Reg Ansett

Reg Ansett

Sir Reginald Myles "Reg" Ansett KBE (13 February 1909 – 23 December 1981) was an Australian businessman and aviator; best known for founding Ansett Transport Industries Limited, which owned one of Australia's two leading domestic airlines between 1957 and 2001. He also established a number of other business enterprises including Ansett Pioneer coachlines, Ansett Freight Express, Ansair coachbuilders, Gateway Hotels, Diner's Club Australia, Biro Bic Australia and the ATV-0 television station in Melbourne and TVQ-0 in Brisbane which later became part of Network Ten. ATI also bought out Avis Rent-a-Car and had a 50 per cent interest in Associated Securities Limited (ASL). In late 1979, mainly due to the collapse of ASL, Ansett lost control of the company to Sir Peter Abeles of TNT and Rupert Murdoch of News Corporation who became joint managing directors.

Qantas has named one of their Airbus A380s after Ansett in recognition of his contribution to the aviation industry.