INTERNATIONAL JET AIR, LTD.: Canada (1969-1976). IJAis established at Calgary in 1969 to operate charter and inclusive-tour flights, initially with a single Lockheed L-188AElectra purchased from Northwest Airlines. The turboprop is the first of its type registered in Canada. Many of the charters flown are in support of Panartic Oil and Dome Petroleum, ferrying crews to Arctic drilling locations.
Three more Electras are acquired from the same source and placed into service in 1971, followed by a fifth in 1973, the same year a Fokker F.27 is purchased. Nonscheduled flights continue to be made, flying not only oil company workers, but tourists on gambling trips to and from Las Vegas and Canadian professional athletic teams.
The Fokker is sold to Northward Airlines, Ltd. in 1975 and upon the failure of that carrier in 1976, the remaining three L-188As are sold to Northwest Territorial Air, Ltd.
INTERNATIONAL JET AVIATION SERVICES: 12830 E. Control Tower Road, Centennial Airport, Englewood, Colorado 80112, United States; Phone (303) 790-0414; Fax (303) 790-4144; Year Founded 1979. IJAS is set up at Centennial Airport in 1979 to offer passenger and light cargo charter services to destinations throughout North America. Revenue operations duly commence and by 2000 the flight staff includes 18 full-time and 10 part-time pilots. The fleet features 4 Learjet 25s, 3 Learjet 24s, 2 Learjet 35As, and 1 each Learjet 25D, Cessna 340A, and a Mitsubishi Mu-2B freighter.
INTERNATIONAL JET CHARTER: 6101 Burton Station Rd., Norfolk, Virginia 23502, United States; Phone (757) 857-6481; Fax (757) 857-1684; Http://www. intljetcharter. com; Year Founded 1993.
This corporate carrier is set up at Norfolk in 1993 to transport business executives worldwide. By 2000, the fleet includes 1 each Grumman G-1159A Gulfstream III and Learjet 25D.
INTERNATIONAL PARCEL EXPRESS (IPX): United States (1986-1987). IPX is formed at Redwoods, California, as a joint venture company by DHL Airways and UPS (United Parcel Service) in 1986
To bid on the U. S.-Japan small package route award to be let by the DOT. Former Transamerica Airlines Chairman Henry Huff is named chairman/president and two Douglas DC-8-73s are leased from UPS. In October, the carrier inaugurates service flying under contract to UPS.
In 1987, the company is wholly acquired by UPS (United Parcel Service), which integrates IPX into its own operations during the year’s second half.
INTERNATIONAL SKY CAB: United States (1969-1970). ISC is
Established at San Juan, Puerto Rico, in 1969 to provide scheduled passenger air taxi services from both of the city’s airports, International and Isla Grande.
Employing one each Piper PA-31-310 Navajo and PA-32 Cherokee Six, daily roundtrips are duly inaugurated linking those airports with Ponce, Viequez, Mayaguez, as well as St. Thomas and St. Croix in the
U. S. Virgin Islands. Flights cannot be maintained beyond 1970.
INTERNORD, A. B.: Sweden (1965-1968). Internord is established at Stockholm on November 30, 1965 through the merger of the Danish carrier Aero-Nord, A. S. and the Swedish charter operator Osterman Air Charter, A. B. Inclusive tour revenue services are continued to the destinations of the merger partners with inherited and leased Douglas DC-7s and DC-7Bs that wear both Danish and Swedish registrations.
Early in 1967, a contract is concluded for the acquisition of three former American Airlines Convair CV-990 Coronados. The first enters service on June 28, executing a tour flight to the Mediterranean. Another Coronado is received later in the year, followed by the third in March 1968. Unable to maintain economic viability, the carrier shuts its doors on October 30. The jetliners are repossessed by the U. S. major and returned to Texas when the company’s assets are liquidated in December.
INTEROT AIRWAYS, GmbH.: Germany (1979-1995). Organized at Augsburg in 1979, Interot Air Service, a subsidiary of the Augsburg-based air freight forwarding company Augsburg Internationale Rota-tionspapier Spedition, inaugurates charter passenger and cargo services to Dusseldorf with a Beech Super King Air 200. In 1986, these occasional frequencies are licensed, Handl Papier becomes a shareholder, and frequencies become regularly scheduled. Indeed, the first regularly scheduled roundtrip flight is undertaken in September between Augsburg and Dusseldorf.
In the fall of 1987, the new managing director, Peter Staehle, purchases a second Beech Super King Air 200 and a Beech 1900C, using them to launch service to Hamburg.
Enplanements in 1988 total 10,050. A second Beech 1900C is acquired in May 1989 and airline certification is received in December. Passenger bookings climb to 16,000.
Guenter Weiss becomes general manager in 1990 and in October a leased de Havilland Canada DHC-8-103 is acquired for the Dusseldorf route. Late in the year, the corporate name is changed to IA.
Enplanements total 24,000.
During 1991-1992, flights begin to Berlin, Cologne, and Leipzig and the fleet is upgraded by the addition of another DHC-8-103. In the former year, Interot becomes the first German airline to ban smoking on all flights.
A total of 92,500 passengers are flown during the latter year and revenues of DM 25 million ($17.2 million) are earned.
The new managing director, G. H. Eberhard Schmidt, oversees a workforce of 145 in 1993 and a third DHC-8, a Dash-300, is delivered in August. Destinations served from Augsberg now include Berlin, Cologne, Dresden, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, and Leipzig. Contracts for ground handling are signed with British Airways, Ltd. (2) for Dusseldorf, Cologne, Bonn, and Leipzig and Deutsche BA, GmbH. for Dresden.
Enplanements during the 12 months total 105,609.
Airline employment is increased by 5.6% in 1994 to 147 and the fleet now includes 1 each Beech 1900C, Beech 1900C-1, and de Havilland Canada DHC-8-314, plus 3 DHC-8-103s, one of which is chartered from Tyrolean Airways, A. G. In the face of intense competition from Deutsche Lufthansa, A. G., the Hamburg service is discontinued. However, the company’s route to Florence—its first international route—is inaugurated and plans are made to start a new twice-daily service from Cologne and Bonn to London (LCY).
These moves help to increase passenger boardings by 10.4% to 117,867. Revenues advance 16.7% to DM 35 million ($24 million).
During the second quarter of 1995, daily, all-business class DHC-8-314s roundtrips commence from Cologne to Birmingham, England. On November 6, the company is renamed Augsburg Airways, GmbH.
INTERPROVINCIAL AIRLINES, LTD. See PROVINCIAL AIRLINES, LTD.
INTERSTATAL DE AVIACION, S. A. de C. V.: Mexico (1980-1986).
Interstatal is formed at Mexico City in March 1980. Equipped with a pair of Convair CV-440s, it inaugurates a route linking the capital with San Luis Potosi, Zacatecas, and Ciudad Victoria.
In 1982, the company is relocated out of the highly competitive Mexico City market to Vera Cruz, where the Convairs are put to work flying passengers between cities in the Bay of Campeche area. Destinations visited include Villahermosa, Minatitlan, and Ciudad del Carmen.
Unable to maintain viability during the difficult economic years of the middle 1980s, the carrier is forced to close down in 1986.
INTERSTATE AIR LINES: United States (1928-1930). Organized at Chicago in June 1928, Interstate is the successful bidder for Post Office Contract Air Mail Route No. 30 (CAM-30), Chicago to Atlanta, which is awarded on August 9. A fleet of Fairchild FC-2W2s and Stearman C3Ms is assembled and appropriate personnel hired during the summer and early fall.
One of the Fairchilds is employed to inaugurate the mail route on November 10, stopping en route at St. Louis, Evansville, Louisville, Knoxville, and Chattanooga. A spur from Evansville to St. Louis is opened on November 19.
On December 1, an FC-2W2 inaugurates a new five-stop route from Chicago to Atlanta via Terre Haute, Evansville, Nashville, and Chattanooga. The airline is the first to provide scheduled service to Nashville and when the Fairchild arrives to participate in the celebratory ceremonies at McConnell Field, it is christened Miss Nashville by Martha Lindsey, former president of the Nashville Junior League.
Taking off from Chattanooga to continue a flight to Chicago on December 23, an FC-2W2 is unable to gain altitude and crashes into a railroad embankment (four dead).
On March 22, 1929, having experienced consistently inclement flying conditions at McConnell Field, Interstate purchases a farm 7 mi. N of
Murfreesboro, Tennessee, upon which to build a new Nashville airfield. With fiscal assistance from state and civic groups, additional funding is raised and construction begins on June 5.
In midyear, the control of the company is purchased by a major airline holding company, The Aviation Corporation (AVCO), which allows Interstate to continue operations under its own name. In July, three Stearman LT-1s are acquired. The new Sky Harbor Airport at Nashville is officially opened in public ceremonies on October 14. Company, government, and civic leaders join the public in dedication ceremonies; representing the Army Air Corps is its noted flyer Jimmy Doolittle.
On January 25, 1930, American Airways is formed as AVCO’s principal operating subsidiary through an exchange of stock with the former subsidiaries. Interstate, for this purpose, receives 1,025 shares.
INTERSTATE AIRLINES (1): United States (1966-1968). The first IA is set up at Springfield, Missouri, in the summer of 1966 to provide scheduled passenger and cargo flights to Wichita, Kansas. Employing a Piper PA-32 Cherokee Six, revenue roundtrips commence in September and are maintained until 1968.
INTERSTATE AIRLINES (2): United States (1978-1988): Initially known as USAirways, IA-2 is organized as a scheduled all-cargo airline at Ypsilanti, Michigan, in 1978. Employing a fleet of 11 Convair CV-580s, President David Clark’s company undertakes revenue services to Boston, Hartford, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Teterborough, Syracuse, Buffalo, Dayton, Columbus, Detroit, Chicago, Memphis, Smyrna, and Memphis.
From its base at Detroit (YIP), the operator maintains services during the remainder of the decade and into the 1980s. The fleet is expanded in
1982-1984 to include 3 Boeing 727-100Cs, 4 Lockheed L-188AFs, and the CV-580s. The company enters the package express business on behalf of other concerns, especially UPS (United Parcel Service), and an additional 11 B-727-100C is leased to operate overnight flights.
The base of operations is transferred to Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1985. The fleet, both owned and chartered, grows to 23 aircraft as 4 DC-8Fs are acquired. The reformed company begins to report its traffic and financial data.
Figures show that a total of 104.8 million FTKs are hauled and revenues of $19.98 million are earned. Costs are kept low, allowing a $1.1-million net profit.
Operations continue apace in 1986 and appear headed to significant improvement in 1987. On October 1, however, UPS (United Parcel Service) informs its contractors that it is taking over its own airlift and will no longer need the small transporters. The move costs Interstate 80% of its business and forces it to declare Chapter XI bankruptcy in November.
Simultaneously, the freighter files suit against UPS (United Parcel Service) on the basis that IA-2 had run up expenses obtaining a fleet that UPS requested; the suit is unsuccessful
A total of 395.6 million FTKs of cargo are flown on the year and revenues increase to $48.5 million. Expenses are $43.28 million and leave an operating profit of $5.18 million. Net gain reaches $4.71 million.
Bankrupt IA-2 operates for eight months in 1988. During this time, it takes into service the former Japan Air Lines Company, Ltd. (2) DC-8-62 Taisetsu, which it has had converted into a freighter. After only a few rotations, the aircraft is sold to Cargosur, S. A.
A total of 221.1 million FTKs are flown, down 44.1% from the same period a year earlier. Unable to recover, the carrier is liquidated in September.
INTERSTATE AIRLINES (3): United States (1981-1982). IA-3 is set up at Burbank, California, late in 1981 to provide scheduled commuter flights to Las Vegas. Equipped with a single Handley Page HP 37 Jetstream, the company initiates services on December 11, but is forced to shut down early in 1982.
INTRA AIRWAYS, LTD.: United Kingdom (1969-1979). The charter carrier IAL is formed at Jersey Airport on January 1, 1969 to offer scheduled flights between the Channel Islands. However, with Aurigny Air Services, Ltd. already filling that niche, Managing Director L. C. Thomas and other company officials, who have purchased a Douglas DC-3 in February, elect to change emphasis to international charter. Revenue operations begin on March 14 and ad hoc charters are flown between the Channel Islands and into northern France throughout the summer.
Inclusive-tours on behalf of a Belgian booking agency are started from Ostend to the Channel Islands in May 1970. Meanwhile, ad hoc flights into France continue. At the end of the year, the company applies to the Air Transport Licensing Board (ATLB) to take over an abandoned British Midland Airways, Ltd. route; permission is granted.
Another DC-3 is purchased in March and weekly scheduled service is started between the Channel Islands and London (Staverton) on April 3, 1971. Frequency on the route is increased on May 15.
As replacement for another suspended British Midland route, Intra joins with Air Anglia, Ltd. to operate a scheduled route from Jersey to Cambridge, beginning on May 10, 1972. In August, another DC-3 is added. The Jersey-based air taxi operator International Air Charter, Ltd. is purchased in November, together with I. A.C.’s lightplanes. A scheduled all-cargo DC-3 service is initiated with British Air Ferries, Ltd. thrice weekly Jersey to Bournemouth in December.
Two more DC-3s are purchased in February and May, 1973. respectively, and in addition to the usual charter operations, they are employed to open scheduled services in the spring from Jersey to Ostend, Dinard, Deauville, and Morlaix. Meanwhile, a Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander is also purchased in May and used to fly, without Air Anglia, Ltd., the Cambridge service. When BAF retires from the all-cargo route to Bournemouth, Intra increases its own frequency.
The company’s Islander inaugurates scheduled flights from Deauville to London (LGW) on April 1, 1974. In early May, a second BN-2 is acquired and it is employed to begin twice-weekly scheduled service from Jersey-St. Brieuc. During the summer, company pilots fly Hawker Sid-deley HS 748s, leased from Dan-Air/Dan-Air Services, Ltd., from Jersey to Ostend and employ Handley Page Heralds, chartered from British Island Airways, Ltd., to carry passengers from Jersey to Caen and Deauville. The Islander obtained in May is sold in November.
Early in 1975, Welsh Bernell Finance purchases 55% controlling interest in Intra and provides it with needed new capital. At this time, the Deauville-London (LGW) service is suspended and two more DC-3s are purchased from Humber Airways, Ltd.; these are delivered in June and August.
The scheduled services to France from Jersey are not flown during the summer as the company shifts its emphasis to participation in the support of the North Sea oil industry. The DC-3s fly ad hoc charters around Scotland on behalf of several oil companies and small aviation firms holding support contracts. The second Islander is sold in November.
In March 1976, the company enters into a yearlong lease with Alidair, Ltd. for the use of a Vickers Viscount 724. This turboprop is employed, beginning on April 1, on the scheduled Jersey-Cambridge and Ostend services. During the remainder of the year and for the next three, scheduled operations, together with ad hoc and inclusive-tour charters for both tourists and oil companies, continue.
Unable, however, to maintain its financial viability, the third-level carrier enters bankruptcy in early 1979. It will be succeeded in November by Jersey European Airways, Ltd.
INVERSIJA, A. S.: Riga Airport, Riga, LV-1053, Latvia; Phone 371 (7) 207 095; Fax 371 (7) 207 029; Code INV; Year Founded 1991. Organized in 1991, this new Latvian carrier is headquartered at Riga with its fleet based at Malta. President Yefim G. Brook recruits a workforce of 300 and assembles a fleet comprising 1 Antonov An-12, 2 Fokker F.27s, 1 Ilyushin Il-76T, and 1 Boeing 757-200. Passenger and cargo charter and contract service flights are undertaken to destinations throughout Europe and the Far East.
The workforce is reduced by a third in 1992-1993. Operations continue apace in 1994, during which year the fleet is expanded by the addition of three more Ilyushin Il-76Ts.
Flights continue in 1995-1999, during which years President Brook’s title is changed to director general and the company mission becomes all-cargo. The Fokkers and Boeing are withdrawn and replaced with two more Il-76Ts. Destinations visited include Amsterdam, Berlin, Dussel-dorf, Hamburg, Milan, Rome, and Skopje.
Airline employment stands at 100 at the beginning of 2000.
World History
