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CLASSA

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CLASSA
CLASSA Fokker F.VII3M
IATA ICAO Call sign
- - CLASSA
Founded1928
Commenced operations1929
Ceased operations1932
Operating bases
Fleet sizeFleet below
HeadquartersMadrid, Spain
The historical first flight between Peninsular Spain and the Canary Islands by a CLASSA Ford trimotor in May 1930

Compañía de Líneas Aéreas Subvencionadas, meaning 'Subsidized Airlines Company', mostly known as CLASSA, was a Spanish airline based in Madrid, Spain.[1][2]

The airline was established in 1928 as a result of the aim of the military dictatorship of Miguel Primo de Rivera of having a greater state-controlled Spanish airline. A monopoly made up by merging the existing aviation companies in Spain was proposed as a public utility in the general interest.[2] CLASSA's inaugural flight was on 27 May 1929 between Getafe (Madrid) and Sevilla. This airline, which ceased operations in the second year of the Spanish Republic, earned a reputation for not having had a single air accident during its existence.[3]

History

CLASSA was an airline founded during General Primo de Rivera's dictatorship. Upon the creation the Higher Aeronautic Council (Consejo Superior de Aeronáutica) by virtue of a decree issued on 9 April 1927, the newly created council explicitly aimed to unify all existing civil airlines. This aim reflected General Primo de Rivera's policy of establishing monopolies strongly intervened by the state to run the basic services of the nation. Following a decree issued on 9 January 1928 by the military government, the creation of a new airline was put out to tender and two proposals were presented.[2]

The companies that were merged in order to form CLASSA 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 full name Compañía de Líneas Aéreas Subvencionadas, Sociedad Anónima, but it soon would be widely known by its acronym 'CLASSA'. The newly-formed airline would officially begin full operation of the lines flown by the previous companies 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]

In May 1930 CLASSA made the historical 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] The plane landed on 27 May at Los Rodeos Airport (now Tenerife Norte) in Tenerife Island.

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, following which its fleet and other assets were merged with LAPE's.[8][9] After the airline was wrapped up the republican government of Spain compensated all of CLASSA's shareholders.[5]

Fleet

See also

References

  1. ^ La Aviación Comercial en el Espacio Aéreo Español (1918-1936)
  2. ^ a b c d e Histaer - Compañía de Líneas Aéreas Subvencionadas S.A. (C.L.A.S.S.A.)
  3. ^ a b Primer vuelo comercial a Canarias
  4. ^ a b Histaer - C.E.T.A. ( Compañía Española de Tráfico Aéreo )
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ a b Histaer - Unión Aérea Española (U.A.E.)
  7. ^ Histaer - Compañía Aérea Jorge Loring
  8. ^ Historia de los Vuelos Comerciales en España
  9. ^ Alas de la República : CLASSA , LAPE (1934)
  10. ^ Aviones de Iberia
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