AERO SAFARI, S. A. de C. V.: Mexico (1961-1966). Captain Roberto Fierro forms AS at Cozumel in 1961 to begin offering Beech singleengine service for tourists from that town to Mujeres, plus destinations in Quintana Roo and Yucatan.
Local competitor Aero Taxi purchases and merges Aero Safari in early 1965; once integrated under the latter’s name, new owner Fernando Barbachano’s little airline begins scheduled services on October 24, flying from Cozumel to Tulum, Isla Mujeres, and Chetumal.
Permission to fly a regularly scheduled route from Merida to Tuxpan is obtained from the government in August 1966, at which point Bar-bachano leases a Hawker Siddeley HS 748 from COPA (Compania Panamena de Aviacion, S. A.) of Panama.
In September, the Mexican government approves of an exchange of equipment and services between Aero Safari and Manuel Gomez Mendez’s newly incorporated Servicio Aereo Gomez Mendez, S. A. de C. V. Finding themselves compatible, Barbachano and Gomez Mendez fly to London, conduct negotiations, and then combine their operations on November 1 into a new carrier, Aeromaya, S. A. de C. V.
AERO SAHARA, S. A.: France (1950-1962). With bases at Tunis and Algiers, AS is established in France in 1950 to provide charter service in support of the French energy industry. Revenue flights commence with 2 de Havilland DH-89A Dragon Rapides and 4 Norduyn Norsemen.
Flights taking petroleum workers into North Africa continue during the remainder of the decade. During these years, the fleet is increased by the addition of 1 Vickers Viking I and 1 DH-114 Heron 1B.
In the late 1950s, the company becomes a Dornier distributor. In the process, it assigns to its in-house operation 5 Dornier 27As. Service continues until the independence of Algeria in 1962.
World History
