This compilation lists many of the inovative Firsts which can be attributed to the operation of TAA within Australia.
26/02/1947
Capt. Chapman with a DC4 operates the first double crossing of the Tasman in one day. Syd - Auckland - Syd.
1948
The Convair 240 was the first pressurised airliner to operate in Australia
09/02/1954
Queen Elizabeth's flight, Newcastle to Evans Head on TAA Convair TAQ, was the first flight in Australia by a ruling British Monarch. The Queen and Prince Phillip made six flights on TAA aircraft during the 1954 Royal Tour of Australia.
12/1954
TAA starts the first non-European Viscount service.
TAA introduced turbine powered aircraft with the Viscount.
05/1955
Transair of May 1955 states that TAA Viscount TVF Ernest Giles, first Viscount in the world to be fitted with "slipper" tanks (for use on the Adelaide - Perth route).
10/1955
TAA introduced Economy class airtravel in Australia.
24/04/1956
TAA operated Australia's first commercial helicopter service (Yarra Bank, Melbourne)
1957
Introduced Packaged Holidays
08/1958
TAA Viscount 700 VH-TVE world's first Vicount to reach 10,000 hours and later it reached 20,000 hours.
02/1959
TAA, first Australian airline to win Cumberbatch trophy for "the best annual contribution to reliability in air-craft operation". Established in 1931 and awarded by the British Guild of Air Pilots and Air Navigators.
1960
First to carry one million passengers in a year, in Australia.
07/10/1966
TAA New Guinea Poster - First photographic airline poster in the world to be produced in full colour by the silk screen process.
15/08/1967
TAA's DC9 VH-TJJ, first aircraft into Tullamarine, excluding helicopters.
05/07/1970
Boeing VH-TJB, first domestic jet to be fitted with new smokeless engines.
19/06/1971
First scheduled domestic flight into Tullamarine was the Friendship VH-TQR, flight 205 Sydney to Melbourne.
1971
TAA was first to introduce point to point timetables.
1975
First to carry four million passengers in a year, in Australia.
05/1976
TAA introduces MACS Australia's first motel/hotel Availability Control System.
1977
TAA developed the incentive travel market.
1978
TAA introduced Apex..
TAA introduced Take 7 packages using Apex.
25/09/1979
TAA's Boeing 727 TJB had a 35 min movie camera, in fibre-glass and aluminium protective housing, mounted to the plane tail, to obtain Australian landscape and coastal footage for the use of an advertising campaign. It is believed this was a world first.
1980
First to carry five million passengers in a year, in Australia.
04/02/1981
TAA was the first major Australian domestic airline to employ male flight attendants.
22/07/1981
TAA introduced the first "wide body" aircraft on Australian domestic routes with the Airbus A300.
19/07/1982
TAA introduced a facility to receive ABC broadcasts on "in-flight" entertainment system.
04/10/1982
TAA introduced Business Class on the Airbus.
18/01/1983
TAA introduced Business Class on the Boeing and DC9 aircraft.
10/1984
TAA introduced Rain-check.