Sickle, Sun Aire Lines, the marketing name of Borrego Springs Airline, a subsidiary of the Di Giorgio Corporation, is certified in November 1968. George J. Kuhrts III, president of the corporation’s Rams Hill resort and residential community development unit, is placed in charge; however, he leaves operations to founder Van Sickle, vice president-operations.
The new entrant inaugurates scheduled passenger and cargo flights to San Diego on December 22. The company’s single Cessna 402 links the Borrego Springs base with San Diego, 90 mi. away, in 1969, the first full year of flights, transporting a total of 709 passengers.
Operations continue against stiff competition in the tough California commuter market for the remainder of the decade and through the 1970s. The corporate base is transferred to Palm Springs and additional points visited include Los Angeles, Yuma, and Santa Maria. The only unfortunate incident of these years is a fatal accident in 1976. En route from San Diego to Palm Springs on April 15 of that year, a Beech 18 with six aboard crashes in the Santa Rosa Mountains during a storm; there are no survivors.
Michael Di Giorgio, a son of the corporate owners, becomes vice president in 1979.
In 1980, President Kuhrts’s airline flies to and from its Palm Springs base to Borrego Springs, San Diego, Los Angeles, El Centro, Yuma, and Phoenix. In 1981, the fleet includes 5 Swearingen Metro IIs and a total of 163,000 passengers are transported.
The number of bookings increases to 227,000 in 1982. New destinations served include Bakersfield, Burbank, Ontario, Santa Barbara, and Santa Maria.
Airline employment jumps 57.9% in 1983 to 300 and the fleet includes 12 Metroliners. A total of 327,000 customers are flown by the large regional and revenues of $16.4 million are earned, a 40.2% boost.
In March 1984, the regional offers 195 daily departures from Bakersfield, Borrego Springs, Burbank, Imperial County, Los Angeles, Ontario, Palm Springs, Phoenix, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, and Yuma. During the month, a 13th Swearingen Metro joins the fleet, followed by a 14th in May.
The parent company, continuing its principal engagement in building materials and consumer products, elects to depart the air transport industry, selling Sun Aire to Sky West Airlines on September 28. The Utah-based regional will initially operate its new acquisition as a subsidiary until it can be integrated.
SUN BASIN AIRLINES: United States (1975-1978). Sun Basin is set up at Moses Lake, Washington, in the spring of 1975 to offer scheduled passenger and cargo flights to Seattle and Spokane. Employing a pair of Cessna 402s, the commuter opens service on April 7, maintaining it until it goes out of business on July 13, 1978.
SUN COAST AIRLINES: United States (1987-1989). Originally set up at St. Petersburg, Florida, in 1983, to offer low-cost charters to Pennsylvania, Illinois, and North Carolina, Sun Coast is purchased by former Arrow Air President Bryan Ellison in the summer of 1986 and relocated to Fort Lauderdale. From there, the company’s lone Boeing 727 continues to offer charters and replacement flights into the spring 1987. A workforce of 100 is assembled along with a fleet of 3 Boeing 727-100s. When scheduled authority is received in the spring, it is employed to inaugurate that type of passenger services on June 1 from Orlando to San Juan. Orlando and Fort Lauderdale to Montego Bay scheduled flights are introduced in the fall.
By Christmas, a total of 79,000 passengers have been transported.
Thrice-weekly flights commence on January 5, 1988 from New York (JFK) to Georgetown, Guayana. Scheduled service is opened in April from Boston and New York to Borinquin Airport at Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.
During the spring, the company becomes embroiled in a controversy with ILFC, from whom it plans to lease a B-737-2Q8. As a result, it suspends scheduled flights and declares Chapter XI bankruptcy. Charter flights, however, continue until it is realized that plans to reorganize and resume scheduled flights cannot be implemented. The company’s operating certificate is revoked by the DOT in February 1989.
SUN COUNTRY AIR LINES: 2520 Pilot Knob Road, Suite 250, Mendota Heights, Minnesota 55120, United States; Phone (612) 681-3900; Fax (612) 681-3970; Http://www. suncountry. com; Code SY; Year Founded 1982. Affiliated with Minnesota-based MLT Tours, Sun Country is formed by former Braniff International Airways employees at Minneapolis (MSP) in July 1982. Robert Daniels becomes president/CEO and recruits a workforce of 33.
Plans are made to inaugurate MLT tour group flights to Las Vegas, Florida, California, Mexico, the U. S. Virgin Islands, and other Caribbean holiday locations. Charter authority is received from the CAB at the end of the year.
Employing a leased Boeing 727-227A formerly operated by Air Florida, the company initiates revenue service on January 20, 1983, flying from Sioux Falls to Las Vegas.
Enplanements for the year total 149,000.
Bookings climb to 177,264 in 1984 and in June 1985 a B-727-264 is leased from Guiness Peat for 10 months. Enplanements climb to 376,000, a 48.6% boost.
In 1986, the carrier obtains the lease of four additional B-727-200s, including two Dash-212As from Dan-Air/Dan-Air Services, Ltd. of the U. K. In addition, a DC-10-40 is leased from Northwest Airlines in late spring, entering revenue service in June.
Also during the year, Sun Country moves into a new hangar and headquarters complex at Minneapolis (MSP).
The new aircraft help the 179-employee charter operator to have a very successful year, with enplanements climbing 25% to 518,912.
Airline employment is reduced by 1.7% in 1987 to 176. In the spring, the Dan-Air/Dan-Air Services, Ltd. aircraft are returned and are replaced by two leased Northwest Airlines B-727-251As. The first of these joins the fleet in September as flights on behalf of tour operators are inaugurated from Chicago and Detroit.
Customer bookings zoom upward by 18.9% to 616,937 and revenues total $44.1 million. With costs low, profits are generated: $3.19 million (operating) and $2.08 million (net).
Airline employment grows by 16.5% in 1988 to 205. The second B-727-251A leased from Northwest Airlines arrives in February and charter flights to Europe are begun during the summer from Minneapolis to Oslo and Rome. A major change in ownership occurs on December 1 as the Minnesota Corporation takes over.
Passenger boardings increase by 26.8% to 782,502 and revenues rise 25.7% to $55.5 million. Expenses are held in check, allowing an operating profit of $2.1 million and a net profit of $1.7 million to be generated.
The workforce grows a substantial 70.7% in 1989 to 350 as a chartered B-727-276A arrives under charter from Dan-Air/Dan-Air Services, Ltd.
The Minneapolis-based charter operator enplanes a total of 907,822 passengers for a 23.3% increase. Revenues ascend by 37.7% to $76.4 million, costs jump 34.9% to $71.98 million, and the operating profit moves up to $3.49 million. Net profit doubles, to $2.54 million.
The payroll is enlarged by 19.5% in 1990 to 313 as Air Portugal, S. A. charters a B-727-282 to the carrier.
Customer bookings surge 20% to 1.2 million and revenues jump 26.5% to $87.7 million. Expenses are boosted 21.7% to $80.15 million and allow operating income to more than double to $8.02 million. Net gain climbs to $5.44 million.
Company employment is cut 4.2% in 1991 to 300 as 2 DC-10-10s are leased from Scanair, A. B. of Sweden, allowing a further expansion of long-haul flights.
Passenger boardings ascend 9.1% to 1,288,000 and revenues shoot up 26.2% to $117.11 million. Expenses jump 29.1% to $109.43 million and guarantee an operating profit of $7.68 million. The net profit is up to $7.03 million.
The payroll is increased by 16.7% in 1992 to 350 and the fleet comprises 2 each leased B-727-225As, B-251As, and 2 B-727-2J4As, 1 each B-727-227A and B-727-282A, plus 2 DC-10-10s leased from Scanair, A. B. and DC-10-14 chartered from Northwest Airlines.
Customer bookings move ahead by 37.3% to 1,928,000 and revenues reach $151 million. Operating income slides to $793,072 and net gain drops to $1.4 million.
In 1993, President/CEO John Barry oversees a workforce of 571, a 63.1% boost. A ninth B-727, a Dash-2A1A, is acquired as the DOT upgrades the carrier to national airline status.
Passenger boardings remain level at 1.9 million, but revenues ascend 4.7% to $144.8 million. Expenses jump up only 0.4% to $138.5 million and allow operating income to increase sixfold to $8.45 million. Net profit surges to $7.01 million.
Airline employment is increased by a huge 53.8% in 1994 to 889 and the leased fleet comprises 2 each B-727-2A1As, B-727-2J4REs, and B-727-225As, 1 B-727-227A, 1 B-727-282A, and 3 DC-10-10s. During the spring, 1 B-727-251A and 1 DC-10-40 are chartered from Northwest Airlines.
When a B-727-260A, formerly flown by Ethiopian Airlines, S. C. arrives at Minneapolis on September 1, it introduces the company’s striking new color scheme. Under contract to MLT Vacations, a subsidiary of Northwest Airlines, the company inaugurates nonstop charters from Wichita to Las Vegas on September 29.
Customer bookings surge 18.1% to 2,255,107 and revenues move ahead by 19.8% to $173.46 million. Expenses climb 18.2% to $161.14 million and grant a pretax profit of $12.32 million. The net gain rises to $9.57 million.
The workforce is reduced by 10.4% in 1995 to 813.
Having equipped 70% of its B-727s with the Trimble TNL8 100 Global Positioning System (GPS), the company chooses one of them to make a roundtrip validation flight on July 25-26 from Boston to Santa Maria, Portugal, via Gender, Newfoundland. On September 1, Sun Country becomes the first commercial carrier to receive FAA operational approval for use of the GPS as its primary navigation system in remote or oceanic airspace.
Gemini Air Cargo is established at Washington, D. C. (lAD) in October to operate charter air cargo services. Unable to immediately acquire its government certification in time for a November launch of services, the carrier leases three newly acquired Douglas DC-10-30Fs to Sun Country, which initiates services on behalf the new operator on December 1. Sun Country benefits in that it is allowed to continue operating passenger aircraft that exceed FAA noise standards.
On behalf of Funjet Vacations, the company, on December 14, launches winter charters from Atlanta to Cancun and Cozumel; the segment from Cancun to Cozumel is flown via Mexicana Airlines, S. A. de C. V.
Enplanements surge ahead by 12.9% to 2,546,838 and 1.26 million FTKs are also operated. Although operating income is up by 16.6% to $202.19 million, costs are up 22.2% to $200.73 million. Consequently, the operating profit falls to $1.46 million. A$2.08-million net profit is posted.
The employee population climbs 30.4% in 1996 to 1,060. In January, Gemini Air Cargo complains that Sun Country has employed the wrong flight number on a service from New York to Seoul, thereby causing a delay in cargo aboard the wide-body. The action results in the cancellation of three later contracted flights and a loss of $400,000 to the company.
Gemini Air Cargo receives its own FAA Part 121 certificate in June and a fourth Douglas freighter is acquired from Sun Country.
On August 12, the company unveils its fall fare sale good on flights through December 15. Travelers will be able to fly for $49 to $99 one way from Minneapolis (MSP) to 18 major U. S. destinations, including Chicago, Boston, San Francisco, Seattle, and New York. Added to the sale are Los Angeles, Washington, D. C., Phoenix, and Laughlin, Nevada.
On August 28, the carrier, which has reduced its relationship with the Indianapolis-based tour operator MLT Vacations, contracts to provide charter service during the winter season with the Bloomington, Minnesota, concern Trans Global Tours.
Reporting that both UPS (United Parcel Service) and Swissair, A. G., having found service provided so poor in results that they refuse to ship cargo on planes operated by Sun Country, Gemini Air Cargo in the fall attempts to cancel the DC-10 contract.
In October, flights on behalf of Trans Global Tours begin to eight destinations, including Orlando and Las Vegas.
Passenger boardings decline 7.9% to 2,346,856. Although revenues are up 2.9% to $207.98 million, expenses accelerate 5.9% to $212.61 million. The previous year’s profits are, unhappily, turned into losses: $4.62 million (operating) and $2.25 million (net).
John Barry is chairman in 1997, with Gregory Smith as vice chairman and John Skiba as president/CEO. With 9 DC-10s (9) and 10 B-727s, the fleet is now almost evenly divided.
Sun Country files suit in Hennepin County District Court and in U. S. District Court in Minneapolis in January seeking an injunction against Gemini Air Cargo’s DC-10 repossession. The passenger charter operator, refuting Gemini’s concerns, contends that, if the planes are reclaimed, it would suffer “catastrophic” financial injury at the height of the winter tourist season. The companies settle their claims on February 7 in an agreement that allows Sun Country to continue operating on behalf of Gemini for the immediate future.
The agreement with Gemini Air Cargo is officially terminated during the second week of April. Gemini is now flying its six DC-10-30s with its own pilots; a seventh aircraft is down for maintenance. That airline currently flies one scheduled service from New York to Seoul six times a week.
William La Macchia Jr., owner of Mark Travel Corporation and its Funjet Vacations subsidiary, purchases Sun Country on April 17 for an estimated $25 million and assumes its presidency. Sun Country, which flies from 23 U. S. cities, is known for its charter flights to Las Vegas and other warm-weather destinations and has been a longtime business associate of Funjet. No plans are made to bring Funjet to Minneapolis.
While on a repositioning flight from Minneapolis to Los Angeles on June 17, the cockpit crew of a DC-10-10, transporting 9 flight attendants, 12 deadheading crew members, aircraft parts, and 1,795 lbs. of mail, smells smokes and diverts the flight to Denver, where a safe emergency landing is made. No damage occurs and no injuries are reported.
Passenger boardings rise 8.6% to 2,548,000, but freight plunges 89.5% to 30.64 million FTKs. Operating revenues advance 10% to $228.83 million, while expenses jump 16.9% to $239.54 million. The previous year’s operating loss deepens to $10.71 million, while the net loss worsens to $11.68 million.
After 30-months of negotiations, culminating in around-the-clock bargaining at NMB headquarters in Washington, D. C., the company and ALPA are able to jointly announce a tentative agreement on February 20, 1998. It is anticipated that the 220 rank-and-file pilots will ratify the pact.
Charter destinations now visited include Boston, Chicago, Dallas (DFW), Detroit, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Harlingen, Texas, Houston, Laughlin, Los Angeles, Miami, Milwaukee, New York (JFK), Phoenix, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, Sarasota, Seattle, St. Louis, Washington, D. C. and in the West Indies, St. Thomas, St. Croix, St. Martin, Costa Rica, and Aruba.
As a result of the Northwest Airlines pilots’ strike in September, Sun Country institutes an elevated flight schedule to meet public demand for an alternative airline in Minneapolis (MSP). During the job action, which shuts down the major, Sun Country adds over 28,000 seats to its regular schedule. It provides regular daily scheduled service to Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas (DFW), Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Phoenix, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington, D. C. Services to Detroit and New York depart Minneapolis (MSP) twice-daily, with flights to Boston and San Francisco made four times a week.
Although Sun Country reverts to charter status after the Northwest strike is concluded, the introduction of scheduled flights during that time leaves a lasting impact. During the fall and into the winter, planning is undertaken, in response to requests from leisure and business customers, to prepare the company for a new departure. An entirely new marketing and operating strategy will soon be revealed.
During the 12 months, customer bookings rise 2.4% to 2.61 million, while freight traffic plunges 83.69% to 4.99 million FTKs. Revenues are up 3.8% to $237.58 million, while costs dip 2.4% to $233.88 million. The previous year’s operating loss becomes a $3.69-million gain, while the net loss becomes a $12.43-million profit.
The Sun Country fleet at the beginning of 1999 includes 4 DC-10-15s and 11 B-727-200As. Airline employment has, by this time, been increased by 20.1% to 1,259.
On January 15, President/CEO La Macchia announces that, effective June 1, Sun Country will become a scheduled airline. Between the date of his news conference and June, the company will develop a frequent flyer program and, beginning in April, undertake an advertising campaign. Daily routes will be undertaken from Minneapolis (MSP) to such major U. S. destinations as Boston, Detroit, Las Vegas, New York (JFK), Orlando, Phoenix, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington, D. C. (IAD).
Following the announcement by American Trans Air that it will stop servicing Milwaukee on April 30, Funjet Vacations, based in that city and also owned by Sun Country President La Macchia, announces on January 22 that it will switch over to Sun Country as its principal carrier on May 1.
Sun Country, on February 3, signs a tentative agreement with its flight attendants union, the Teamsters. The pact is passed to the 400 members for ratification, which is accomplished on March 2.
In an effort to create the same sort of edge in scheduled services enjoyed by Pro Air in Detroit, Sun Country, on May 5, begins to run a number of sassy ads in Minneapolis area newspapers touting the advantages it has to offer. A “Pez head” of President La Macchia appears in the ads along with a coupon that can be mailed back to the airline for a chance to win a year of free travel.
Within days, billboards also begin to appear sporting the slogan “Jesse Did It—Why Can’t We?” Others use teaser words like “Smile” and others note the carrier’s cheap fares. The $15-million marketing blitz continues throughout the spring.
Flight 744, a B-727-200A with 7 crew and 83 passengers is substantially damaged when its left wing strikes a catering truck during pushback at Washington, D. C. (lAD) on May 28; no injuries are reported.
The first scheduled service is inaugurated on June 1, a daily nonstop roundtrip from Seattle to Minneapolis (MSP).
Orders are placed with ILFC on June 16 for the charter of six Next Generation B-737-8Q8s, to be delivered during the year beginning on January 31, 2001. In September, competitor Northwest Airlines unilaterally terminates an agreement to share or sell jetliner parts to Sun Country; the move deepens already hard feelings between the two Minneapolis-based carriers.
The situation with Northwest worsens on October 13. Although Sun Country has already paid a $500,000-a-year fee for the federally mandated training, NWA now refuses to train the more than 600 Sun Country workers needing to learn the latest emergency evacuation procedures.
During Christmas week, new seasonal service is introduced from Minneapolis to Montego Bay, Puerto Vallarta, St. Thomas, and St. Martin.
Passenger boardings drop 3.3% to 2,519,000, while freight traffic plunges 64.2% to 1.78 million FTKs.
Although revenues are up 6% to $251.87 million, expenses surge 14.9% to $268.62 million. The previous year’s profits are turned into losses: $16.74 million (operating) and $16.87 million (net).
Airline employment at the beginning of 2000 stands at 1,359, a 12.2% increase over the previous 12 months. The company’s B-727 fleet now includes 5 Dash-2J4As, 1 each Dash-227A, Dash-282A, Dash-259A, Dash-2K3A, Dash-224A, and Dash-2M7A, plus 2 Dash-225As. Also operated are 3 DC-10-15s.
For one of several historic baseball matches between players from the U. S. and Cuba, Sun Country is contracted on January 10 to transport the University of St. Thomas team to Havana on January 22. Also aboard are several dignitaries, including university and political officials and members of the news media. At the end of the series on January 29, the carrier will bring the team home.
Seasonal service is introduced on January 24 from Minneapolis to San Juan. The company’s seasonal services introduced in December and January will all cease at the end of April. On February 10, Milwaukee customers are able to utilize new connecting service through Minneapolis (MSP) and fly daily to Los Angeles and six times a week to Seattle. From Detroit (DTT), beginning on February 18, passengers can choose one-stop connecting service via Minneapolis to San Francisco and Seattle weekdays.
On March 3, the carrier receives DOT authorization for the inauguration of scheduled services from Detroit (DTT) and bases in Texas to points in Mexico.
On May 15, the company reveals details of their new corporate color scheme to the local Minneapolis affiliate of ABC Television; the livery will be officially unveiled on the first B-737-8Q8 when it arrives in January.
The new scheduled services to Mexico begin on May 22. The return routes flown include Saturday flights from Detroit to Cancun, Houston to Cozumel and San Antonio to Cancun four times a week, and Houston to Cancun six times a week. Twice-weekly flights include Dallas (DFW) to Cabo San Lucas, Cancun, and Puero Vallarta, Austin to Cancun and Cozumel, San Antonio to Cozumel, and Houston to Puerto Vallarta. Dallas to Ixtapo flights are offered weekly.
It is announced on May 26 that Sun Country has become the first commercial airline to install MedAire’s Emergency Service Kits, first-aid kits designed specifically for the needs of the traveling public, aboard all of its aircraft. Sun Country is also contracting with MedAire for the services of MedLink, its emergency telemedicine service.
Also in May, contract talks begin between the airline and its ALPA-represented pilots. AB-737-225Aleased from Sabre Airways, Ltd. earlier in the year is returned during the month.
Nonstop frequencies between Minneapolis (MSP) and San Diego are increased on September 6, the same-day, one-stop flights are initiated to the Southern California community from Boston, Detroit, and Milwaukee.
While taxiing to the runway for a September 10 departure from Minneapolis to San Francisco, Flight 791, a B-727-224 with 7 crew and 94 passengers, is badly damaged when the No. 3 wheel and tire assembly fail and pieces of the assembly impact the airframe. No injuries are reported. A chartered B-727-225A replacement is received on September 15.
It is announced on October 6 that the carrier’s three DC-10-15s will be retired by April; one DC-10-15 has already been turned over to The Memphis Group for reduction into scrap. The B-727-225A acquired in mid-September is employed, beginning on October 9, to offer twice-daily roundtrips between Minneapolis (MSP) and Chicago (ORD); one frequency omits Saturdays from the schedule and the other, Sundays.
A B-727-225A is leased from Sabre Airways, Ltd. late in the month for use on the charter line’s winter schedule. On October 28, a new “customer friendly” carry-on policy is implemented; passenger baggage is physically measured to ensure that it meets a new linear size requirement of 48 inches, rather than adhering to the standard “in-the-box” system of measurement.
On November 20, ALPA requests that federal mediators enter into the contract negotiations it is holding with the company’s management.
Scheduled roundtrip service to Mexico, approved by the Mexican government two weeks earlier, begins on December 18. Routes and weekly return frequencies include four from Minneapolis (MSP) to Can-cun, one to Cozumel, and five to Mazatlan; four from Milwaukee to Cancun, five to Puerto Vallarta (5); and four from St. Louis to Cancun, and five to Puerto Vallarta.
As a way to report to the public on the lack of progress in contract negotiations, a number of the carrier’s ALPA-represented pilots participate in informational picketing at Minneapolis (MSP) on December 18.
During these 12 months, the decline in passenger boardings is reversed, growing by 5.05% to 2,664,000. Cargo traffic, on the other hand, falls another 80.24% to just 353,000 FTKs.
SUN D’OR INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES, LTD.: P. O. Box 161, Ben Gurion International Airport, 70100, Israel; Phone 972 (3) 9716470; Fax 972 (3) 971-1389; Code ERO; Year Founded 1977. To
Compete with foreign nonscheduled flights entering the Israeli market, El Al Charter Services is incorporated as a wholly owned subsidiary of the state airline on October 2, 1977. It had, prior to incorporation, offered BAC 1-11 charters to Rome and Dublin.
During the remainder of the decade, tour routes are developed for destinations in Germany, France, Spain, Finland, Mediterranean points, and the Canary Islands. The carrier also serves to prove routes and stops later regularly flown by El Al Israel Airlines, Ltd.; examples of these future scheduled stops include Chicago, Madrid, Boston, and Manchester.
In 1981, the decision is taken not to fly to any city regularly served by El Al and in order for the carrier to have a separate identity, the present name is chosen. On May 1, 1985, a joint operating agreement is signed with Arkia Israel Airlines, Ltd. covering operations to Europe and the Mediterranean in an effort to avoid duplicated service. Aircraft employed are leased from El Al and operate in that carrier’s standard colors with titles altered.
Operations continue apace during 1986-1991. In 1992, the carrier employs a total of nine permanent workers, including Chairman M. Berger, President S. Mattatiahu, and Commercial Manager Y. Schachar. All other personnel support is provided by the parent. A total of 123,500 passengers is flown on the year.
Regular, ad hoc, and seasonal passenger charter flights from Israel to Europe continue in 1993-1994. Enplanements of 308,500 are reported in 1995.
The permanent workforce grows to 12 in 1996. Operating with Israeli jetliners as before, the charter carrier enjoys a good year; customer bookings soar 16.8% to 361,100.
Flights continuewithout incident during the remainder of the decade.
SUN EXPRESS AIR, A. O.: Fener Mahalfesi Sinanoglu Cad, Oktay Airport, P. O. Box 28, TR-07100, Antalya, 07100, Turkey; Phone 90 (242) 323-4047; Fax 90 (242) 323-4057; Http://www. sunexpress. de; Code XQ; Year Founded 1989. Sun Express is formed at Antalya on September 11, 1989 as a joint venture between THY Turkish Airlines (Turk Hava Yollari, A. O.) and Deutsche Lufthansa, A. G. Each national carrier holds 40% interest, with private Turkish shareholders owning the remaining 20%; Atilla Celebi is chairman. Gerhard Dinter is appointed managing director and a Boeing 737-3Y0 is leased from the German carrier with which to begin passenger charter revenue flights to Austria, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Cyprus. The first revenue flight is initiated from Nuremberg to Antalya on April 4, 1990.
Two more Dash-3Y0s are chartered from the same source after the Kuwait crisis in 1991. Operations continue apace in 1992-1993, and the first profit is posted at the close of the latter year, during which nearly
400,000 passengers have been flown.
The workforce in 1994 stands at 202 and the fleet is altered with the addition of one each B-737-4Y0 and B-737-430, both chartered from Deutsche Lufthansa, A. G. Destinations visited include Cyprus, Austria, Germany, Italy, Spain, Finland, Sweden, Israel, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic.
Flight International, in its November 9 issue, reports that THY has plans to sell its 40% stake as it prepares for alliance negotiations and possible privatization. The report is not confirmed.
Operations continue without change in 1995-1996.
The fleet in 1997 remains the same as it was in 1994: three leased B-737-3Y0s and one each chartered B-737-4Y0 and B-737-430.
On September 18, co-parent Deutsche Lufthansa, A. G. announces that, at the beginning of the new year, its charter subsidiary Condor Flugdienst, GmbH. will be spun off and joined with Germany’s second largest tour operator, Neckermann Reisen, GmbH. The fifty-fifty joint venture company is to be known as C&N Condor Neckermann Touristik, A. G. and will also contain the DLH interest in Sun Express and five German tour operations.
The joint enterprise C&N Condor Neckermann Touristik, A. G. is
Born on schedule, January 1, 1998. Sun Express is not physically submerged and retains its own identity. Flights continue during the remainder of the year and into the next.
Two Next Generation B-737-73Ss, previously operated by Israir, Ltd., are chartered from Pembroke Capital in January 1999 and are delivered on February 23 and April 29, respectively. Enplanements for the carrier’s B-737-3Y0s total 120,000.
A total of 282 workers are employed at the beginning of 2000. The first of four Next Generation B-737-86Ns leased from GE Capital Cor-poraton is delivered on January 19; the others follow on February 4, February 22, and May 12. In early November, it is announced that regularly scheduled service will be inaugurated in March to London and Frankfurt.
The new Boeings arrive at the end of December. They will be employed to operate the charters to Germany previously flown by Air Alfa Hava Yollari Ve Tic, A. S., which has been banned from that country due to nonpayment of its ATC fees.
World History
