ANC is established at Nashua, New Hampshire, in 1977 to offer small plane commuter flights to local destinations. Unable to maintain viability in light of the oil crisis, the company shuts down two years later in 1979.
AIR NATIONAL: United States (1981-1984). Established by Michael Garrihy at Monterey, California, in early 1981, Air National leases a Douglas DC-9-15MC from Air Florida, as well as several Aerospatiale Corvettes from other sources. These are employed to operate contract cargo flights on behalf of Purolator Courier and Airborne Express.
Late in 1982, the company receives government authority to operate passenger charters. A Boeing 727-214 is chartered from Pacific Southwest Airlines (PSA) and employed to inaugurate these services.
A Boeing 747-133 is leased from Air Canada, Ltd. in 1983 with which to begin charter passenger and cargo services from the East Coast of the U. S. to London, Greece, and the Middle East. Operations commence in May with these seasonal services ending in November, at which time the Jumbojet is returned. Bookings for the seven months of operation total 38,000.
In March 1984, a B-747-257B is chartered from Swissair, A. G. It also receives scheduled authority for a return service from New York (JFK) to Athens via Brussels.
Retaining the brown and black cheatline of the lessor on the Jumbo-jet, Air National undertakes a second season of transatlantic charters beginning in May. Contract difficulties between the carrier and a number of major inclusive-tour agencies at the height of the summer travel season results in Air National’s stranding a significant number of passengers on both sides of the Atlantic.
A dismal string of lawsuits, adverse publicity, and fiscal drain culminates in early July when the Jumbojet, undergoing maintenance at St. Louis, is attached by a Missouri court for nonpayment of rental fees. Unable to find additional capital, the company ceases all operations on July 28 and files for Chapter XI bankruptcy on September 1. The Jumbojet having been returned in August, the remainder of the carrier’s assets are now liquidated, with the lease on the DC-9-15MC ending.
AIR NATIONAL, LTD.: Level 1, Air New Zealand Domestic Terminal, Auckland International Airport, Auckland, New Zealand; Phone 64 (9) 256-8550; Fax 64 (9) 256-8552; Http://www. airnational. co. nz; Year Founded 1989. Air National is set up by Carlo Vaccari and Ian A. Gray in 1989 to operate contract scheduled services in the Pacific states. Gray becomes managing director, with Merv R. Falconer as director of flight operations.
Contracts are also signed with the Airways Corporation of New Zealand to operate calibration flights. Revenue services commence in early 1990 and are maintained.
By 2000, airline employment stands at 19 and the fleet includes 1 each British Aerospace BAe Jetstream 32EP, Embraer EMB-110P2 Ban-deirante, and Mitsubishi Mu-2.
World History
