CLASSA
.jpg) CLASSA Fokker F.VII3M | |||||||
| |||||||
| Founded | 1928 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commenced operations | 1929 | ||||||
| Ceased operations | 1931 | ||||||
| Operating bases | |||||||
| Fleet size | Fleet below | ||||||
| Headquarters | Madrid, Spain | ||||||
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Compañía de Líneas Aéreas Subvencionadas (CLASSA) was an airline based in Madrid, Spain.[1][2]
The airline was established in 1928 as a result of a vision of the military dictatorship of Miguel Primo de Rivera of having a greater state-controlled Spanish airline. A monopoly of the aviation companies in Spain was proposedmas a public utility in the general interest.[2] Its inaugural flight was on 27 May 1929 between Getafe (Madrid) and Sevilla. CLASSA earned a reputation for not having had a single air accident during its existence.[3]
History
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CLASSA was an airline founded during General Primo de Rivera's dictatorship following a decree issued in January 1928 by the military government that sought to unify all existing civil airlines.[2] The companies that were merged were Iberia, Unión Aérea Española (U.A.E.), Compañía Española de Tráfico Aéreo (C.E.T.A.)[4] the pilot training company Compañía Española de Aviación (C.E.A.)[5] and the airship line Transaérea Colón. The companies that had a contract with the government at that time, such as Compañía Aérea Jorge Loring, were exempt from joining as long as their government contract was still in force.[2]
The new airline was formally constituted as a company on 13 March 1929, with the name Compañía de Líneas Aéreas Subvencionadas, Sociedad Anónima. But it would be mostly known by its acronym 'CLASSA'. CLASSA would officially begin full operation of the lines on 25 November 1929. However, it was decided that the official date of its constitution would be 25 May 1929, which was the date in which CLASSA took over all the rights and obligations, including the fleets and staff of the companies that had been merged.[2] The Compañía Española de Tráfico Aéreo (C.E.T.A.), a pioneer Spanish airline that had been founded in 1920, ceased to exist after the official date of establishment of CLASSA.[4]
The only exception was the Sevilla - Granada flight by U.A.E. that would be continued to be operated by this company until January 1930. On that date the remaining two Junkers G 24 used by U.A.E. to operate that line —one had been transferred to CLASSA the previous year— joined CLASSA's fleet.[6] U.A.E had sold all its CLASSA shares to Jorge Loring on 24 May 1929, by which Loring became the main de facto shareholder of the new company. Compañía Aérea Jorge Loring's Sevilla - Tetuán - Larache line would be taken over by CLASSA on 31 January 1931, date in which Compañía Aérea Jorge Loring in turn ceased to exist.[7]
On 27 May 1930 CLASSA made the first flight to the Canary Islands using one of its Ford 4-AT trimotors, the only plane of the fleet that had a radio on board.[3]
Following the proclamation of the Second Spanish Republic in 1931 LAPE (Líneas Aéreas Postales Españolas), the airline that would replace CLASSA became established. On 23 September 1931 the contract between CLASSA and the Spanish government was declared void. LAPE began operations in April 1932, CLASSA flying under the Spanish Republican Flag for one year.[8][9] After the airline was wrapped up the republican government of Spain compensated all of CLASSA's shareholders.[5]
Fleet
- 2 Ford 4-AT
- 2 Fokker F.VII
- 1 Breguet 26T Limousine[10]
- 3 Junkers G 24[6]
See also
References
- ^ La Aviación Comercial en el Espacio Aéreo Español (1918-1936)
- ^ a b c d e Histaer - Compañía de Líneas Aéreas Subvencionadas S.A. (C.L.A.S.S.A.)
- ^ a b Primer vuelo comercial a Canarias
- ^ a b Histaer - C.E.T.A. ( Compañía Española de Tráfico Aéreo )
- ^ a b Luis Utrilla Navarro & Marcos García Cruzado (2005). Madrid: Aeropuertos Españoles y Navegación Aérea, S.A., ed. Historia de los Aeropuertos de Madrid (I). ISBN 8496456315.
- ^ a b Histaer - Unión Aérea Española (U.A.E.)
- ^ Histaer - Compañía Aérea Jorge Loring
- ^ Historia de los Vuelos Comerciales en España
- ^ Alas de la República : CLASSA , LAPE (1934)
- ^ Aviones de Iberia
External links
Media related to CLASSA at Wikimedia Commons- Pictures of CLASSA memorabilia
- Airline History - Spain
