page_title: New Zealand National Airways Corporation
section_title: S.A.F.E. Air
hierarchical_section_title: New Zealand National Airways Corporation / Other Interests / S.A.F.E. Air
caption_attribution_description: English: An Armstrong Withworth Argosy as exhibited by a private owner at Blenheim, New Zealand. This is ZK-SAE, Merchant Enterprise.
context_page_description: New Zealand National Airways Corporation, popularly known as NAC, was the national domestic airline of New Zealand from 1947 until 1978 when it amalgamated with New Zealand's international airline, Air New Zealand. The airline was headquartered in Wellington.
  NAC was itself a government-led amalgamation of RNZAF 40 Transport Squadron, Union Airways and a number of other smaller operators, including the country's first commercial air service Air Travel Ltd. At the time of its inception, it was equipped with de Havilland Dragon Rapides, de Havilland Fox Moths, Douglas DC-3s, Lockheed Electras, Lockheed Lodestars, and one de Havilland Express which latter was returned to the RNZAF before the official 1947 inaugural start date.
  Although chiefly a domestic airline, in late 1947 NAC also provided international services to some nearby South Pacific countries, using converted ex-Royal New Zealand Air Force Short Sunderland IIIs, as well as long-range Douglas DC-3Ds to Fiji via Norfolk Island.
  By the time of the merger with Air New Zealand, the fleet consisted of 25 aircraft comprising Boeing 737s and Fokker F27s.
context_section_description: In August 1972, NAC Acquired 100% ownership of freight company S.A.F.E. Air, which operated Bristol Freighter and Armstrong Whitworth Argosy aircraft.
caption: Ex-SAFE Air Argosy ZK-SAE Merchant Enterprise in Blenheim, New Zealand.
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