Ansett Airlines of Papua New Guinea was established in 1936 as
Mandated Airlines when W.R. Carpenter & Co (Aerial Service) merged with Pacific Aerial Transport. The airline began operations from
Salamaua. The airline was one of many companies established to link the goldfields of New Guinea to points in Australia. In February 1942 the airline ceased operations due to the Japanese invasion of Papua New Guinea with some aircraft being lost, however the airline re-started operations in 1945. In the aftermath of the war Mandated Airlines began to acquire and incorporate other airlines such as: Island Airways in 1948 and Gibbes Sepik Airways and Madang Air Services in 1960. Ansett MAL operated throughout Papua New Guinea in combination with other airline subsidiaries such as
TAA Sunbird and
SAATS East Indonesia. In 1968 the airline was renamed again, with Ansett Airlines of Papua New Guinea being the airlines final name. In 1970 the airline acquired Papuan Airlines. The airline finally ceased operations in 1973. == Destinations ==