Airline employment stands at 435 in 1990. Recession and the Mideast situation after August contribute to an 8.8% decline in customer bookings to 591,900.
The fleet in 1991 includes 1 A310-322, 3 MD-82s, and 1 each MD-83, DC-10-30, and F.27-400. In July, an agreement is signed with Mar-tinair Holland, N. V. allowing combined travel from the New York area to Amsterdam and Basel for one $509 roundtrip fare; this “mix or match” program allows passengers to fly one airline on each leg of their trips. The fare falls to $484 in September.
The workforce totals 422 in 1992 as 2 A310-325s, 1 MD-83, and 4 MD-88s are delivered. A new corporate identity, including logo and livery, is introduced in July. The livery is a mix of red tail, white fuselage, blue belly, and canary yellow wings and tail planes. Enplanements increase to 646,400.
In 1993, President Erich Geitlinger oversees a workforce of 520. In January, the company is merged with another Swissair subsidiary, Compagnie de Transport Aerien, S. A. (CTA Geneve), to form Balair-CTA. The merger requires yet another change in company colors. Replaced by 3 A310-325s, the A310-322 is leased to Swissair, A. G. along with an MD-82. The DC-10-30 is chartered to Martinair Holland, N. V. On the other hand, regular flights are now undertaken, on behalf of Swissair, A. G., to Palma de Mallorca and Valencia.
Although passenger boardings increase to 700,000, a $13.8-million loss is suffered.
BALAIR-CTA, LTD.: Swissair, A. G., Zurich-Flughafen, Zurich, CH-8058, Switzerland; Phone 41 (1) 812-3070; Fax 41 (1) 812-9212; Http://www. balair. ch; Code BB; Year Founded 1954. In January 1993, Balair Air Charter Company of Switzerland, A. G. is merged with another Swissair subsidiary, Compagnie de Transport Aerien, S. A. (CTA-Geneve), to form Balair-CTA. Balair President Erich Geitlinger becomes president/CEO and oversees a workforce of 520. The merger requires yet another change in company colors. Replaced by 3 A310-325s, the A310-322 is leased to Swissair, A. G. along with an MD-82. The DC-10-30 is leased to Martinair Holland, N. V., as charter flights are maintained to the U. S., Africa, the Far East, and Mediterranean. Swissair, A. G. transfers over its regular flights to Palma de Mallorca and Valencia. Although passenger boardings increase to 700,000, a $13.8-million loss is suffered.
Under the leadership of new President/Managing Director Peter Haslebather, Balair-CTA continues charter service to holiday destinations in Europe and the Mediterranean in 1994. The fleet that includes 2 Airbus Industrie A310-325s, 1 leased A310-322, 1 chartered Fokker F.27-400,4 McDonnell Douglas MD-87s, 1 MD-83, and 3 MD-82s, one of which is leased to Swissair, A. G. Enplanements for the year total 943,700 and a loss of $14 million is reported.
Early in 1995, the Swissair charter subsidiary is folded into its parent group. Despite its loss of administrative independence, the wholly owned subsidiary retains its codes and continues its charter role, occasionally adding new destinations or changing or upgrading its aircraft.
Operations Director Klaus Lichtenstein becomes CEO on July 1, 1999.
Just in time for the winter season, his carrier replaces a pair of A310-325s with a B-767-35H and in honor of the new millennium, the “CTA” portion of the company name is dropped in the titles. Enplanements during the 12 months total 285,000, or 10,000 more than the previous year.
Due the Boeing strike, 2 B-757-2G5s, destined to operate on behalf of the tour operator Hotelplan, arrive three weeks late in April 2000. When the second makes its maiden revenue flight on May 5, the company proudly announces that it has completed its fleet expansion. Long-haul holiday flights are maintained from Zurich to Antalya, Arrecife, Catania, Djerba, Faro, Heraklion, Hurghada, Ibiza, Kos, Larnaca, Las Palmas, Mahon, Monastir, Palma, Reus, Rhodos, Samos, Sharm al-Sheikh, Tenerife, and Zakinthos.
At his own request, CEO Lichtenstein returns to his previous post on June 1; he is succeeded by Flightlease, A. G. Executive Vice President Catherine Stalker, who becomes the first woman to head an SAirGroup company.
A second new B-767-35HER is received on September 27.
World History
