Southern World Airlines
| Founded | November 21, 1988 |
|---|---|
| Commenced operations | March 18, 1991 |
| Ceased operations | September 20, 1991 |
| Hubs | |
| Headquarters | Auckland, New Zealand |
| Key people |
|
| Employees | 85 (1991) |
Southern World Airlines was a short lived New Zealand based cargo airline that was established in 1998.[1][2][3] The airline commenced operations in March 1991 using leased Douglas DC-8 cargo aircraft, before ceasing operations shortly after in September 1991, following the release of allegations by TVNZ against its CEO Harvey Allen Misbin.[4]
While short lived, the airline was the second international airline, following Air New Zealand to be based in the country.[5]
History
[edit]Incorporation
[edit]In 1988, it was reported that an undisclosed American entrepreneur was planning to establish a cargo airline in New Zealand, with the intention of operating flights across the Pacific.[6]
A number of notable New Zealand pilots were involved in SWA, including Thomas Trevor "TT" Bland, a former RNZAF pilot and founder of the New Zealand Warbirds Association, former Air New Zealand chief pilot Ian Harding Gemmell as well as veteran flight instructor James "Jim" Bergman. [7][8]
CEO Drug smuggling links
[edit]In August 1991, only six months after the start of operations, Harvey Misbin relinquished his controlling share in the company, and his position of chief executive.[9][10]
On 25 August 1991, Television New Zealand aired a report presented by Rod Vaughan that accused Misbin of running drug flights between South America and the United States for the Medellín Cartel, prior to managing Southern World.[11][12][13] Misbin had been subpoenaed to appear before a US Grand Jury investigation in drug smuggling activities, and had been under surveillance by the United States Department of the Treasury. Despite this, Misbin had been granted New Zealand citizenship and an airline operators license.[14][15]
End of operations
[edit]Following the shuttering of SWA, Roger Banks and Grant Annals would relaunch a new cargo airline named Pacific Express, using leased aircraft from the former Soviet Union.[16]
Fleet
[edit]Former fleet
[edit]| Aircraft | Total | Introduced | Retired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McDonnell Douglas DC-8 | 2 | 1991 | 1991 |
|
References
[edit]- ^ Smith, Mike. "New air freight service to cater for export boom". natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
- ^ "SOUTHERN WORLD AIRLINES LIMITED (NZBN: 9429039387370) - company information - Company Hub". www.companyhub.nz. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
- ^ Bradley, Grant. "Business Hub: Air NZ Dreamliner captain Andrew Ridling on flying through a pandemic". NZ Herald. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
- ^ L, Steve (13 February 2022). "3rd Level New Zealand: NZ's Second DC-8 Operator - Southern World Airlines". 3rd Level New Zealand. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
- ^ "Southern World Airlines". ch-aviation.
- ^ Bloxham, Les (2 December 1988). "Secret identity behind new freight airline". The Press. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
- ^ Bayer, Kurt. "Stunning send-off to Kiwi airman". NZ Herald. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
- ^ a b The Aero Historian - Journal of the Aviation Historical Society of New Zealand (Volume 66 Number 3 ed.). 2023. p. 40. ISSN 2463-5030.
- ^ Kennedy, Graeme. "Phoenix to rise". natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
- ^ a b "NZ's second DC-8 Operator Southern World Airlines" (PDF). Aviation Historical Society of New Zealand. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
- ^ "The Sydney Morning Herald from Sydney, New South Wales, Australia". Newspapers.com. 22 September 1991. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
- ^ "Television and Radio - The University of Auckland Library". collections.library.auckland.ac.nz. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
- ^ Vidgen, Ben (1999). State Secrets (1st ed.). Auckland: Howling at the Moon Productions. p. 93. ISBN 9780958205436.
- ^ Walker, Ranginui. "New Zealand Immigration and the Political Economy". www.thesocialcontract.com. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
- ^ "Colombian Organized Crime and Cocaine Trafficking, Fifth Revision | Office of Justice Programs". www.ojp.gov. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
- ^ Historical Aviation Film Unit (8 July 2022). Rarely Seen Soviet Aircraft In New Zealand Airspace. Retrieved 8 November 2025 – via YouTube.
