CFS is established at Cordova, Alaska, in early 1985 to provide scheduled passenger and cargo flights to local communities and bush destinations. Revenues services commence with a de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver and a Cessna 185, but are only maintained for a few months.
CHITAAVIAAIRLINES COMPANY: Chita Airport, Chita, Irkutsk Region 672018, Russia; Phone 7 (30222) 41045; Fax 7 (30222) 66396; Http://www. chitaavia. ru; Code X7; Year Founded 1993. Chi-taavia, formerly the Chita division of Aeroflot Soviet Airlines, is formed at the Russian city and airport of Chita, in the Irkutsk region, during 1993 to continue the provision of trunk and regional services following the breakup of the parent airline.
Nikolai Semenov is appointed general director and he undertakes to offer scheduled revenue flights to Harbin and Beijing, and throughout the Chita Region. The fleet includes 4 each Tupolev Tu-154Bs, Tu-154Ms, 9 Antonov An-24s, 3 An-26s, 7 An-2s, 44 An-2s, and a rotary-wing department that includes 10 Mil-2s and 3 Mil-8s.
Operations continue apace in 1994 as enplanements total 405,790. Passenger boardings decline 6.2% in 1995 to 382,100 while freight carriage falls 26.5% to 9.63 million FTKs. Flights continue in 1996 as enplanements decline to 229,140.
The traffic situation continues to deteriorate in 1997. Customer bookings fall another 5% to 228,000.
In April 1998, it is announced that in accordance with details worked out in a three-year economic and social pact between the Chita and Irkutsk regions, the company would be merged with Baikal Airlines. Before this can occur, however, Baikal goes bankrupt in September.
Chitaavia continues to fly solo in 1999-2000.
CHITREANA (COMPANIA DE AVIACION, S. A.): Panama (1964-1994). Chitreana is formed by the Valderrama family at Chitre in 1964 and begins scheduled services from Panama City’s Paitilia Airport to Chitre in Herrera Province. Initial operations are conducted with a Stinson V-77, which has been employed unofficially for charters since 1952. Within a couple of years, two Douglas DC-3s are placed in service.
During the 1970s and early 1980s, flights are also undertaken to destinations in the provinces of Los Santos and Veraguas. In 1989, General Manager Antonio Valderrama’s fleet comprises 1 Piper PA-23 and 1 Britten-Norman BN-2A Trislander.
Early in the 1990s, a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo is also acquired. Operations continue, however, by 1993 only one Trislander is flown. Flights cease in 1994.
World History
