Union Airways were founded by Major Allister Miller, a World War I flying ace, who had recruited some 2000 South Africans for service in the Royal Air Force.

Later that year, Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw celebrated his seventy-fifth birthday with a flight in one of the Junkers.

In 1933, Union Airways placed a Junkers at the disposal of deputy prime minister General Jan Smuts for an election tour.

Mail was collected from the Union Castle steamships from Britain that docked at Cape Town harbour on Monday mornings and flown to Port Elizabeth by a single Gypsy Moth.

At Port Elizabeth two more Gipsy Moths were waiting to continue the service, one to fly mail to Bloemfontein and Johannesburg and the other to East London and Durban.

On 29 August the first return service was operated, reaching Cape Town in time for the departing UK-bound steamship.

The airline also undertook the carriage of sick persons on mercy flights (unscheduled; route and schedule as required).

Major Miller also placed an order for 3 Junkers Ju 52/3m aircraft; an all-metal airliner with three engines which could carry up to 18 passengers.