De Kroonduif

The crowned pigeon logo of De Kroonduif.

De Kroonduif, a former subsidiary of Dutch airline KLM, was the national carrier of Netherlands New Guinea (present day Western New Guinea, Indonesia), between 1955 and 1963. The name 'kroonduif' is the Dutch term for the crowned pigeon endemic to New Guinea, which was assumed as the logo of the company.

History

On the 14th July 1955, the company Nederlands Nieuw Guinea Luchtvaart Maatschappij (NNGLM) was established as a subsidiary of Dutch airline KLM, to provide air services within the Dutch territory of Netherlands New Guinea. This new airline, operating under the name of De Kroonduif, was based at Biak, and operated several routes throughout the territory with two de Havilland Canada Beavers.

Later the fleet was also supplemented with Douglas DC-3 Dakotas and Twin Pioneers.

As Western New Guinea was being incorporated into Indonesian territory, on the 1st January 1963, the operations of De Kroonduif were absorbed by Indonesian airline Garuda.

Destinations

According to the De Kroonduif timetable dated 1 December 1958, at the time the following destinations were served:

• Biak, Ajamaroe, Fak Fak, Hollandia, Kaimana, Kebar, Kokonao, Manawi, Manokwari, Merauke, Napan, Noemfoer, Ransiki, Sorong, Steenkool, Tanah Merah, Teminaboean, Wasior, Wisselmeren

References

• Time Table, De Kroonduif, 1 December 1958
• Vliegen in het stenen tijdperk: De Dakota's van de Kroonduif (Dutch)