Air Ceylon

File:Air Ceylon Douglas DC-8 at Zurich Airport in June 1977.jpg approaches Zurich Airport in 1977.]]

File:Air Ceylon Hawker Siddeley HS-121 Trident Green.jpg at Subang Airport in 1978]]

Air Ceylon was established in 1947 as state-owned flag carrier airline. In 1947, the government purchased three DC-3s, which were named after queens Sita Devi, Viharamaha Devi, and Sunethra Devi.

On 10 December 1947, with Captain Peter Fernando at the controls and a complement of 16 passengers, Sita Devi took off from Ratmalana runway soon after 8 am, inaugurating the Air Ceylon commercial flights, and headed for Palaly. After a brief stop there, the Dakota proceeded to Madras, returning to Colombo by the same route later that day.

Madras-Jaffna-Trichinopoly Douglas C-47 Skytrain services to London with two Douglas DC-4s leased from Australian National Airways (ANA) commenced in summer 1949, after ANA acquired a 49% stake in Air Ceylon earlier that year.[https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1949/1949%20-%201163.html Flight International, 23 June 1949][https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1949/1949%20-%200200.html Flight International, 3- February 1949] Flights to Sydney in co-operation with ANA were started on 20 July 1950 via Singapore and Darwin.[https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1950/1950%20-%200208.html Flight International, 25 January 1950]

In 1949, Australian National Airways (ANA) owned a 49% stake in Sri Lanka's countrywide service. Air Ceylon discontinued all long-haul fights and gave up its partnership with ANA in September 1953 after BOAC had introduced the de Havilland Comet between London and Colombo.[https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1953/1953%20-%200500.html Flight International, 17 April 1953][https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1953/1953%20-%200777.html Flight International, 19 June 1953] The 49 percent stake held by ANA was taken over by KLM in 1955. In 1960s KLM's shareholding reduced to 25%.{{cite book |title=Government Birds, Air Transport and the State in Western Europe |last=Staniland |first=Martin |year=2003 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers |location=Lanham |isbn=0-7425-0124-8 }}

Flights to London were commenced again on 21 February 1956 using a Lockheed 749A Constellation leased from KLM.[https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1956/1956%20-%200309.html Flight International, 16 March 1956] The aircraft was replaced by a Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation in 1958, followed by a KLM Lockheed L-188 Electra that was leased until the partnership with KLM ended in November 1961.[https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1961/1961%20-%201313.html Flight International, 14 September 1961] A Comet from BOAC allowed the relaunch of flights to London in April 1962. The aircraft was replaced by a leased Vickers VC10 in November 1965.[https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1965/1965%20-%202662.html Flight International, 3 June 1965]

From 1964, the Hawker Siddeley HS 748 became the aircraft mainly used on Air Ceylon's short-haul routes to Madras and Bombay, along with the Aérospatiale N 262 that was bought in 1967. When Bandaranaike International Airport was completed in 1967, Air Ceylon opened its hub there. A Hawker Siddeley Trident jet airliner was purchased in 1969, and it was operated on regional routes until it was withdrawn in August 1979.[https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1969/1969%20-%200951.html Flight International, 29 May 1969]{{cite book |last1=Klee |first1=Ulrich |last2=Bucher |year=1979 |title=JP Airline-Fleets International |edition=79 |location=Switzerland |publisher=Editions JP}}

In 1972, Union de Transports Aériens (UTA) became Air Ceylon's partner, selling one Douglas DC-8 to the airline and giving technical support. UTA ended the partnership in September 1976, leaving Air Ceylon without a European aide.[https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1976/1976%20-%201069.html Flight International, 26 June 1976] In 1979, Air Ceylon was shut down by the Sri Lankan government due to bankruptcy, and Air Lanka was established as new national carrier.

During that period, Air Ceylon offered multiple-stopover flights, which were leaving Colombo on three routes - to Europe, to Australia, and a regional one to India. KLM was the important partner airline, serving as general sales agent for Air Ceylon.[http://www.timetableimages.com/i-a/ae5304i.jpg Air Ceylon 1953 timetable at timetableimages.com][http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/complete/ae59/ Air Ceylon 1959 timetable at timetableimages.com]

Due to more modern aircraft with a longer range, fewer stops were required on the long-distance routes, reducing travel time. Air Ceylon passengers could reach additional destinations (in Europe and towards Australia) with co-operative BOAC or Qantas flights.[http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/ae/ae67/ Air Ceylon 1967 timetable at timetableimages.com]

The co-operation with BOAC and Qantas was reduced at that time, instead a codeshare-like agreement was signed with Indian Airlines. As a consequence, Air Ceylon relaunched services to Australia and expanded its European network.[http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/complete/ae70/ Air Ceylon 1970 timetable at timetableimages.com][http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/ae/ae72/ Air Ceylon 1972 timetable at timetableimages.com][http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/ae/ae74/ Air Ceylon 1974 timetable at timetableimages.com]

Before ending operations in 1979, Air Ceylon had one Hawker Siddeley HS 748 and one Hawker Siddeley Trident.

Over the years, Air Ceylon operated these aircraft types:

• On 21 December 1949, an Air Ceylon Douglas C-47 Dakota (registered VP-CAT) was damaged beyond repair in a crash landing at Tiruchirapalli Airport following a scheduled passenger flight from Jaffna. The 21 passengers and three crew members survived the accident.[http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19491221-0 Air Ceylon 1949 accident at the Aviation Safety Network]
• On 7 September 1978, an Air Ceylon Hawker Siddeley HS 748 (registered 4R-ACJ) was destroyed by a on-board bomb and subsequent fire while parked at Ratmalana Airport. Two pilots had been carrying out predeparture checkups.[http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19780907-1 Air Ceylon 1978 bomb incident at the Aviation Safety Network]

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Category:Defunct airlines of Sri Lanka

Category:Airlines established in 1947

Category:Airlines disestablished in 1979

Category:1947 establishments in Ceylon