A. G.
FARNER AIR TRANSPORT, A. G. (FAT): Postfach, Basle Airport, CH-4030, Switzerland; Phone 41 (61) 325 30 67; Fax 41 (61) 325 48 24; Http://www. farnari. com; Code FAT; Year Founded 1984. This concern traces its history back to the September 1982 arrival in Basel of a Dutch Piper PA-34 Seneca transporting express packages. Farner is set up in early 1984 as an air taxi and express-cargo airline. Employing 1 each Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain, Cessna 402, Cessna 404, and Cessna 421, the new operator starts flying goods for integrators within central Europe.
Over the next three years, the company increases the number of express-parcel contracts accepted and undertakes service linking its base with Geneva, Brussels, Cologne, and Paris.
Two Embraer EMB-110P1s are acquired in 1987 to operate between Basel and Brussels, while in July 1988, a Fairchild F-27J is introduced. It is flown for the remainder of the year on behalf of a new integrator customer.
During 1989, a leased Belgian Fokker F.27-200 is operated from Brussels to Geneva via Basel.
The company acquires its first owned Fokker Friendships in March 1990. One each Dash-400 and Dash-600 are operated on behalf of two different integrators; the first is operated over a route from Basel to Brussels and the second, on behalf of Federal Express (FedEx), from Basel to Cologne. Later in the year, Suisse Atlantique becomes FAT’s major shareholder and new parent.
Early in 1991, the carrier adopts a new logo and livery. In the spring, a special operations base is established at Laayoune, in the Western Sahara. From there, the company operates a pair of Pilatus Turbo Porter PC-6s and a de Havilland DHC-6-300 Twin Otter in support of the Swiss medical unit assigned to the UN’s MINURSO mission. This service marks the beginning of Farner’s specialization in the transport of goods for humanitarian organizations.
FAT diversifies into the technical area in 1992 as Suisse Atlantique purchases majority shareholding in Air Service Basel, A. G. from General Aviation Genossenschaft Basel, A. G. ASB will henceforth provide technical support for FAT.
Managing Director Guy Girard in 1993 oversees a total of 45 workers and a fleet comprising 1 Cessna 404 Titan, 2 PC-6 Turbo Porters, 1 de Havilland Canada DHC-6-300 Twin Otter, 1 Fokker F.27-400, 1 F.27-600, and the Embraer EMB-110P1 Bandeirante.
The Turbo Porters and Twin Otter continue to support the Swiss medical team in Africa. Late in the year, majority shareholding is acquired in the Hungarian airline NAWA Air Transport, Kft. It becomes the subsidiary Farner Air Transport (Hungary), Kft. and the F.27-400 is leased to it. In addition, two Let L-410UVP-Es are acquired.
Flights are initiated to Southend-on-Sea in the U. K. in 1994. Later in the year, the UN MINURSO mission is closed down.
A joint-venture service is established with Rotterdam-based Tulip Air,
B. V. in 1995.
In 1996, an F.27 is based at Tbilisi to fly for the UN, while on behalf of the Swiss government, the other Fokker operates an OSCE operation to Sarajevo. During these years, the Fokker fleet is increased by one F.27-400 and five F.27-600s.
The Farnair Europe Aviation Group is created in 1997, with Earner Air Transport, A. G., Farner Air Transport (Hungary), Kft., Tulip Air, B. V., and Air Service Basel, A. G. all becoming subsidiaries. Aviation Group CEO Guy Girard’s concern now trades under the marketing name Earner Europe.
In 1998, EAT becomes one of the first Swiss airlines to receive its JAR-OPS 1 air operator certificate (AOC). This document represents official authorization and authority according to the JAR-OPS 1 regulations of the European Union. At the same time, the concern is certified according to ISO 9901 quality standards. Miniliner, M. N.L. is taken over, becoming the latest Earnair Europe Aviation Group subsidiary.
Earner Air Transport is reorganized during 1999 into two profit centers: the headquarters and the operator, EAT, which now adopts the marketing name Earnair Switzerland, A. G. and is placed under the direction of Elight Operations Director Erancis Pfammatter. All Aviation Group aircraft now operate under the Earner Europe trademark, while sales, financial services and controlling, and quality assurance for the whole group are centralized at headquarters. Air Service Basel, A. G. is reborn as Earnair Technical Services, A. G. This renamed unit takes over all corporate line maintenance.
Express Airways, GmbH. is taken over at the end of Eebruary and integrated into the Earner Europe Aviation Group.
Twice-weekly E.27 passenger service is operated on behalf of the Swiss government in 2000 from Geneva to Pristina, Kosovo. The operation is code-named SWISSCOY. During the fourth quarter, arrangements are completed for the acquisition of two Avions de Transport Aerien ATR42-320s. One will be delivered as a freighter, with Earnair gaining the honor of serving as launch customer for the ATR all-cargo version.
The first ATR42-320 is received in December and immediately enters service on a Swiss Eederal Department of Defense contract passenger service between Basel and Skopje.
World History
