovias Sud Americana (1947-1965), Air Americana (1965), ASA International Airlines (dba)
SUBSEQUENT NAME: Nil
Operator History
Aerovias Sud Americana (also dba ASA International Airlines) was founded in 1947 as a contract cargo carrier operating a route from Tampa, FL, to Havana, Cuba. Very early on, Aerovias Sud Americana focused on the carriage of cars by air between the USA and Latin America. It started its business thanks to a Willys contract to haul 300 Jeeps between St Petersburg, FL and Havana, with the first flight on 17 October 1947 being carried out by a Commando. It started carrying cars at a rate of 50 per month, and soon the flow increased to 700 cars per semester. Several aircraft manufacturers soon followed suit, discovering that the air transportation of cars was not only quicker but also simpler and safer than regular shipping. It also allowed new models to be displayed at South American dealerships as soon as they came out.
In August 1952, ASA was granted by the US CAB the first international all-cargo certificate as a scheduled carrier, to operate between Miami, FL and the Caribbean as far as Bogota, Colombia. Operations started in December that year, and the permit was extended in December 1959 to include all Central American countries, Ecuador and Peru. The fleet included Douglas DC3s, DC4s & DC6s, Commandos and Super Constellation freighters.
A merger with Riddle fell through in 1962. Aerovias Sud Americana was renamed Air Americana in 1965. Financial difficulties led to the suspension of operations on 10 May 1965, and bankruptcy filings two days later. Airlift International then offered to take a 42% interest in the company, mainly to acquire the Latin American cargo routes, but the purchase was eventually rejected by the CAB in January 1969.
Commando Operations
October 1947* to 1960*
Aerovias Sud Americana operated 10 Commando freighters, mainly to carry cars to Latin America and the Caribbean. The Commando fleet reached its peak in the mid-1950's, with six units, but by 1960 they were slowly being replaced by Douglas DC4s and only three were left.
Right: the loading of a brand new Studebaker in an Aerovias Sud Americana Commando bound for some South American showroom.
Photo credit: Air Cargo World, April 1954 / aircargoworld.com
Last edited: 22/12/2020