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AAT Kings is an Australian and New Zealand coach tour operator offering both short and long distance tours. ==History== AAT Kings history can be traced back to the 1920s when the Pyke family began a car hire business in Sydney. In the 1930s they began to offer guided tours to Katoomba and Jenolan Caves. Initially operated by seven-seater cars in 1935 14-seater coaches were introduced.〔(A history of pioneering spirit and award-winning ways ) AAT Kings〕 In 1973 Grenda's purchased Blue Line Tourist Coaches in Sydney and a Trans Australian Airlines/Mayne Nickless joint venture formed AAT Coachlines.〔(Maropag Australia Pty Ltd formerly AAT Kings Tours Pty Ltd formerly AAT Travel Industries Pty Ltd formerly TAA-Mayne Travel Industries Pty Ltd ) Australian Securities & Investments Commission〕 In July 1975 AAT Coachlines purchased Pykes Tours and Grenda's coach businesses in Sydney and Melbourne.〔"Pykes to AAT" ''Fleetline'' January 1995 page 16〕〔(Lance Grenda ) Road Transport Hall of Fame〕 Meanwhile, in 1967, Bill King formed Bill King’s Northern Safaris operating out of Melbourne with two Land Rovers, an ex Army International ambulance and a Denning from his father, who was the proprietor of Coburg-Heidelberg Omnibus Service.〔(Bill & Val King ) Road Transport Hall of Fame〕 In 1970 King purchased two larger ex Army International 4x4s and two M-series Bedford 4x4s. King later designed and designed his own 18 passenger ''Desert Cruiser'' vehicles on Bedford chassis, these were relocated to Alice Springs, and packaged tours were operated in association with Ansett Airlines.〔〔 By 1979 Bill King’s Northern Safaris was operating 10 vehicles and had four Greyhound coaches on charter. At the same time AAT Coachlines had commenced operations in the Northern Territory with four new Dennings. In 1980 AAT purchased King's business with the tours were marketed as Bill King’s Australian Adventure Tours, with King remaining as manager until 1985.〔 Later both operations along with AAT Coachlines were merged to form AAT Kings.〔 In 1983 AAT Kings was purchased by Mayer Page and Geoff McGeary, proprietors of Australian Pacific Touring. In June 1993 the business was split with Page taking control of AAT Kings, and McGeary Australian Pacific Touring.〔"Page and McGeary split business interests" ''Fleetline'' September 1993 page 190〕〔"Australian Pacific / AAT Kings" ''Australian Bus Panorama'' 9/1 July 1993 page 36〕〔(AAT King’s Tours ) pacificislandtravel.com〕 In 1997 AAT Kings was sold to The Travel Corporation.〔"Ownership changes" ''Fleetline'' January 1998 page 18〕〔"AAT Kings" ''Australian Bus Panorama'' 13/3 December 1997 page 42〕 In July 2012, AAT Kings purchased Australian Pacific Touring's Day Tours and Shorts Breaks divisions.〔(APT, AAT Kings codeshare ) ''Travel Daily'' 24 July 2012〕〔(Our History ) AAT Kings〕 In August 2014, AAT Kings purchased a share in Down Under Tours, Cairns.〔(AAT Kings takes large stake in Cairns Down Under Tours ) ''Cairns Post'' 20 August 2014〕〔(AAT Kings FNQ partnership ) ''Travel Daily'' 20 August 2014〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「AAT Kings」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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