CIMBER AIR, A. S.: Lufthavnsvej 2, Sonderborg Airport, Sonder-bor, DK-6400, Denmark; Phone 45 74 42 22 77; Fax 45 74 42 65 11; Http://www. cimber. dk; Code QI; Year Founded 1950. Organized in 1950 by Capt. Ingolf L. Nielsen and named for a Viking tribe that had conquered Northern Europe, Cimber Air, A. S. initially provides air taxi, cargo, and charter flights from its base at Sonderborg Airport on the border between Denmark and Germany.
The company, employing lightplanes, begins a regular passenger and mail feeder service in 1963 linking its base with Copenhagen and surrounding communities.
Three years later, in 1966, Nielsen obtains a scheduled service license to fly roundtrips from Sonderborg to Copenhagen. The fleet now includes 7 de Havilland DH 114 Herons. The first of 8 Nord 262s are acquired in 1967 and are employed to begin flying a commuter network in Germany on behalf of Deutsche Lufthansa, A. G.
In April 1971, Cimber joins with SAS (Scandinavian Airlines System) and Maersk Air, A. S. to form a consortium carrier, Danair, A. S. Cimber’s shareholding is 15% and for its part, it supplies the aircraft and crews necessary to link its base with Skrydstrup, Thisted, Stauning, Odense, and Copenhagen.
Two years later, in 1973, the contract with Deutsche Lufthansa, A. G. ends and the Nord fleet is mostly sold-off to Ransome Airlines of Philadelphia. Traffic continues to grow and enplanements in 1975 total 56,000.
Three years later, in 1978, Managing Director Nielsen’s fleet comprises 3 Fokker-VFW 614s, 1 Nord 262, 1 Dassault Falcon 20, 1 Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain, and 1 Beech Super King Air 200. Two Fokker F.28-1000s are acquired in 1979 and the decade is closed out with a passenger boardings figure of 100,000.
Despite the introduction of a new airport at Sonderborg, the company is badly hurt by the oil crisis of 1980. Fuel prices cause significant financial losses. The F.28s are wet-leased to Saudia (Saudi Arabian Airlines) for six years and an F.27 is dry-leased from Fokker to operate the Sonderborg-Copenhagen service. With capacity reduced, traffic figures drop dramatically.
Three Nord 262s are repurchased from Ransome Airlines in 1981 and these turboprops prove the company’s savior. The F.27 is returned and traffic and financial figures improve in 1982 and, by 1983, the fleet has been upgraded; gone are the VFW 614s, the Falcon 20, and the Chieftain, replaced by the 2 Fokker F.28s and 3 Nords. Daily Nord 262 flights are offered nonstop between Sonderborg and Copenhagen.
Orders are placed in 1984 for 3 Avions de Transport Regional ATR42-200s. The 35th anniversary is celebrated in August 1985 and, in November, delivery is taken of the first of 3 ordered ATR42s.
World History
