SUDAVIAFLUGGESELLSCHAFT, GmbH.: Germany (1980-1990)

This south German charter operation is established at Munich in 1980 as the air taxi BN Rent-a-Plane, GmbH. A lone Beech King Air 90 operates on-demand flights to local destinations, including Saarbrucken, as well as to points in Austria. The concern is renamed Sudavia on June 19, 1984 and in August turns its weekday taxi route to Saarbrucken into a scheduled service.

Scheduled King Air flights from Munich to Verona, Italy, commence in 1985. During the year, a scheduled air operator’s permit is sought from the German government, which duly provides it on July 25, 1986. Employing a newly purchased Beech Super King Air 200, regular flights to Pisa are inaugurated.

Sudavia now contracts with Dornier for one of its unpressurized 228200s. The aircraft is delivered during the first quarter of 1987 and enters service at the end of March on the company’s new route to Strasbourg. Unhappily, the aircraft cannot fly high enough to make it over the mountains to Italy and thus must be returned. In November, a Beech 1900 Airliner is leased as a replacement for the Dornier.

A second Beech 1900 arrives in February 1988 and with the beginning of the year’s summer season at the end of March, Sudavia begins to coordinate its schedules with Deutsche Luftverkehrsgesellscahaft, GmbH. (DLT) . This arrangement allows more efficient aircraft utilization and cuts down on needless competition between the two airlines.

Early in 1989, Sudavia leases several Embraer EMB-120 Brasilias from DLT. Plans for a merger between the two cooperating carriers falls through during the first quarter. At midyear, a group of investors, who also hold shareholding in Air Exel Belgium, S. A., purchase a strong 43.9% equity stake. The leased Brasilias are returned to DLT and are replaced with a pair of SAAB-Fairchild SF340s.

Largely unnoticed by the public, Sudavia has built up a large debt during the last two years. On April 2, 1990, the federal transport ministry revokes Sudavia’s license and the grounded airline is forced to liquidate.

SUDPACIFICO, S. A. de C. V.: Manuel Perez, Coronado 94, Urua-pan, Michoacan, 60080, Mexico; Phone 52 (452) 37937; Fax 52 (452) 44773; Code SDP; Year Founded 1995. Sudpacifico is set up at Michoacan in 1995 to offer scheduled third-level domestic services. CEO Capt. Manuel Mejia inaugurates scheduled frequencies with 2 Swearingen SA-226 Metro Ils and 1 Embraer EMB-120 Brasilia.

The fleet is increased in 1996 by the addition of a third Metro II, plus two Pilatus-Britten-Norman PBN-2 Islanders and a Piper PA-34 Seneca.

A Fokker F.27 is placed into service during 1997. Flights continue during the remainder of the decade.

SUDWESTDEUTSCHE LUFTVERKEHRS, A. G. (SWL) (FLUG-HAFEN FRANKFURT/MAIN, A. G.): Flughafen Frankfurt/Main, Frankfurt, D-60547, Germany; Phone (49) 69-690; Fax (49) 69-69070081; Year Founded 1924. SWL is established at Frankfurt on July 2, 1924 by a group of local industrialists and Junkers Flugzeugwerke, A. G.

The new company is charged with developing an airport, then located at Rebstock, while also serving as an air transport component of Junkers’ Trans Europa Union.

Revenue flights commence with a pair of F.13 cabin monoplanes from the airport to Munich via Nuremberg. Two more F.13s and a G.24 enter service in 1925.

When Deutsche Luft Hansa, A. G. is formed in 1926, SWL transfers its airline operating division to the new state carrier. In turn, it becomes a shareholder in DLH, while also retaining management of the Frankfurt airport.

SWL continues to operate the main airport at Frankfurt throughout World War II and survives into the postwar era, during which new period the company name is changed to Flughafen Frankfurt, A. G. As such, the former SWL is the only airport to be listed by full address in this encyclopedia.

SUEDAVIA, GmbH.: Germany (1986-1991). Suedavia is formed at Munich Airport in 1986 with Helmut Neufeld as general manager. The initial fleet comprises 1 Beech King Air 90 and 1 Super King Air 200. These are employed to inaugurate scheduled services to Zaarbrucken, Verona, Pisa, and Strasbourg. A second King Air 90 is added in 1988.

Operations continue apace in 1989, with a number of replacement flights undertaken on behalf of Deutsche Lufthansa, A. G. In February 1990, Air Exel Germany/Alphalines, GmbH. acquires 43.9% shareholding and names Hans Schneider as general manager. The fleet is upgraded by the addition of two Beech 1900s and a SAAB 340B leased from its new partner.

The year’s enplanements total 17,574 and revenues are $2.7 million. Loss of $1.7 million (operating) and $1.97 million (net) are suffered.

Air Excel Germany/Alphalines, GmbH. withdraws its support during the first quarter of 1991, forcing the regional to cease operations in March and go into liquidation.

SUEDFLUG (SUDDEUTSCHE FLUGSELLCHAFT, GmbH.): Germany (1989-1994). Formed on February 1, 1989 as an affiliate of Condor Flugdienst, GmbH., Suedflug operates newer equipment previously ordered to replace Condor’s Boeing 727s. Rudolf von Oertzen and Reinhard Kipke are appointed joint managing directors. As Boeing 737, 757, and 767 equipment becomes available from Condor Flugdienst, GmbH., a significant number of nonscheduled and inclusive-tour flights are undertaken to tourist resorts in the Canary Islands and Mediterranean area.

Operations continue apace in 1990-1992 and in 1993, airline employment stands at 775. Flights cease in 1994.