Compass Airlines was Australia’s first low cost airline, founded in 1990. The airline also owned a regional subsidiary, East-West Airlines, but this was taken over by Ansett. It was limited by the Australian Government’s Two Airline Policy, meaning that only Ansett Australia and the government owned Australian Airlines (TAA) could operate domestic flights (Qantas and other Australian airlines could only operate internationally or regionally during this period). The airline operated for a few years before closing, then reopened and closed again due to the financial difficulties they had competing with other airlines, limited by the airline policy. See a government owned Australian 737 in the background
What do you think of the airline, livery or two airline policy?
I’m just so annoyed the Australian government thought they could own the Australian aviation industry. Just so ridiculous, they made Compass, Qantas and Ansett suffer. Australian Airlines never had the potential to be the only airline allowed to fly domestically in Australia. And to cover themselves up, they allowed Ansett to fly domestically, although its strength was in the international industry. So Qantas went on to become the real Australian icon and serve international routes to and from Australia. And guess what? They all crashed, except for the only survivor being Qantas (they went the smart way). Terrible, how dare they.
Is an A300. It even says Airbus A300-600 on the side next to the registration.
You must have misread the registration as VH-YMI. You can see this exact picture on the Aussie Airliners link above. “VH-YMA. Compass - in the full livery at Melbourne Airport, October 1991.”
“…operated four leased Airbus A300 (VH-YMA, VH-YMB, VH-YMJ, VH-YMK) and a single A310 aircraft (VH-YMI). Three further Airbus A300 aircraft on order in 1990 (VH-YMC, VH-YMD, VH-YME) were not taken up as a result of the failure of finance negotiations. Alternatively VH-YMJ and VH-YMK aircraft were leased from British charter carrier Monarch Airlines.”
