Based on Thursday Island, Queensland, Thorpe’s is formed in 1976 to offer scheduled Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander services to Yam Island, Sue Island, Badu Island, Yorke Island, and Sabue Island (all located to the north of the Cape Yorke Peninsula) and to Barmaga on the mainland.
In 1983, the company is purchased by and merged into Mascot, New South Wales-based Adved Airlines of Australia (Pty.), Ltd.
THT TURKISH AIR TRANSPORT (TURK HAVA TASIMA-CILIGI, A. O.): Turkey (1989-1993). Originally established in early 1989 as the independent THK (Turk Hava Kurumu, A. O., operations are undertaken from Istanbul to domestic destinations. Osman Ce-likadam becomes general manager and his fleet consists of 2 Beech King Airs and 2 Antonov An-24RVs leased from Tarom (Transpor-turile Aeriene Romane, S. A.).
The carrier becomes a 64% owned subsidiary of THY Turkish Airlines (Turk Hava Yollari, A. O.) in September 1990, at which time it is reformed and renamed. The previous regional services of THK are maintained and new routes are introduced, especially to eastern Anatolia; plans are made for the carrier to assume all of THY’s domestic routes within six years.
In 1991, the company applies for permission to fly into western Anatolia. Celikadam is succeeded as general manager by Barbaros Yurdakul. In the summer, THY orders three British Aerospace BAe ATPs (later Jetstream 61s) with which to replace the Russian turboprops. The first arrives in September and enters service in eastern Turkey connecting 20 communities with Istanbul; the other two are in operation by year’s end.
Airline employment stands at 88 in 1992 as the second pair of Jetstream 61s arrives. Statistics for passenger traffic are publicized for the first six months and show boardings of 60,013.
Airline employment in 1993 stands at 88 as Aykut Ozel becomes managing director. Late in the year, the company is absorbed by THY Turkish Airlines (Turk Hava Yollari, A. O.), its parent.
THUNDER AIRLINES, LTD.: 310 Hector Dougall Way, Thunder Bay, Ontario P7E 6M6, Canada; Phone (807) 475-4211; Fax (807) 475-5841; Http://www. thunderair. com; Year Founded 1990. Thunder Airlines is established at Thunder Bay, Ontario, in 1990 to provide passenger and cargo charters linking small communities and large throughout the province, with particular attention to air tour packages. Revenue operations begin with 1 each Beech King Air 100, Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain, and Cessna 208 Caravan I based at Thunder Bay and 1 each Caravan and Shorts 330 based at Pickle Lake.
By 2000, the fleet includes 1 each Beech King Air 100, Cessna 208 Caravan I, Beech King Air 100, and Pilatus PC-12. Clients now include Bell Canada, Ontario Hydro, C&N Rail, and the Ontario Ministries of Natural Resources and of Health. On behalf of the latter, air ambulance service is provided.
THUNDERBIRD AIRLINES: United States (1964-1969). Established as a division of Ogden, Utah-based Thunderbird Flying Services in the fall of 1964, this small, third-level operator begins scheduled lightplane passenger and cargo flights to Salt Lake City and Logan on September 18.
Operations continue until January 1, 1969, when the carrier is reformed and renamed Key Airlines.
World History
