Up at Las Vegas, Nevada, during the spring of 1981 to provide scheduled Douglas DC-3 flights to the Grand Canyon and Burbank, California. Lack of traffic brought on because of ATC restrictions resulting from the summer PATCO air traffic controllers’ strike conspires with recessionary influences to force the company out of business in early 1982.
ROYALWINGS AIRLINES, LTD.: P. O. Box 341018, Amman, 1134, Jordan; Phone 962 (2) 875 206; Fax 962 (2) 875 658; Http://www. royalwings. com. jo; Code RJ; Year Founded 1996. RW is
Set up at Amman on January 1, 1996 as a subsidiary of Royal Jordanian Airlines to provide both scheduled and charter passenger services to domestic and regional destinations. Company formation profits from the close interest and strong support of HRH Prince Faisal Bin Al-Hussein. Basel Jardaneth is chairman with Ahid Quntar as president and general manager; the workforce totals 29 and a single de Havilland Canada DHC-8-300 is acquired.
Revenue feeder flights commence twice daily on February 10 linking the concern’s base with Aqaba, Sharm el Sheikh, and Haifa. Charters are also undertaken not only to the scheduled points, but to Alexandria, Antalya, Aswan, Heraklion, Hurdaga, Luxor, Ras El Nakab, Rhodes, and St. Catherine as well.
Flights continue in 1997 and a second DHC-8-300 is acquired at the end of January. This de Havilland is employed to launch six-times-per-week flights to Tel Aviv, beginning on April l. Plans are made to add Larnaca, Cairo, and Al Arish to the expanding network.
In order that the carrier might have a business division, Arab Winds, Ltd. is taken over in January 1998 and merged. Its activities are continued under Royal Wings management. Taking advantage of the growing Middle East peace, the company now expands its regional scheduled services. Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh become its most popular charter destinations. On December 11, a company DHC-8-300 launches twice-weekly roundtrips from Amman into the newly opened airport at Gaza. This after the company participates in celebrations opening the new Palestinian airport a few weeks earlier.
Both charter and scheduled flights continue in 1999. The Red Sea resorts at Larnaca, Antalya, and Rhodes are regularly visited with tourists. Employing a pair of Mil Mi-8s, a new helicopter service is introduced in October. The Russian-built helicopters transport visitors to Petra and Wadi Rum, as well as various desert historic sites. Replacement flights to Tel Aviv, Gaza, Aqaba, and Haifa are often made on behalf of Royal Jordanian Airlines. On December 30, General Manager Ahed Quntar reports that passenger boardings for the first 10 months of the year are just 9l,000, down 60,000 from the equivalent 1998 figure. Revenues of $1.4 million are generated for the year as a whole, up $400,000 over the previous year.
At the beginning of 2000, scheduled service is maintained to Aqaba, Tel Aviv, and Gaza, while charters are operated to a growing number of destinations, including Cyprus, Sharm al-Sheikh, and Damascus. The carrier’s helicopters are also available for use in emergency situations. The Palestinian unrest in the fall of has an impact on the scheduling of services to Israel and Gaza.
ROYALAIR: 1575 W. Commercial Blvd., Hangar 3B, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 33309, United States; Phone (954) 771-8805; Fax (954) 771-8006; Year Founded 1996. Royalair is established at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport in 1996 to operate executive and small group passenger charters throughout the Eastern U. S. Revenue operations begin and continue with a single British Aerospace BAe (HS) 125-l00 Hawker; another Hawker is stationed at Mount Holly, New Jersey.
ROYALE AIRLINES: United States (1969-1989). Royale Airways is founded by D. Y. Smith Jr. at Shreveport Regional Airport in Louisiana on July 18, 1969 to offer services to destinations in Louisiana, Texas, and Mississippi. Scheduled passenger flights begin on April 2l, 1970, linking the company’s base with New Orleans via Fort Polk and Lafayette. During the next five years, President Smith’s 6 Beech 99s also begin flying to Lake Charles and Houston.
In 1975, enplanements total l6,806. The workforce is increased by 20% in 1976 to 60. Three more Beech 99s are acquired and stations are opened at Monroe and Baton Rouge.
Passenger boardings drop 16% to 54,862.
Passenger enplanements in 1977 total 81,000.
Passenger traffic climbs by 19% in 1978 to 96,049; additionally, 340,122 pounds of freight are also carried. During these years, flights are initiated to New Orleans, Gulfport, and Dallas.
Bookings increase by 25% in 1979 to 120,000 and the fleet now comprises 1 Shorts 330 and 4 Beech 99s. Orders are placed for nine Embraer EMB-110P1 Bandeirantes.
The employee population grows by 8.3% in 1980 to 170. Founder Smith is elected board chairman, with Ralph U. Whitten now becoming president. Four of the requested Brazilian-made turboprops enter service through the year.
Passenger boardings increase by 23.6% to 148,852 and 243,000 pounds of freight, a 48.5% increase. Revenues skyrocket 80% to $6.4 million, but even with costs booming upward 84.2%, they are kept in check at $5.7 million. As a result, the operating profit climbs 51.3% to $698,897.
Norman K. McInnis becomes company president in 1981. He oversees a fleet of 4 Beech 99s and 6 Bandeirantes. A seventh EMB-110P1 is added late in the year.
Customer bookings climb 10.9% to 165,055 while cargo jumps 22.6% to 297,919 pounds. The net profit is $1.26 million.
Airline employment rises 22.1% in 1982 to 271 and the fleet now comprises 2 Shorts 330s, 6 Embraer EMB-110P1s, and 7 Beech 99s. Service to Memphis, Tennessee, begins during the first quarter. A new maintenance base is occupied at New Orleans, where a corporate Grumman Gulfstream 1 is converted to 24-seat G1-C commuter configuration.
Enplanements climb 27.9% to 211,167, as freight increases 45.8% to
184.000 pounds. Due to the recession, profits fall to $3.89 million (operating) and $1.033 million (net).
Airline employment in 1983 is 385, a boost of 54%. A second reconfigured Gulfstream G-1C joins the fleet during the spring, followed by two others by Christmas. Meanwhile, flights begin to five Texas locations and in September, Royale becomes a Continental Commuter partner, coordinating flights as “Continental Express” so as to feed Continental Airlines at Houston.
Passenger boardings accelerate to 223,496 and cargo jumps 18% to
649.000 pounds. Revenues advance 20.1% to $15.5 million and expenses, although up by 25%, are $13.45 million. As a result, the operating profit is $2.05 million and net gain is $1.02 million.
The payroll is boosted 54.7% in 1984 to 464 as Robert E. Phillips is promoted to president/CEO. The carrier now enters the jet age by acquiring a Douglas DC-9-15 for nonstop “Continental Express” service between Brownsville and Houston. Five more Gulfstream G-1Cs also joins the fleet, allowing retirement of one of its 11 Bandeirantes and the 4 remaining Beech 99s.
Flights begin to Jackson, Mississippi, and Pensacola. The DC-9 is retired in December and its Texas route is returned to the turboprops.
Enplanements ascend 79.6% to 400,302 and freight balloons 105% to
I. 33 million pounds. Revenues jump 50.8% to $23.4 million and costs, although up by 56.2%, are held at $21 million. Profits climb slightly, up to $2.35 million (operating) and $1.31 million (net).
Airline employment grows another 30.8% in 1985 to 607 as the carrier acquires the Clear Lake City, Texas, assets of Metro Airlines, including six de Havilland DHC-6-300 Twin Otters. John A. Fasolino is named the enlarged regional’s new president and oversees a reduction in unprofitable routes.
Passenger boardings climb 3.5% to 414,261, but cargo is down 3% to
880.000 pounds. Revenues ascend 36.1% to $33.6 million and with costs held down, profits move upward to $3.66 million (operating) and $1.77 million (net).
The workforce is reduced by 26% in 1986 to 449 and the fleet includes 10 G-1Cs, 12 Bandeirantes, and 6 DHC-6s. As the economy of the company’s energy-rich service area continues to deteriorate, Royale is forced to shut down its newly acquired Clear Lake City facilities and sell the six Twin Otters. Several marginal routes are also suspended.
As a result, passenger boardings fall 7% to 385,446. Revenues plunge
II. 4% to $29.2 million, expenses decline 8.9% to $27.94 million, and the operating profit slides to $1.25 million. The previous year’s net gain turns south into a $961,801 net loss.
In early September 1987, Royale loses its “Continental Express” code-sharing affiliation. As a result, the company, already shaky financially, is forced to file for Chapter XI bankruptcy on September 9. Once under protection of the court, eight EMB-110P1s are allowed to fly a limited Louisiana route network. In addition, a previous plan to inaugurate jetliner service is allowed to begin, as a Douglas DC-9-14 wet-leased from Emerald Air starts flying roundtrips between Shreveport and New Orleans on November 19.
Customer bookings plunge another 37.6% on the year to 240,549.
Although no figures are released, Royale continues to operate under court protection through 1988, continuing to reduce its fleet. Throughout the year, negotiations, begun the previous year, are continued for a possible takeover by an Emerald Air subsidiary. By September 30, the regional flies just 1 EMB-110P1 and 2 G-1Cs. Jet service continues.
On January 31, 1989, Royale grounds its turboprops, but continues to operate thrice-daily Shreveport to New Orleans flights with the Douglas DC-9-14 wet-leased from fellow bankrupt carrier Emerald Air.
The rental fee charged by Emerald Air allows it to gain control of Royale in early February; however, the federal bankruptcy court now steps in an orders the 19-year-old Royale liquidated. Emerald regains its Douglas jetliner and continues the New Orleans service under its own name.
RRC AIR SERVICE, S. C.: Ethiopia (1991-1994). RRC is established at Addis Ababa in 1987 to offer third-level passenger and cargo services to local and regional destinations. Revenue operations commence with 1 each Beech Super King Air 200 and de Havilland Canada DHC-6-300 Twin Otter.
The Twin Otter is destroyed in a crash 32 km. E of Fugnido on August 7, 1989, under unknown circumstances. Flights continue with just the Beechcraft.
The Super King Air 200 is replaced by a second Twin Otter in 1992. Operations continue apace in 1993, but cease in 1994.
RT AVIATION: Bogoslovski Perlulok 12/14, Moscow, 103104, Russia; Phone 7 (095) 209-2676; Fax 7 (095) 455-8282; Year Founded 1994. Y. Evgeni Zakharov, who also serves as general director, establishes RT (Russian Transport) Aviation at Moscow in 1994. Ad hoc passenger charters are inaugurated with a single Yakovlev Yak-40.
In 1995, the company mission is changed to that of a domestic and regional all-cargo carrier. The Yak is withdrawn and replaced with 1 each Antonov An-12, An-26, An-32, Ilyushin Il-18, and Il-76D.
Plans are made in 1997 to inaugurate international air charters. These flights have still not started as of the beginning of 2000.
World History
