TAA's leadership actually wanted something more advanced than the Lockheed Electra. The airline had its eye on the Sud Aviation Caravelle — a genuine pure-jet — as its next step up from the piston era. But under the government's Two Airlines Policy, TAA and Ansett-ANA were required to re-equip in step with one another, and Ansett judged a pure jet too advanced for its needs at the time. Both airlines bought the Electra instead.
It turned out to be a fortunate compromise. The TAA Lockheed Electra proved a fast, comfortable, and highly reliable aircraft, and TAA continued to grow and prosper on the strength of it through the early 1960s.
TAA introduced the Lockheed Electra into service positioning it as a premium aircraft on major trunk routes. Marketing emphasised its "jet-like speed" and "whisper-quiet cabin" — accurate claims for passengers transitioning from piston-engine aircraft like the DC-4 and Convair 240.
The TAA Lockheed Electra operated on TAA's busiest domestic routes, including:
- Melbourne – Sydney
- Melbourne – Brisbane
- Sydney – Brisbane
- Adelaide – Melbourne
- Perth – Adelaide (selected services)
Its speed and comfort made it ideal for business travellers and long-distance coastal routes. The Electra also handled peak-season holiday traffic, particularly to Queensland destinations.
