Coral Route: Tasman Empire Airways Ltd, flying boats & the South Pacific – Steele Roberts Aotearoa

The Coral Route was the first scheduled air service through the islands of the South Seas. Inaugurated by Tasman Empire Airways Ltd (TEAL) in 1951 using four-engined Solent flying boats, it flew into the jet age, becoming the world’s last long-haul flying boat route. Since its final service in 1961 the Coral Route has grown into an aviation legend, the passing decades seeing regular embellishments to old tales. Coral Route is a timely return to the origins of the story.