List of original DC-3 operators



The List of original Douglas DC-3 operators lists only the original customers who purchased new aircraft.

With the availability of large numbers of surplus military C-47 Skytrains or Dakotas after the Second World War, nearly every airline and military force in the 1940s and 1950s operated the aircraft at some point. More than eighty years after the type's first flight, in the second decade of the 21st century the Douglas DC-3 is still in commercial operation.

Commercial operators

 * Australia
 * Australian National Airways (ANA)


 * Belgium
 * Sabena


 * Brazil
 * Real Transportes Aéreos
 * Varig
 * VASP


 * Czechoslovakia
 * (ČLS)


 * France
 * Air France


 * Hong Kong
 * Cathay Pacific


 * Iceland
 * Loftleiðir


 * India
 * Indian Airlines


 * Indonesia
 * Garuda Indonesia
 * Ireland
 * Aer Lingus


 * Kenya
 * Speedbird Airways


 * Netherlands
 * KLM


 * Japan
 * Far East Fur Trading
 * Great Northern Airways
 * Imperial Japanese Airways
 * Japan Air Transport
 * Pakistan
 * Pakistan International Airlines


 * Peru
 * PANAGRA


 * Romania
 * LARES


 * Russia
 * Mongolian Transport Company
 * Northeast


 * Sweden
 * AB Aerotransport


 * Switzerland
 * Swissair
 * United States
 * American Airlines
 * Braniff Airways
 * Capital Airlines - the only purchaser of the DC-3S Super DC-3 post-war variant
 * Chicago and Southern Air Lines
 * Canadian Colonial Airlines
 * Delta Air Lines
 * Eastern Air Lines
 * Hawaiian Airlines
 * Northeast
 * Northwest Airlines
 * Pan American-Grace Airways
 * Pan American World Airways
 * Pennsylvania Central Airlines
 * Transcontinental & Western Air
 * United Airlines
 * Western Air Express

Business and Executive operators

 * United States
 * Civil Aeronautics Authority
 * Swiftflite Inc

Military operators

 * Nicaragua


 * Nicaraguan Air Force


 * Sweden


 * Royal Swedish Air Force

The RSwAF operated two second-hand ex-AB Aerotransport DC-3 aircraft for SIGINT purposes. One was shot down on June 13 1952 on a secret mission outside the Baltic coast by Soviet fighters. All eight in the crew perished.

In 2003, the wreck was located and salvaged. It now resides in the Air Force Museum.


 * United States


 * United States Army Air Corps/United States Army Air Forces
 * Includes aircraft built for the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army Air Force but taken over before delivery following the Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies


 * United States Navy