(1) 493-4750; Http://www. bellviewairlines. com; Code B3; Year Founded 1992. Bellview is set up at Lagos, Nigeria, in 1992 to operate charter domestic flights on behalf of its parent, Bellview Travels, Ltd. Kayode Odukoya, managing director of the tour company, is CEO with Tunde Yusuf as chairman of the board of directors. A Yakovlev Yak-40 is chartered from Balkan Bulgarian Airlines and is employed to launch revenue services. Mrs. Funmi Akano becomes service manager in November.
The decision to operate domestic and regional scheduled services is taken during the summer of 1993. The company begins to recruit a workforce that will reach 165; Capt. Roy Ilegbodu arrives as head of operations in November, along with Capt. C. Imediegwu, chief pilot, and Alex Iheuwa, chief engineer.
Bergen Air Transport, A. S. 649
A Douglas DC-9-32 christened the Peace is acquired from Boeing under charter. Scheduled services commence to Abuja and Port Harcourt, with nonscheduled flights offered to a variety of destinations all over Africa.
Operations continue in 1994-1996, during which years Bellview begins to visit Abidjan, Abuja, Banjul, Conakry, Freetown, Kano, Nairobi, Port Harcourt. Another DC-9-32, first flown by Delta Air Lines, is received in June 1995. Late in 1996, the company becomes a member of IATA. Offices are opened in Gambia, Ghana, and Sierra Leone.
In January 1997, company executives join those from ADC (Aviation Development Corporation, Ltd.) in a plan for unilateral fare hike of 200% on domestic routes. They are forced to abandon this plan after the Aviation Ministry threatens to ground their aircraft if they implement the tariff increases.
In February, officials from Bellview and ADC again propose a gigantic fare increase; the 100% increase is approved by the government and instituted on March 17.
A service dispute with Nigeria erupts on May 15 when the U. K. Department of Transport bars Nigeria Airways, Ltd. aircraft from landing in Britain due to safety concerns. In retaliation, Nigeria requires that British Airways, Ltd. (2) halt its daily B-747-136 flights to Lagos and its thrice-weekly DC-10-30 service to Kano. The British line flies Nigeria-bound passengers to Accra in Ghana, from which they are able to make arrangement for air charter or ground transport into Nigeria.
Nigeria Airways, Ltd. has other problems, particularly a lack of capacity. As a result, Bellview begins twice-weekly contract replacement services on its behalf on June 20 from Lagos to Nairobi. Also on behalf of Nigeria Airways, Ltd., a DC-10-30 is briefly chartered to operate weekly roundtrip flights to Rio de Janeiro.
Simon Tumba reports in the November issue of Airline Business that the airline industry in Nigeria is on the verge of collapse, with only 10 aircraft from 8 carriers left to provide domestic services for 90 million people.
By October, ADC Airlines, Ltd. has only one operational B-727, while Kabo Air, Ltd. has two. Bellview, which has returned its Douglas wide-body, can fly only one DC-9-32. Nigeria Airways, Ltd. and several small operators fly the remaining six. All call upon the government to politically and financially guarantee a restructuring of the industry.
The government promises to end Nigeria Airways’ international monopoly and accept applications from those wishing to fly to foreign points as a way of gaining hard currency. Bellview, which has returned the Douglas wide-body, is granted rights to Nairobi, Rio de Janeiro, and Bombay—but has no aircraft.
In November, the carrier becomes the second Airbus operator in Nigeria after the flag carrier. A chartered A300-600R enters service on November 21 on international replacement routes to Brazil, India, and Kenya.
Having concluded a code-sharing agreement with Nigeria Airways, Ltd., dual-designator service commences to Amsterdam on April 10, 1998 employing the Nigeria Airways Airbus Bellview has been flying for the past six months. A dual-designator pact is also signed with Air India, Ltd. Offices are opened at Nairobi, Mumbai, and London, England.
An affiliate airline, Bellview Airlines (Sierra Leone), Ltd., is now set up and it provides services from Freetown to Lagos with a wet-leased DC-9-32.
Early in the first quarter of 1999, two DC-9-32s are wet-leased from JAT Yugoslav Airlines for a year. Upon their arrival, wearing all white fuselages and blue tails, they begin operation of the Lagos Express.
With the outbreak of the civil war in Sierra Leone, Bellview and its local affiliate, Bellview Airlines (Sierra Leone), Ltd., are forced to halt Freetown flights.
At the beginning of 2000, the company operates weekly A300-600R roundtrips to Amsterdam, Nairobi, and Bombay, while the Douglas transports maintain the domestic network with stops at Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Lagos. A regional service to Banjul is also flown.
With the reinstallation of the Sierra Leone government of President Tejan Ahmed Kabbah by the ECOWAS Intervention forces during the summer, Bellview is able to resume its service to Freetown.
BELLVIEW AIRLINES (SIERRA LEONE), LTD. See BELLVIEW AIRLINES
BELORUSSIAN AIRLINES. See BELAVIA (BELORUSSIAN AIRLINES)
BELUKHA CLOSED KOMPANIYA: Ulitsa Bolshaya Poly-anka 11/14, Moscow, 109180, Russia; Phone 7 (0950) 971-6101. BAK
Is established at Moscow in 1994 to offer nonscheduled domestic passenger services. S. G. Nedorslev is general director and he begins nonscheduled flights with a mix of Tupolev Tu-154s and Kamov Ka-32s.
In addition to the helicopters, the fleet in 1999 includes just one Tu-154.
It is uncertain if the carrier has survived into the new millennium.
BELYA AIRLINES: Belya Office Building, Sanya International Airport, Sanya City, Hainan Province, 572000, China; Phone 899289925; Fax 899-289925; Code 2B; Year Founded 1995. Belya is established at Sanya City in 1995 as a subsidiary of China Northern Airlines Company, Ltd. Revenue operations at President Jia Zhen-xiao’s company begin with a single McDonnell Douglas MD-80 leased from the parent.
Flights continue in 1996-2000, during which years 3 MD-82s, leased from the parent, replace the earlier MD-80. IT is anticipated that the company will be folded back into its parent.
BEMIDJI AIRLINES: P. O. Box 624, Bemidji, Minnesota 56619, United States; Phone (218) 751-1880; Fax (218) 759-3552; Code CH; Year Founded 1981. Privately owned Bemidji Airlines is established by Larry Diffley and Mark Shough at the Minnesota town of Bemidji in 1981 to offer scheduled passenger flights to regional destinations, especially Minneapolis (MSP). President Diffley’s initial fleet comprises 7 Beech B-80 Queenairs, 2 Beech 99s, and 5 Piper PA-23 Aztecs.
Operations continue quietly apace, briefly under the marketing name Great Lakes Link, over the next 7 years and by 1988, enplanements total 13,894.
Airline employment stands at 80 in 1989 and the fleet includes 5 Aztecs, 4 Queenairs, 2 Beech Barons, and 1 Beech 99. Destinations visited include Minneapolis (MSP), Thief River Falls, Mankato, and Worthington. Passenger boardings decline a huge 41% to 9,854.
Although there is no change in the workforce in 1990, the fleet is increased by the addition of 5 Queenairs, 1 Beech 99, 3 Cessna 172s, and 1 Cessna 150. Customer bookings fall another 7.5% to 9,115 and freight drops 26.4% to 7,945 pounds.
Twice daily Bemidji-Minneapolis roundtrip flights continue in 1991; however, the small regional faces toughening competition from Northwest Airlink partners. Consequently, enplanements are cut to 3,034. Another Queenair is acquired in 1992.
In 1993-1994, the workforce has 60 employees and President Diffley’s fleet includes 2 Beech 99s, 10 Queenairs, 2 Beech 58 Barons, and 4 Piper Aztecs. Over the next 6 years, 5 more Beech 99s and 2 Queenairs are added as the Aztecs and Barons are retired.
BEMOAIR, A. S.: Czech Republic, 1994-1996). Bemoair is established at Prague in 1994 to offer domestic commuter services. Revenue flights commence with 3 Let L-410UVPs.
In 1995, two Ilyushin Il-62s are leased from CSA Czech Airlines and are employed to inaugurate long-haul inclusive-tour charters to Mediterranean and Mideast destinations. Flights cease in 1996.
BERGEN AIR TRANSPORT, A. S.: Norway (1961-1977). This company is originally formed in 1961 not to offer cargo services, but to operate ice reconnaissance flights to, in, and from Greenland and to undertake oil industry support services.
In 1971, the company, having acquired a pair of Douglas DC-4s, undertakes worldwide ad hoc charters to a variety of destinations. The operator ceases in 1977 after it is forced by hard times to sell its DC-4s to Zaire.
BERING AIR: P. O. Box 1650, Nome Airport, Nome, Alaska 99762, United States; Phone (907) 443-5422; Fax (907) 443-5919; http:// Www. beringair. com; Code 8E; Year Founded 1979. Taking its name from the nearby body of water, Bering is organized at Nome by James D. and Christine Rowe in September 1979 to offer nonscheduled passenger and cargo services to western Alaskan destinations from that city and Kotzebue. Equipped with Beech 18s, Piper PA-34 Senecas, Cessna 206s, and de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beavers and DHC-3 Otters, Bering inaugurates revenue flights on October 3.
After several years of charter work, U. S. government certification is received and regular scheduled service begins on November 15, 1982.
In June 1983, the company enters into an agreement with Alaska Airlines, becoming an Alaskan Airlines Commuter affiliate. The original Cessna 206/207A fleet is increased by the addition of a Piper T-1020 and a PA-31 Navajo, as the Seneca, Beavers, and Otters are removed. Points served include Ambler, Brevig Mission, Buckland, Cape Lisburne, Dering, Elim, Gambell, Golovin, Kiana, Kivalina, Kobuk, Royuk, Nostak, Noorvik, Point Hope, Port Clarence, St. Michael, Savoonga, Selawik, Shaktoolik, Shismaref, Shungnak, Stebbins, Teller, Tin City, Wales, and White Mountain.
Operations continue apace in 1984 and the arrangement with Alaska Airlines is expanded into a full-blown code-sharing affiliation in 1985. Traffic increases steadily through 1986.
While en route on an air taxi cargo flight on the night of December 10, 1987, a Cessna 207A strays some 15 mi. off course and crashes into the south side of Bismarck Mountain, near Ambler, Alaska; the pilot is killed and the aircraft is destroyed.
Enplanements for the year total 29,628.
In 1988, airline employment stands at 48 and the fleet includes 5 PA-31-310 Navajos, 3 Beech 18s, 1 de Havilland Canada DHC-6-300 Twin Otter, 6 Cessna 206/207As, and 2 T-1020s. The company provides technical support for the Bering Land Bridge expedition of Alaska Airlines to Anadyr in the U. S.S. R. Meanwhile, the small regional’s enplanements are up 7% over the previous year to 31,858.
The workforce is increased by 6.3% in 1989 to 51 and orders are placed for two Mitsubishi Mu-2s. The success of its previous year’s work with Alaska Airlines allows the company to make history. It now becomes the first FAR 135 carrier to be authorized by both the FAA and Civil Aviation Ministry of the U. S.S. R. to operate charters to the Soviet Far East from Nome. These begin on July 12.
Passenger boardings ascend a further 6.3% to 34,000. Freight traffic rises 11.1% to 730,000 FTKs.
The number of employees increases 66.7% in 1990 to 85 as President Rowe obtains 3 Beech 18Ss. Additional cities now visited include Fairbanks, Anchorage, Council, and Unalakleet.
Customer bookings plunge to 26,313.
The fleet in 1991 includes 3 Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftains, 4 Beech 18s, 4 Cessna 207As, 3 T-1020s, and 1 Cessna 206.
Enplanements inch up to 27,114 and a total of 3,959,381 pounds of mail are flown.
In 1992, another T-1020 and a Mitsubishi Mu-2 are acquired. Passenger boardings decline 10% to 24,357. Airline employment in 1993 stands at 90 and the Rowe’s fleet includes 6 Navajo Chieftains, 4 Beech 18s, 4 Cessna 207As, and 1 Mu-2.
Customer bookings stop their freefall and register a 12% gain to 27,346.
Operations continue apace in 1994. During the fall, a Commuter Air Technology CATPASS 250 (modified Beech King Air) is delivered; it is specially equipped for severe climate operations. The new aircraft is dedicated to providing Alaska-Russia linkage with service to the Anadyr, Magadan, and Cape Schmidt areas.
Passenger boardings leap ahead by 18% to 32,213 and 322,508 FTKs are also operated.
The company employs 65 during 1995 and the fleet now includes 4 Cessna 207As, 7 Chieftains, 1 Grand Caravan, 1 CATPASS 250, and 4 Beech 18s.
Overloaded with Christmas mail, a Beech 18 fails its takeoff from Nome for a December 18 service to Gambell; the aircraft rolls left and crashes. Although the plane must be written off, the pilot is not injured.
Enplanements for the year jump 30% to 41,945.
There is no change in the employee population during 1996 and the company’s 17 aircraft transport a total of 47,684 passengers, a 13.7% increase.
The workforce is increased a dramatic 30.8% in 1997 to 85.
While beginning to taxi from the ramp at Buckland for a September 8 service to Noorvik, a Hageland Air Cessna 402C, with one pilot and six passengers, collides with a parked Bering Cessna 208B, with one pilot and nine passengers; no injuries are reported and damages are slight.
Customer bookings decline by 5.8% to 44,924. A total of 4.3 million pounds of freight and mail are also operated.
Flights continue in 1998. While en route from Memphis to Bowling Green, Kentucky, on March 5, a Cessna 208B, with one crew and under contract to FedEx, crashes 5 mi. SE of Clarksville, Tennessee; the pilot is killed.
Passenger boardings inch up 1% to 45,000.
By the beginning of 1999, airline employment has been reduced by 23.5% to 65.
Customer bookings accelerate 7.7% to 49,000.
BERJAYA AIR SDN. BHD.: Suite 2.05 Officer Tower, Plaza Ber-jaya, 12 Jalan Imbi, Kuala Lumpur, 55100, Malaysia; Phone 60 (3) 245-2828; Fax 60 (3) 245-8689; Code J8; Year Founded 1994. Tengku Adrian Tengku Mansor, on behalf of Berjaya Land, establishes a new third-level operation at Kuala Lumpur in 1994. Regional scheduled revenue services commence with 3 Pilatus-Britten-Norman PBN-2 Islanders and 2 Chinese-made Harbin YS-12s.
Flights continue apace in 1995-1999, during which years the fleet is enlarged by the addition of 2 de Havilland DHC-7-102s, 1 Canadair 601 Challenger executive jet, and 1 each Bell 206L LongRanger and Eurocopter SA-361N Dauphin. Airline employment grows to 63.
Thrice-daily return charters are inaugurated on August 11,2000 from Kuala Lumpur to Tioman Island.
BERLIN EUROPEAN U. K., LTD.: Germany (1987-1991). Retired British Airways, Ltd. (2) German director Capt. Richard A. Twomey organizes this commuter at Cardiff in April 1987, where it is registered. Offices are opened at West Berlin’s Tegel Airport, where Twomey assumes the post of managing director and recruits a staff of 40.
Two British Aerospace Jetstream 31s are acquired and international route authority is sought and allowed by Berlin’s controllers. Scheduled, revenue services commence in July linking the divided former German capital with Basel, Copenhagen, Geneva, Friedrichshaven, and Zurich.
Services proceed smoothly until October when a competing service is launched by Pan American World Airways (1)’s Pan Am Express using larger Avions de Transport Regional ATR42s. Unable to fight back, the B. R. staff is cut back, one Jetstream 31 is sold, and an order is placed for a B-737-3L9, which will be employed to reorient operations. A total of 5,400 passengers are flown on the year and revenues of $1.24 million are earned.
In 1989, the company name is changed to Berlin European U. K., Ltd. and the carrier is reoriented as a travel-holiday charter operation. Flights commence with a Boeing 737-3L9 leased from Germania Fluggesellschaft, GmbH. Enplanements for the year total 105,208.
Company employment is increased a whopping 77.8% in 1990 to 48 as a second B-737-3L9 is leased from Germania Fluggesellschaft, GmbH. In March, flight planning, air crew management, and financial management computer packages are purchased from the
British company AirData, Ltd. Passenger boardings surge 47.6% to 200,778 and revenues reach $19.3 million.
In April 1991, Berlin European is merged into Germania Flugge-sellschaft, GmbH.
World History
