Based in Salisbury, it offered an extensive network of domestic passenger and cargo flights, as well as international services to major cities in Southern and Central Africa, and a route to London.

[3] To get larger and more modern aircraft, CAA purchased three Vickers VC.1 Viking and five de Havilland Dove, the first of which were delivered in 1947.

The Doves were intended to be used for so called bush flights to poorly prepared landing strips, but proved unsuitable for the prevailing hot and high conditions.

[1][5][6] During the 1960s, Central African Airways ordered two BAC One-Eleven-207 aircraft, but delivery was blocked by United Nations sanctions following UDI and one Douglas DC-6 which was leased from Alitalia between 1962 and 1965.

[5] In the wake of the Decolonization of Africa and the African independence movements, the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland was dissolved on 31 December 1963.

Thenceforth, only the prestigious international flights from Salisbury to London and Johannesburg were operated under the Central African Airways brand.