IM AAU Commenced operations 1990 Frequent-flyer program Qantas Frequent Flyer Headquarters Sydney Fleet size 3 | AAU Austasia Ceased operations 1996 Destinations 1 Founded 1990 | |
 | ||
Hubs Sydney Airport, Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport | ||
Australia Asia Airlines (IATA: IM, ICAO: AAU, Call sign: Austasia) (澳亞航空公司 Àoyà Hángkōng Gōngsī) was a wholly owned subsidiary of Qantas set up to operate services between Australia and Taiwan (Republic of China).
History
The subsidiary was established due to the People's Republic of China objection to national carriers of countries with which it had diplomatic relations flying to a territory that it regarded as a breakaway province.
The airline operated two Boeing 747SPs and a Boeing 767 aircraft seconded from the Qantas fleet, repainted in a modified livery, which did not display the Flag of Australia, or the kangaroo logo, which was replaced by a dynamic ribbon. It initially flew its flights using the IATA code IM but switched to Qantas's QF in 1994.
Australia Asia Airlines ceased operations in 1996 as Qantas could by then serve Taiwan in its own right due to it being completely privatized. Australia Asia Airline's aircraft were then returned to Qantas service.