EXECUTIVE AIR TRANSPORT, LTD. (1): United Kingdom (1960-1972). EAT is formed at Coventry Airport on September 19, 1960; initial share capital is ?500. In December, a de Havilland DH 104 Dove 1 is purchased.
The initial executive charter is undertaken from Birmingham to Southend on March 5, 1961, followed by others through the month to such destinations as Exeter, Newcastle, Wolverhampton, Leicester.
A Douglas DC-3 is acquired in April and employed, beginning on April 3, to fly replacement services for Derby Airways, Ltd. to Paris, Glasgow, Dublin, Amsterdam, as well as charters to such stops as Rotterdam and Cambridge. The DH 104, together with another Dove leased for a month in July, is employed exclusively on personnel charters. A DH 114 Heron 2 is obtained in December.
The company is allowed to begin operating its own scheduled routes on April 3, 1962, including Birmingham to Leeds and Newcastle. The Newcastle route proves unprofitable and it is given over to Derby Airways, Ltd. in August, when the DC-3 is sold. A Heron 1 is purchased in October.
The subsidiary Executive Air Engineering, Ltd. is established in 1963 to overhaul company and other aircraft and to engage in equipment leasing. Although ad hoc charters are flown, the carrier now concentrates on obtaining a fleet of Herons to charter to others.
A Piper PA-23 Aztec is purchased in July 1967 and employed to inaugurate air taxi flights for industrial customers in the Midlands area.
The small operator Air Gregory (Mid-Fly), Ltd. is purchased and merged in April 1969, together with its Cessnas, which are exchanged for three Beagle B.121 Pups.
Rather than growth, however, the company faces decline and stops flying in 1971. The parent company fares little better and halts operations on July 28, 1972.
EXECUTIVE AIR TRANSPORT, LTD. (2): Riyadh Airport, Riyadh, 11432, Saudi Arabia; Phone 966 (1) 232-6090; Fax 966 (1) 232-6090; Year Founded 1989. Executive Air Transport, Ltd. is set up at Riyadh in 1989 to offer executive passenger and express charter services throughout the Mideast and Europe.
Flights are interrupted by the Gulf War, but by 1994 Taker Deir is general manager and oversees a workforce that includes 14 full-time and eight part-time pilots. Two Canadair Challenger 601s are based at Zurich, Switzerland, while the company operates another Challenger 601, a Boeing 727-100, a Gulfstream G-1159C Gulfstream IV, a Cessna 560 Citation V, a Dassault Falcon 10, and a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo from other locations.
Service is maintained in 1995-2000.
EXECUTIVE AIRLINE SERVICES, LTD.: 29 Adenlyl Jones Ave., P. O. Box 2051, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria; Phone 01 49;6-5802; Fax 01 496-4736; Code EAS; Year Founded 1992. When EAS Cargo Airlines, Ltd. is shut down in January 1992, its owners elect to start an executive jet charter service under the name of Executive Airline Services, Ltd. (EAS). On-demand flights with Piper equipment commence to domestic and regional destinations beginning in November 1993.
During the spring of 1996, Capt. Idns Wada and his colleagues set up an airline division and begin marketing scheduled services. A Boeing 727-200 is acquired and frequencies commence on May 12 linking the company’s base with Enugu, Kaduna, Kano, Maiduguri, Owem, and Yola. Meanwhile, the executive business is continued with a Beech Super King Air 200.
Flights continue in 1997-2000, during which years the Boeing is replaced with a pair of BAC 111-500s.
EXECUTIVE AIRLINES (1): United States (1967-1973). Joseph C. Whitney, president of National Executive Flight Service, reforms his small regional at Boston, Massachusetts, on January 1, 1967 and renames it. Scheduled daily roundtrip passenger services continue to be provided over route networks in New England and Florida. Among the destinations served are Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, Hyannis, points in Maine and New Hampshire, plus Sarasota, Tampa, and other Florida communities. During the fall, replacement service for Northeast Airlines is inaugurated between Boston and Lebanon and Montpelier.
The small Pittsfield, Massachusetts-based competitor Yankee Airlines is purchased in July 1968 and its route to New York is taken over.
The fleet continues to grow during the late 1960s, coming to include Aero Commander 500s, Beech 99s, de Havilland DH 104 Doves, and the company’s first de Havilland Canada DHC-6-100 Twin Otter, which Whitney personally ferries down from Toronto. Late in the year, the company is sold to Walter F. Beinecke Jr.; Whitney, however, stays on as president/CEO.
In 1969, the company is one of the largest regionals in the nation and continues to expand its operations north and south.
President Whitney and a number of senior executives depart the airline in 1970 to begin work on the establishment of Air New England. The departure of Whitney and company’s continuing expansion lead to a financial crisis in 1971 that results in a filing for Chapter XI bankruptcy protection. Although every effort is made to emerge, the company’s divisions cease operations all together in July 1973.
EXECUTIVE AIRLINES (2): United States (1976-1977). The second Executive Airlines is set up at Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1976 to provide scheduled passenger and cargo services from Boston to White Plains, New York. Although Daily Beech 99 roundtrips are duly inaugurated they cannot be maintained beyond 1977.
EXECUTIVE AIRLINES (3): P. O. Box 38082, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00937; United States; Phone (809) 791-8070; Fax (809) 7915180; Code NA; Year Founded 1989. The San Juan-based large regional Executive Air Charter, a three-year veteran of the American Eagle commuter network, becomes an AMR Eagle subsidiary on December 31,1989 and is renamed. The workforce is reduced by 20.3% in 1990 to 325 and the carrier is the beneficiary of an order for 2 ATR72-202s. The route grows to encompass 16 cities and passenger boardings increase 32.1% to 946,277.
Company employment is cut another 36.3% in 1991 to 207 and the company now operates to 14 destinations with a fleet that includes 2 ATR72-202s, 8 ATR42-320s, and 9 CASA C-212 Aviocars.
Twice-daily CASA roundtrips begin in August from San Juan to Mayaguez and four-times-per-day service commences from San Juan to Tortola, British Virgin Islands. In October, the Aviocars employed on the San Juan to Anguilla, St. Kitts, and Nevis services are replaced by ATR42-320s.
Customer bookings slip 0.2% during the 12 months to 944,162 and revenues total $71.34 million. Expenses are $62.9 million and guarantee operating income of $8.43 million. The net profit is $4.86 million.
Company employment increases to 778 in 1992.
In a near-repeat of the predecessor airline’s 1987 tragedy, a CASA C-212-200 with two crew and three passengers crashes in a nose-down attitude while landing at Mayaguez from San Juan on June 7; there are no survivors.
The remaining Aviocars are returned before their leases expire and are partially replaced by two more ATR72-202s.
Passenger boardings for the year slide 3.4% to 912,000, but freight doubles to 6,000 pounds. Revenues ascend a slight 0.7% to $71.87 million and expenses climb 4.9% to $65.97 million. The operating profit is down to $5.89 million and the net loss is $2.9 million, due entirely to the $8.8-million write-off of the CASAs.
The payroll grows by 2.1% in 1993 to 792 and President Thomas Del Valle’s fleet grows to include 19 aircraft: 2 ATR72-202s, 7 ATR42-320s, and 10 Shorts 360-320s, the latter replacing the older Aviocars and several ATR72-202s. Additional U. S.-based management personnel are sent to assist in the carrier’s growth and marketing.
Customer bookings slip another 0.3% to 908,938 and revenues fall 18.4% to $59.6 million. Expenses, on the other hand, move upward by 4.6% to $71.27 million and cause an $11.63-million operating loss. The net loss deepens to $9.84 million.
The leased fleet in 1994 includes 12 Shorts 360-300s, including 12 from Simmons Airlines; 6 ATR72-202s, including 4 from Simmons; and 7 ATR42-320s, of which only one is chartered.
Schedules to 15 cities from San Juan are maintained, including a new Shorts 360-300 route to Miami inaugurated four times per day late in the year. The new services to Florida will replace those previously offered by Flagship Airlines, whose aircraft have been shifted further north.
As the result of the October 31 loss of a Simmons Airlines’ ATR72-210 near Roselawn, Indiana, the FAA on December 9 places a prohibition on the operation of ATR turboprops, which comprise much of the American Eagle fleet. Fortunately, American Eagle President Robert Martens is meeting at AMR headquarters in Dallas with the presidents of the four confederated regionals and they are quickly able to come up with a plan to reconfigure the combined Eagle fleet around the country.
Sixteen Simmons Airlines ATR42-320s are transferred to Miami, while an ATR72-210 is placed with Executive at San Juan. Miami becomes an all-ATR hub when six of Executive’s Shorts 360-300s are dispatched to Dallas (DFW) to support Simmons while two others are sent to San Juan.
Passenger boardings recover, rising 40.2% to 1,274,000. Freight skyrockets 200% to 4,000 FTKs.
In June 1995, frequencies on the San Juan-Miami route are increased to 15 per day.
The company is raised to a National rank by the DOT in late December.
The carrier’s 36 aircraft transport a total of 1,546,000 passengers, a 21.4% increase. Freight traffic skyrockets 166.7% to 12,000 FTKs. Expenses exceed income and there are losses; $7.25 million (operating) and $10.79 million (net).
The employee population numbers 1,800 in 1996. Customer bookings slide 2.9% to 1,501,534 and only 4,000 FTKs are operated, a 62.5% plunge. Operating income increases 9.5% to $132.21 million and costs slip 8% to $117.72 million. The previous year’s losses are turned into profits, a $14.47-million operating gain and a net profit of $16.2 million.
The employee population is slashed 19.7% in 1997 to 1,446.
On March 10, a request is made by Montserrat officials for disaster relief in the face of a pending eruption by the Soufriere Hills Volcano. Over the next month, 7,000 lbs. of goods, ranging from powdered milk to cloth diapers, soap, duct tape, and chain saws are collected at Executive’s San Juan base.
The four-times-a-week service between San Juan and Port-au-Prince, Haiti, is suspended on March 31. On April 15, the goods collected at San Juan are loaded aboard a company ATR42-320 and flown to Montserrat, where they are met by Governor Frank Savage and other VIPs.
Under terms of the May agreement between the Allied Pilots Association and American Airlines, American Eagle pilots will be offered one of every two new-hire positions, but places limits on the stage-length Eagle regional jet pilots may fly (555 nm.). Meanwhile, negotiations between representatives of ALPA and AMR’s American Eagle subsidiary are completed and sent to the 1,900 pilots of Executive, Simmons Airlines, Wings West Airlines, and Flagship Airlines for ratification.
American Eagle Flight 5484, an ATR42-320 with 3 crew and 43 passengers en route from San Juan to Puerto Plata on May 28, experiences extreme vibration and begins to lose altitude. The pilot declares an emergency but is able to make his destination, with no injuries reported. The problem has been caused by a faulty wing-to-fuselage center panel.
On June 1, the company begins a four-month aircraft upgrade program. During this time, the last six Shorts 360-300s are retired and are replaced with an equal number of ATRs.
The new ALPA contract is ratified during the third week of August by a vote of 773 to 473. The 16-year compact provides for guaranteed annual pay increases of 7%, improved crew scheduling and reserve conditions, replacement of the 4 individual company contracts with a single master American Eagle document, and a no-strike-no-lockout agreement.
George Hazy is now appointed president.
Daily ATR42-320 nonstop return service is inaugurated on December 14 from San Juan to Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic.
Passenger boardings fall 9% to 1,366,183. Operating revenues drop 5.2% to $125.36 million, while expenses decline 3.4% to $113.74 million. Operating profit falls to $11.61 million, while the net gain drops to $5.78 million.
The fleet at the beginning of 1998 includes 14 ATR42-320s and 6 ATR72-212As. On January 15, AMR Eagle officials, led by President Daniel P. Garten, announce that the change in the availability of regional jets, combined with the previous August’s single Eagle pilot contract and changes in the economics of the regional airline business, dictate consolidation. Consequently, AMR will integrate all four of its airlines into a single carrier by year’s end.
During the second quarter, the new carrier’s field services organization begins to take shape. On April 13, American Airlines significantly reduces its Caribbean hub operations at San Juan. To help offset some of the reduction in jetliner service, Executive simultaneously increases the number of its ATR72-212A frequencies to five neighboring islands: Antigua, St. Croix, St. Lucia, St. Martin, and Barbados.
A number of appointments are made at the end of April (effective July 1), including David D. C. K. Kennedy, who becomes senior vice president-operations, while Flagship Airlines Vice President-Flight Operations Ed Criner is named AEA’s vice president-flight operations. Reporting to Mr. Kennedy will be six new hub vice presidents: Mike Costello at Dallas/Fort Worth; Dave Brown at Los Angeles; Jacques Va-chon at Miami; Robert Hamilton at New York (JFK); and former Executive President Hazy at San Juan.
On April 30, the company’s four semiautonomous carriers (Simmons Airlines, Flagship Airlines, Executive, and Wings West Airlines) begin a seven-month period of amalgamation into the single mammoth American Eagle Airlines (2), now viewed by AMR as a sister of American Airlines. The presidents of Simmons, Flagship, and Wings West are provided with appointments elsewhere within AMR and are replaced with vice presidents at each of the new airline’s hubs. Simmons forms the core of AEA, with Flagship Airlines joining the merger in May and Wings West in June.
Simultaneously, agreement is reached with the Transport Workers Union of America for a new single-carrier contract. The agreement covers flight dispatchers, mechanics, and ramp-service personnel.
In late June, the decision is taken to separately maintain the certificate of Executive Airlines, moving its operating certificate to Dallas/Fort Worth on July 1. The physical merger of the company into American Eagle Airlines (2) is thus put off until the spring of 1999.
Executive is forced to suspend operations in many locations over the week between September 24-30 due to Hurricane Georges. On October 5, the carrier, together with its American Airlines affiliate, announce that special fares will be offered in October for flights between the U. S. mainland and areas struck by the tropical storm, including Puerto Rico and Haiti. The low-cost flights will be designed to assist family and friends to come and help with the rebuilding process.
ATR72-212A nonstop roundtrip service is inaugurated between Fort Lauderdale and Nassau on November 15, four times a day. Two more daily nonstop ATR72-212A roundtrips are added on December 10 between Fort Lauderdale and Nassau.
Customer bookings during the 12 months jump 16.34% to 1.59 million. Revenues leap up 19.7% to $150.03 million, while expenses are up only 2.5% to $116.58 million. The operating profit grows to $33.45 million, while the net gain triples to $20.1 million.
By the beginning of January 1999, airline employment has been increased by 10.7% to 1,600. During January, American Eagle Airlines (3) and its affiliate becomes the first U. S. regional airline to be awarded Extended Overwater Certification by the FAA. The new certification allows Executive to initiate daily ATR72-212A roundtrips on February 1 between San Juan and Port of Spain in Trinidad. Daily ATR72-212A return service is started on May 25 from San Juan to Grenada.
Passenger boardings jump 12.3% to 1,791,000. Revenues advance 11.7% to $167.54 million, while expenses shoot up 25% to $145.76 million. The operating profit slides to $21.77 million, while net gain drops to $14.61 million.
Airline employment at the beginning of 2000 stands at 1,597, a 17% increase over the previous 12 months.
EXECUTIVE AIRLINES (4): 1300 New Highway, Republic Airport, Farmingdale, New York 11735, United States; Phone (516) 752-8301; Fax (516) 694-0712; Code YL; Year Founded 1993. The
Fourth EA is established by President Michael Peragine at Republic Airport in 1993 as the scheduled airline division of his FBO East Coast Aviation Services. Revenue services to regional destinations, including New York (LGA), commence with a pair of de Havilland Canada DHC-6-300 Twin Otters and two Piper PA-31-310 Navajos.
Operations continue apace in 1994-1999 however, the fleet is changed to include two British Aerospace BAe Jetstream 31s and a Beech Baron.
While on its second approach in light rain and mist to Pennsylvania’s Wilkes-Barre-Scranton International Airport after a May 21,2000 charter service from Atlantic City, a Jetstream 31 with 2 crew and 17 passengers crashes in a ball of fire into the woods 11 mi. S near Bear Creek. There are no survivors.
EXECUTIVE AIRLINES (PTY.), LTD.: Nomad Road, Essendon Airport, Melbourne, Victoria, 3041, Australia; Phone 61 39 374 1777; Fax 61 39 379 7321; Year Founded 1979. Executive Airlines is established at Melbourne in 1979 to offer executive and small group passenger charters. In 2000, Managing Director Geoffrey Harding oversees the work of 5 full-time pilots and the operations of 2 Cessna 550 Citations and 1 British Aerospace HS-125-800 Hawker.
EXECUTIVE AVIATION: United States (1967-1968). A scheduled air taxi division of the FBO Executive Aviation is set up at Fort Smith, Arkansas, in 1967. Employing a Beech 18, the company undertakes local passenger and cargo services, maintaining them for a year.
EXECUTIVE AVIATION LOGISTICS: 7000 Merrill Ave., Hangar 1, Chino, California 91710, United States; Phone (909) 597-0779; Fax (909) 597-0786; Http://www. guides. com/acg/eal; Year Founded 1987. EAL is established at Chino Airport, California, in 1987 as a full service maintenance and fueling facility. It also specializes in the management, sale, and charter of corporate aircraft.
Over the next 13 years, the company also undertakes worldwide executive and small group passenger charters with 10 pilots and a fleet of 2 Grumman Aero Commander 500s, 1 Turbo Commander 980, 1 Swearingen Metro, and 2 executive jets, a Learjet 25G and a Learjet 36A.
World History
