AMAAIR EXPRESS (AMA-FLYG I GOTEBORG, A. B.): Sweden, (1976-1986). AMA Air Express (AMA-Flyg i Goteborg, A. B.) is created at Landvetter in November 1976, as a subsidiary of AMA Flyg Norwing, A. B., initially operating as a charter carrier. Scheduled operations with a fleet of 3 Cessna 402Bs commence in January 1979. Destinations visited over the next seven years include Gothenburg, Linkop-ing, Norrkoping, Kalmar, and Ronneby.
In 1985-1986, Managing Director Ola Fahinaes’s route network includes the additional markets of Stockholm and the Danish city of Aalborg. The fleet is revised to comprise only 1 Cessna 402B, 1 Swearingen Merlin IIIA, and 2 Fairchild-Swearingen Metro Ils.
When, late in the latter year, the parent is reformed as Skyways of Scandinavia, A. B., this carrier is purchased by Salenia, A. B., a family enterprise devoted to shipping and offshore energy concerns, and is renamed Salair, A. B.
AMA FLYG NORWING, A. B.: Sweden (1963-1986). Originally known as Aero Marketing, A. B. when founded in May 1963, AFN is founded to provide lightplane air taxi, charter, and cargo services in the Stockholm area. In November 1976, the company establishes the subsidiary AMA Air Express (AMA-Flyg i Goteborg, A. B.) and at the end of the decade, scheduled services are initiated linking the capital’s two airports, Bromma and Arlanda, with Mora and Gavie. By 1981, the fleet comprises 1 Shorts SC-7 Skyvan, 1 Cessna 402, and 1 Piper PA-23 Aztec.
In the early 1980s, the decision is taken to intensify commuter frequencies and the fleet is upgraded and altered. Managing Director Ola Fahinaes, who also serves as Managing Director for AMA Air Express, A. B., obtains a fleet of 5 Fairchild-Swearingen Metro IIs in 1985-1986. Destinations now served include Linkoping, Stockholm (Arlanda and Bromme), Kalmar, and Ronneby, as well as Mora and Gavie. Late in the latter year, the company is reformed and renamed Skyways of Scandinavia, A. B.
AMADEUS AIR, A. G.: Austria (1992-1995). Founded at Vienna in 1992 and taking advantage of the recent bicentennial celebration of the death of composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in its title, Amadeus begins both charter passenger and executive passenger and parcel/cargo services. Shareholding in the private company is divided between Gustav Neujimal, Nadja Neujimal, and Willi Leitner; Gustav Leiter becomes chairman, his wife, Nadja Neujimal, is chief financial officer, and Willi Leitner becomes managing director. The inaugural fleet includes 3 Fokker F.27-500s and 1 each Cessna 550 Citation II, Gates Learjet 35A, Dassault Falcon 20D and Falcon 20E.
In 1993, Managing Director Leitner oversees a workforce of 24, half of whom are aircrew. Two Czech-made Let 410s are placed into service. Routes are flown from Vienna to Cologne, Nuremberg, Bratislava, and Budapest. In addition, services are available from Linz to Nuremberg, from Klagenfurt to Salonika, and from Graz to Cavalla.
The company is enhanced in 1994 by additional staff and the addition of 1 Airbus Industrie A320-200, 1 McDonnell Douglas DC-9-32 and 1 MD-83. From bases at Graz, Klagenfurt, Linz, and Vienna, these undertake charters to Bratislava, Budapest, Cologne, Nuremberg, and Salonika.
Unable to achieve economic viability in a time of recession, the company folds in February 1995.
AMAKUSA AIRLINES COMPANY, LTD.: 2080-5 Myokoden, Tyokha, Itsuwa-machi Amakusa-gun, Kumamoto, 863-2111, Japan; Phone 81 869 34 1517; Http://www. amx. co. jp; Code AMX; Year Founded 1998. Amakusa is established on the Japanese island of that name, off the west coast of Kyushu, on October 8, 1998. Majority (80%) ownership is held by local prefectures, the largest of which is that of Kumamoto in southern Japan. Hiroki Uozumi is named president. In October, orders are placed for a de Havilland Canada DHC-8-102, which will be delivered a year hence.
The local government constructs a new island airport during 1999, one which is equipped with a 3,300-ft. runway. The Dash-8 arrives from Bombardier Aerospace in November and plans are finalized for the initiation of service in the spring.
Providing an air link to the popular tourist resort destination for the first time, the carrier inaugurates daily roundtrips to Kumamoto and Fukuoka on March 23, 2000.
World History
