Passenger boardings increase 30.8% to 151,515.
Flights continue apace in 1998. On May 19, a code-sharing agreement is signed with Lithuanian Airlines, A. S.
President/CEO Fredheim departs to establish Britannia Airways, A. B. in Sweden as its first managing director.
Customer bookings accelerate 16.4% to 176,000.
By the start of 1999, airline employment has been increased by 32.7% to 276.
Baltic International USA sells its 8.02% stake in ABC to SAS (Scandinavian Airlines System) on January 18, for $2,144,333.
Dual-designator roundtrip flights with Aerosvit Airlines commence in June from Stockholm to Kiev via Riga.
With the approval SAS, Senior Vice President-Marketing Kristian Kircheiner succeeds Rudi Schwab as president/CEO on August 13. Ten days later it is announced that Latvian competition authorities are investigating Air Baltic and Transaero Airlines over a price-fixing scheme.
On December 1, the Latvian government announces that it will sell a minority stake and thereby privatize ABC.
Passenger bookings rise 10.3% to 194,000 and 342,000 FTKs are operated. Although operating revenues of $14 million are generated, costs and other incidentals force a $3-million net loss.
The workforce stands at 276 as 2000 begins. To stem an anticipated $1.2-million loss for the year, unprofitable routes from Riga to Minsk, Warsaw, Prague, and Moscow are closed during the summer.
As part of the airline’s integration into the SAS network, SAS (Scandinavian Airlines System), at the beginning of the winter schedule on October 29, cancels its own Stockholm to Riga service and turns the route over to Air Baltic. It now becomes the only carrier flying directly between the two cities and to meet demand, frequencies are increased from 78 to 94 every week.
AIR BANGUI (COMPAGNIE CENTREE AFRICAINE, S. A.): Central African Republic (1966-1981). Air Bangui is established by the government at Bangui in the spring of 1966 to offer charter operations in the former French colony, which had received its independence in 1960. In the fall, the company is reformed, with Air Afrique, S. A. and UTA (French Airlines, S. A.) both taking minority shareholding. The latter also is given a management contract.
The new owners outfit the line with a Douglas DC-3, which is employed in October to launch scheduled services from Bangui to Berberati. Flights to Bambari, Birao, and Bouar also begin before year’s end.
A Beech 58 Baron is acquired in July 1967 and is used to start new services from Bangui to Bangassou and to Bakouma. Enplanements by the end of 1968 total 4,206.
Service continues apace in 1969-1971. During the latter year, the government, displeased with its service from Air Afrique, S. A., threatens to withdraw from the multinational airline consortium. While negotiations are undertaken, plans are made to upgrade Air Bangui into a flag carrier and, toward that end, a DC-4 is purchased.
Although the nation is able to reach agreement with Air Afrique, S. A. and does not withdraw, it does use its DC-4 and DC-3 to operate expanded services. Destinations visited during the 1970s include Bakouma, Bambari, Bangassou, Bangui, Birao, Bouar, Bria, Carnot, Gounda, Kawadjia, Koumbala, M’Boki, Ndele, Ouadda, Ouanda Djalle, Rafat, and Zemia. Toward the end of the decade, the fleet is enhanced by the delivery of an Aerospatiale (Sud Est) SE-210 Caravelle III.
Unable to continue in the face of the world energy crisis, the company shuts its doors in early 1981.
World History
