Originally established at Execuair, Inc. in January 1973, this Richland, Washington-based commuter is quickly renamed. Employing 1 Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain and 1 Beech 99, CPA inaugurates scheduled passenger and cargo services on February 1, linking its base with Seattle, Bremerton, Walla Walla, Spokane, and Portland.
The Beech 99 is lost in an accident at Richland, Washington, on February 10, 1978. Although operations continue until November, the financially troubled regional is unable to recover from the loss of its flagship airliner and shuts its doors. Its routes are purchased by Cascade Airways.
COLVIN AVIATION: 1080 Ben Epps Drive, Athens Ben Epps Airport, Athens, Georgia 30605, United States; Phone (706) 548-0717; Fax (706) 549-2038; Http://www. colvinair. com; Year Founded 1980. Colvin is established at Athens, home of the University of Georgia, in 1980 to provide executive and small group passenger charters. Over the next 20 years, the company also undertakes air ambulance and express flights and its fleet grows to include 3 Learjet 35As, 2 Learjet 25s, and 1 Learjet 24.
COMAG, S. A.: Mozambique (1977-1980). In 1977, the government of Mozambique moves to establish a single domestic airline operation by combining all of the private local and general aviation companies in the country. Bought out and taken over are CASS (Companhia Aerea do Sul do Save), ETAPA (Empreza de Transportes Aereos de Pemba), EMAC (Empreza Mocambicana de Aviacao Com-ercio), OTA (Organizacoes de Transportes Aereos), SAB (Servicios Aereos de Beira), SAM (Servicio Aereo do Mocambique), SAN (Ser-vicio Aereo do Norte), TAM (Transportes Aereos de Mocambique), TAC (Transportes Aereos Comerciais), TAN (Transportes Aereos de Niassa), TAT (Transportes Aereos de Tete), and TAZ (Transports Aereos de Zambezia).
The initial fleet comprises the aircraft of the merger partners, including Pilatus-Britten-Norman Islanders, Britten-Norman Islanders, Piper Aztecs, Aero Commanders, Piper Pawnees, and even a Hawker Sidde-ley HS 125 executive jet.
Medical evacuation, survey and agricultural flights are made, along with charters. The principal business, however, is scheduled services to 24 cities, towns, villages and airstrips.
In 1980, the carrier is reformed and renamed TTA (Empresa Na-cional de Transporte e Trabalho Aereo, S. A.).
COMAIR: P. O. Box 75021, Cincinnati International Airport, Cincinnati, Ohio 45275, United States; Phone (606) 525-2550; Fax (606) 525-3420; Http://www. fly-comair. com; Code OH; Year Founded 1977. Raymond A. Mueller and his corporate-pilot son David R., with two other investors, purchase Wings Airways, a small regional airline based at Cincinnati, on January 31, 1977, largely on the basis of $60,000 of their own assets, and change its name. When service begins in March, the new entrant is so tiny that its only aircraft, the former Wings Airways Piper PA-31-310 Navajo, is piloted by David, the company’s executive vice president. A Piper PA-23 Aztec owned by Raymond is the fleet backup. Incidentally, the name Comair is not an abbreviation, but reflects the belief of the organizers in the concept of community service. Intrastate flights are undertaken between Cincinnati and Cleveland via Akron and Canton.
Comair’s growth in the era of deregulation is remarkable. Two more Navajos are acquired in 1978 and the company’s two other investors are bought out. Service is inaugurated to Detroit. Enplanements total 26,502 for the first full year of service.
To meet the growing 1979 service demand born of deregulation, a new Evansville route is added, ground facilities at Greater Cincinnati Airport are expanded, and 7 Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftains supplement the 3 Navajos.
While taking off from Cincinnati on October 8, a Navajo, with the pilot and seven passengers aboard, stalls out and crashes; there are no survivors.
Despite the adverse publicity of the crash, the year’s passenger boardings still skyrocket by 93% to 51,151.
The year 1980 is a good one for the company, Its hub is temporarily transferred to Dayton and Chairman Raymond is able to secure sufficient financial backing to cover the $5 million in losses occasioned by the previous fall’s disaster. The company’s aircraft now fly to a total of 11 destinations in Michigan, Ohio, South Carolina, Indiana, and Kentucky. Passenger boardings climb 34% to 68,420.
The employee population skyrockets 82.6% in 1981 to 168. Comair, Inc. is organized in Ohio as a Kentucky company on May 22 and, on May 28, goes public, offering stock that improves the financial base. Two million shares of common stock are traded on the NASDAQ and stockholders, in July, approve a merger of the previous Comair into Co-mair Holdings, Inc.
Orders are placed for a pair of Brazilian-made Embraer EMB-110 Bandeirantes. Meanwhile, a new hangar and headquarters facility are occupied at Greater Cincinnati Airport. In December, the company joins the Deltamatic computerized reservations system of Delta Air Lines.
Despite a national recession, enplanements climb 64.6% to 112,610. Profits are earned: $322,000 (operating) and $174,000 (net).
Employment increases in 1982, climbing 98% to 303. The fleet now includes 10 Bandeirantes and 6 Navajo Chieftains. Three Shorts 330s are delivered in March and orders are outstanding for 2 Fairchild-Swearingen Metro IIIs and 4 SAAB-Fairchild SF340s, for the company is the American launch customer. New routes are opened in early spring to Toledo, Lexington, and Charleston, West Virginia.
Passenger boardings for the year nearly double, accelerating 95.7% to reach 220,347. Revenues increase 86.5% to $10.62 million and expenses, even though up by 90.9%, are kept at $10.17 million. Consequently, a $445,000 operating profit is generated while the net gain is $365,000. As a result of its fiscal achievement, the five-year-old carrier is able to advance into the CAB’s category of large regionals and almost in celebration, 3 new Shorts 330s are acquired.
The payroll is increased 59.4% to 483 as the rapid pace of expansion continues in 1983. During the year, the carrier adds 2 more Shorts 330s and 5 Fairchild-Swearingen Metro IIIs to its fleet while announcing its order for SAAB-Fairchild SF340s has been expanded to a total of 12. Talks are held with Delta Air Lines concerning the possibility of codesharing operations and, in October, Servair, the FBO at Greater Cincinnati, is purchased.
Passenger traffic jumps another 38.3% to 303,953 and cargo climbs 61.8% to 235,000 FTKs. Revenues rise to $19.5 million, up 87.7%, as costs grow only 80% to $18.3 million. The operating profit is $1.16 million and net gain ascends to $1.35 million. Airline employment is now 525.
If earlier years are exciting, 1984 proves a landmark. Employment increases 50.9% to 800 and in late winter, Comair receives the first 2 of its 340s and an additional 3 Metro IIIs. The service from Cleveland to Milwaukee is expanded on June 1, as two nonstop frequencies and a one-stop are offered every working day. The SAABs come on-line in late July, at which time the FAA grants a company request to operate under the provisions of FAR Part 121, rather than Part 135. Agreement is now reached with the company’s pilots, newly organized by ALPA.
Cleveland’s Fred Nance becomes the company’s millionth passenger (cumulative) on July 30 when he boards a flight from Cleveland to Louisville.
A code-sharing agreement is signed with Delta Air Lines on September 1 and on the same day, flights commence to Fort Wayne, Indiana. On October 1, service is inaugurated to Roanoke and Richmond, Virginia. On December 1, Comair officially becomes the fourth “Delta Connection” commuter network partner, emphasizing its growing role in the interlining of passengers between its markets and those of its major affiliate. Although Delta’s reservations code is acquired, Comair retains its corporate identity and livery.
Passenger bookings accelerate 37.1% to 417,601 and freight jumps 31.2% to 308,700 pounds. Revenues ascend to $32.2 million and expenses are held to $29.51 million. The difference between income and disbursements allows a $2.7-million operating profit and a net gain of $2.84 million.
Airline employment grows again in 1985, up 21.2% to 1,000 and the fleet is increased by the addition of 7 SF340s, 1 Metro III, and 2 Embraer EMB-110 Bandeirantes. New international service is introduced, and frequencies are increased or upgraded to the domestic cities of Akron, Charleston, Chattanooga, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Detroit, Evansville, Fort Wayne, Huntington, Indianapolis, Knoxville, Lexington, Louisville, Milwaukee, Naples, Nashville, Richmond, Roanoke, and Toledo. During the spring, flights begin to Chicago (ORD).
In July, 1.2 million shares of common stock are sold in a public offering that generates $13 million toward the line’s expansion. In December, all of the SF340s are grounded by an Airworthiness Directive from the FAA.
Customer boardings accelerate a whopping 49.8% to 625,537 and cargo skyrockets 81% to 558,000 pounds. Revenues rise 45.1% to $46.75 million, costs climb 44.9% to $42.75 million, and the operating profit doubles to $4 million. A net $4-million gain is also generated as the year proves the best in company history to date.
The payroll is reduced 2% in 1986 to 980 as 3 more SF340s arrive. The SF340 fleet returns to service in January. On March 10, a tornado strikes Greater Cincinnati Airport at Covington, Kentucky, causing several million dollars worth of damage. Two SF340s and two Metroliners are damaged, along with two company hangars and almost all of the administrative offices.
Delta, for its part, acquires a $16.8-million, 20% interest (1.85 million shares) in its partner during July and, in October, the regional withdraws from Chicago (ORD) selling its 26 slots to Simmons Airlines for $7 million. In November, the company receives its 401 Certificate from the DOT.
Also during the final quarter of the year, the large regional incurs significant costs as it expands its Cincinnati base of operations in preparation for the enhancement of that hub by interline partner Delta Air Lines on December 15. Among these are construction difficulties, bad weather, and a protracted bond issue approval process. On the hub’s start-up day, daily departures increase from 48 to 104.
Meanwhile, passenger bookings ascend a slight 1.5% to 634,665. Cargo, on the other hand, actually plunges 13.1% to 485,000 pounds. Revenues decline 1.7% to $59.81 million, expenses fall 12.2% to $62.59 million, and the operating loss is $2.78 million. There is a $1.31-million net loss.
The new “Delta Connection” partner fully initiates service from its major’s Cincinnati hub in 1987. Having discharged its passengers on March 9, an SF340, after losing hydraulic power, crashes into a fuel truck and a Delta Air Lines B-767-232. Both aircraft are substantially damaged; however, there is no explosion.
Beginning in April, some 300 Midwestern travel agents are brought to Cincinnati to view the Comair operation. Daily roundtrip service is inaugurated on July 1 between Cincinnati and the Tri-Cities Regional Airport at Bristol, Tennessee, Kalamazoo, Michigan, and the Greenbriar resort at White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.
On November 1, the regional opens a new Florida division to provide feed to and from Ft. Lauderdale and Orlando. While the company’s 15 SAAB 340s and 21 Fairchild Metro IIIs are retained in Ohio, the 12 Ban-deirantes repositioned in Florida add 23 new flights per day and, for the first time in company history, none are connected to the Cincinnati hub.
Overall customer bookings for the year increase 30.5% to 828,734. Revenues turn around and climb by 38.7% to $63.09 million while costs rise 16.4% to $56.76 million. The operating profit is $5.41 million while the net profit is $4.01 million.
The large regional’s workforce is increased by 16.1% in 1988 to 1,380. The fleet grows to include 16 SAAB 340As, 12 Bandeirantes, and 23 Metro IIs. Orders are outstanding for 20 Embraer EMB-120 Brasil-ias and 3 additional SAABs.
The “Delta Connection’s” board on November 1 authorizes establishment of Comair Holdings, incorporated in Kentucky, with Comair, Inc. and CVG Aviation (the former Servair) as its major subsidiaries. Also in November, EMB-110 daily nonstop service is initiated from Ft. Lauderdale to Treasure Cay, Bahamas. The first Brasilia enters service in December.
Passenger boardings top the million-mark in annual boardings for the first time, climbing 43% to 1,184,823. Cargo also does well, jumping 26.1% to 717,000 pounds. Revenues continue to zoom upward, rising by 38.1% to $110.48 million, expenses jump 37.8% to $101.74 million, and operating income reaches $8.73 million. The net gain is $5.83 million.
The employee population swells a further 17.4% in 1989 to 1,620 and the fleet now includes 10 Bandeirantes, 22 Metro IIIs, 19 SAAB 340As, and 12 Brasilias. Orders are outstanding for 28 additional EMB-120s.
In August, four-times-per-weekday flights start between Chicago and Louisville. The Airline Aviation Academy is acquired on October 20 and renamed Comair Aviation Academy. Also in October, daily roundtrip service begins from Jacksonville to Nassau along with thrice-daily roundtrips from West Palm Beach.
West Palm Beach is visited thrice-daily roundtrip from Jacksonville, beginning in November, while, in December, twice-daily roundtrips begin from Cleveland to London, Ontario, and daily roundtrips commence from Dayton to Tri-Cities Regional Airport, Asheville, and Knoxville.
Customer bookings increase 26.2% to 1,495,899 and revenues move ahead by 30.5% to $144.2 million. Expenses rise only 24.8% to $126.94 million and allow operating income to almost double to $14.14 million. Net profit jumps to $9.29 million.
The payroll is increased by 23.5% in 1990 to an even 2,000 as the fleet is increased by the addition of 1 EMB-110P and 6 Brasilias. Two Metroliners are withdrawn. Daily roundtrip nonstops begin in January from Cincinnati to Birmingham, while twice-daily nonstop roundtrips begin to Birmingham from Orlando. Twice-daily roundtrips are launched in February from Cincinnati to Greensboro, South Carolina.
Major improvements are now unveiled at Orlando. In March, a new maintenance facility is occupied, followed by the opening of a new terminal in June. Also, on June 5, Raymond A. Mueller retires from the board of directors, turning the entire company over to David R.
Passenger boardings jump 25% to 1,869,644 and revenues swell 32.1% to $147.87 million. Costs climb 34.9% to $131.9 million and permit operating income to swell to $20.15 million. Net profit is up to $13.01 million.
The Cincinnati-based “Delta Connection” partner enjoys a good 1991. In January, the carrier is named “Regional Airline of the Year” by Air Transport World magazine.
Two more EMB-120s join the fleet in September and an additional Brasilia flight is now initiated from Memphis to Cincinnati and twice-daily Brasilia roundtrips are added from Memphis to New Orleans, along with a fourth daily, direct EMB-120 service from Washington, D. C. to Cincinnati.
In October, daily service is reintroduced from Cincinnati to Huntsville and a fifth daily Brasilia service is added from Orlando to Key West. Brasilia nonstops begin from Orlando to Greenville and Spartanburg in November, along with thrice-daily nonstops from Orlando to Savannah.
While on a November 21 descent to Toronto, the right propeller separates from a SAAB 340A and falls into Lake Erie; the aircraft lands safely and no injuries are reported.
On December 15, the company inaugurates twice-daily Brasilia roundtrips from Cincinnati to Charlotte and increases EMB-120 service from Cincinnati to Greenville and Spartanburg to six times per week.
Customer bookings jump 8.2% to 2,022,032 and cargo climbs by 15% to 866,632 pounds. Revenues ascend 27.9% to $201.71 million, expenses grow by 30.9% to $179.98 million, and operating income is $13.63 million. Net gain is $7.95 million.
Company employment grows 6% in 1992 to 2,023 and the fleet grows to include 19 SAAB 340s, 40 Brasilias, and 9 Metroliners. Passenger boardings climb 14.4% to 2,312,391 and revenues swell 12.6% to $179.9 million. Expenses are up only 10% to $160.57 million and thus operating income moves ahead to $19.13 million. Net profit zooms to $11.45 million.
Airline employment in 1993 stands at 2,200 and the fleet includes 83 aircraft.
On January 4, thrice-daily EMB-120 roundtrip service is inaugurated between Ft. Lauderdale and Tallahassee. Complementing the weekend nonstops already offered, the carrier inaugurates a weekday roundtrip flight on February 1 between Savannah, Georgia, and Orlando.
On April 4, daily service is launched between Raleigh/Durham and Cincinnati while, on April 12, Chairman Mueller announces a 3-for-2 common stock split for shareholders of record, payable 10 days later.
Other destinations now regularly visited include Toronto, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Washington, D. C. (IAD), Charlottesville, Roanoke, Greensboro, Raleigh/Durham, Charlotte, Chenille, Greenville/ Spartanburg, Columbia, Charleston, Cleveland, Akron/Canton, Columbus, Dayton, Toledo, Huntington, Ashland, Louisville, Tri-Cities, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Memphis, Nashville, Grand Rapids, Detroit, Lansing, Kalamazoo, South Bend, Indianapolis, Evansville, St. Louis, Appleton, Madison, Milwaukee, Chicago (MDW), Springfield, Savannah, New Orleans, Birmingham, Pensacola, Panama City, Gainesville, Jacksonville, Daytona Beach, Melbourne, Tampa, West Palm Beach, Naples, Ft. Lauderdale, Miami, Key West, and Freeport/Nassau.
On May 28, the carrier is awarded $21.6 million for willful patent infringement against it by the Japanese conglomerate Matsushita. Acquisition of the first 2 of 20 Canadair CRJ100 Regional Jets in May allows their introduction of nonstop roundtrip service flights on June 1 from Cincinnati to Toronto and Chicago (MDW) and from Columbus to Akron/Canton. The same day, new nonstops are initiated between Orlando and Sarasota, Florida. Huntsville to Cincinnati daily roundtrips begin on June 7.
Three more CRJ100s enter service on July 1 and are placed on new, twice-daily roundtrip routes from Cincinnati to Lexington, Kentucky, and thrice daily from Cincinnati to Des Moines. On July 15, the new jetliners begin thrice-daily nonstops from Cincinnati to Providence, Rhode Island.
The new jetliners attain near 98% reliability in August, their first full month of operation. Later in the month, Salomon Brothers place a hold rating on shares, fearing that the company’s poor financial condition and potential for over capacity might affect its future earnings. CRJ100 service is expanded on November 1 from Cincinnati to Providence and Montreal, while new routes are opened to Des Moines and Toronto. At mid-month, the new jetliners expand service from the Queen City to Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton, Pennsylvania.
Customer bookings for the year ascend 13% to 2,612,939. Revenues climb 22.1% to $219.38 and expenses rise only 13.4% to $182.03 million. The $37.34-million operating profit is the 25th largest gained by any world airline. Net profit doubles to $22.51 million.
The workforce is increased by 300 in 1994 as the company completes a move into a new terminal at Greater Cincinnati International Airport. Pleased with its new CRJ100s, Comair, during the summer, employs its newest units to open service from Cincinnati to six new American cities, including Kansas City and Portland, Maine.
Passenger boardings accelerate 25.5% to 3,279,703 and revenues jump 22.1% to $267.9 million. Expenses rise 25.8% to $229.05 million and, as a result, pretax income inches up to $38.84 million and net gain reaches $24.28 million. Both figures are later adjusted upward to $47.02 million (operating) and $29.3 million (net).
Airline employment stands at 2,500 in 1995 and orders are outstanding for 3 Canadair CRJ100s and 20 SAAB 2000s. Plans are announced for the acquisition of the Michigan-based charter operator Spirit Airlines.
On May 1, Delta Air Lines realigns its hub system; among new developments is a large increase in daily jetliner departures from Cincinnati and a corresponding cutback at Orlando. Comair is called upon to expand into Miami and Orlando and increases the number of its daily departures by 79%, from 79 to 103. At Cincinnati, Comair, in order to accommodate its partner and reposition its fleet, reduces daily departures from 232 to 222.
Enplanements for the year soar 16.9% to 3,834,577. Revenues accelerate 28.4% to $463.29 million while costs increase only 17.5% to $368.47 million. Profits exceed even the previous year’s adjusted figures; there is a $94.82-million operating gain and a net $60-million net profit is posted.
The workforce is increased by 24% in 1996 to 3,100 and the fleet now includes 43 Canadair CRJ100s, 37 Brasilias, and 5 SAAB 340As. The SAAB 2000 order remains outstanding. Wearing a special red, white, and blue livery with a Canadian maple leaf on the tail under the company name, the landmark 100th CRJ100 built is delivered to Comair on January 25. It is the 29th CRJ to enter service with Comair.
On March 1, a second daily Canadair CRJ100 service is inaugurated from Cincinnati to Appleton, Wisconsin, and Charlotte; the same SAAB 340A frequencies are added or increased between Appleton, Lansing, and Pittsburgh. The number of departures from Cincinnati now number 240, including 62 to nonstop destinations.
On April 1, a $20-million arrangement is completed for the purchase of the Part 121 charter operator Spirit Airlines. The buyout requires government approval which, if forthcoming, would make the Detroit-based airline Comair’s seventh subsidiary. Thrice-daily CRJ100 nonstop roundtrips commence on May 1 from Greenville and Spartanburg, South Carolina, to New York via Newark.
Four nonstop daily CRJ100 roundtrips are initiated on June 1 between Miami and Tallahassee; the regional jets also inaugurate five-times-per-day roundtrips between Boston and Montreal the same day. Simultaneously, one of the three daily roundtrips from Cedar Rapids to Cincinnati is upgraded into jet service.
While on final approach to Orlando on a June 23 service from Nassau, Flight 3599, an EMB-120RT with 3 crew and 29 passengers, is unable to lower its landing gear due to a total loss of hydraulic pressure. A wheels-up belly landing is made and there are no serious injuries reported from it. The aircraft is badly damaged.
A second flight from Cedar Rapids to Cincinnati is upgraded to jet service on July 1.
Through the expedient of a service upgrade, Comair is able to introduce daily roundtrip jet service on September 9 between Cincinnati and South Bend, Indiana. The last 3 Metro Ills are retired at the end of December.
Customer bookings accelerate 21.3% to 4,650,796 and operating income advances 21.7% to $563.81 million. Expenses jump 21.5% to $447.69 million and the bottom line of the ledger book shows a $116.17-million operating profit and a net $75.42-million gain.
The year 1997 marks the carrier’s 20th anniversary and celebrations are in order. Unhappily, the year begins badly.
On January 9, while on final approach during a snowstorm to Detroit Airport from Cincinnati, Flight 3272 suddenly goes into an uncontrolled roll at the 4,000-ft. level. The EMB-120RT with 3 crew and 26 passengers and piloted by Capt. Dann Carlsen crashes into an unpopulated area of Raisinville Township, near Monroe, Michigan, some 18 miles short of the runway outside the city of Detroit, and catches fire; there are no survivors. The crash casts a pall over the North American International Auto Show gala because many of the dead are automobile company employees.
The 48th Canadair CRJ is delivered in April painted in a special anniversary livery; on the side of a plain white fuselage forward of the wing is the phrase “20 years in flight.” The number of Canadairs in the fleet reaches 50 in late May. Plans are made for the acquisition of Michigan-based Spirit Airlines.
Company executives join with their colleagues from Airtran on May 1 in signing a letter of intent to enter into a code-sharing agreement that will connect the two carriers’ service through Orlando. The arrangement, when completed, will cover Airtran’s 23 cities as well as Comair’s nine-stop Florida network.
On May 30, a $330-million order is given to Bombardier Regional Aircraft for the delivery of 18 additional CRJ200ERs, beginning in September; the request also includes a conditional order for 12 more CRJs with options on 45 more. When the first plane arrives, it is pained in the new white with navy and red livery approved for “Delta Connection” carriers. The scheme is designed to coordinate with the new livery of Delta Air Lines.
With Spirit Airlines showing a significant decline in possibilities following the May 11 crash suffered by fellow discount airline Valujet Airlines, Comair withdraws from merger talks with Spirit in June.
A record high in monthly traffic is recorded in October as 494,422 passengers are boarded, an 18.7% increase over the same period a year earlier. As a result, the carrier converts 12 options for CRJ100LRs into firm orders worth $250 million. Deliveries will begin a year hence; a total of 45 CRJ options remain.
During the month, a new 21,000-sq.-ft. maintenance facility is opened at Denver. It will accommodate the carrier’s growing CRJ100 fleet. It also begins offering jet service over every one of its routes out of Cincinnati.
CRJ100 service to Tri-Cities Regional Airport in Tennessee becomes twice daily on November 2. With the intention of possessing an 80-jet fleet by 1999, Comair, during the third week of November, coverts conditional orders for 12 CRJ200s into firm requests; these are in addition to the 54 already on hand. The company may still elect to exercise options on 45 more, some of which may be CRJ-700s.
A new single-day boarding record is established on December 1, the Monday after giving, when 20,701 passengers are enplaned.
Two daily nonstops are launched on December 17 between Orlando and Ft. Lauderdale, bringing a total of four per day. Having leased a 21,000-sq.-ft. facility from Wright Brothers Aero, the company, at year’s end opens a new maintenance base at Dayton.
Passenger boardings climb 13.9% to 5,298,293. Operating revenues advance 15.5% to $651.16 million, while expenses are up 9.4% to $489.56 million. Operating gain increases to $161.59 million while the net profit soars to $102.21 million.
At the beginning of 1998, Comair is the 23rd largest airline in the world in terms of operating profit and 25th in net profit. Airline employment stands at 2,500, a 19.4% reduction.
A major service expansion is announced on January 16, on which date the company has a total of 56 Canadair Regional Jets in service.
Also during January, “Comair University,” an in-house management training program, is opened at Thomas More College at Crestview Hills, Kentucky. The 12-course, $1-million program of executive-style sessions will graduate 400 employees by 2005. Space at Thomas More’s Institute for Management Education and Services is also rented for the administrative training of pilots and flight attendants.
Beginning on February 1, six of the carrier’s eight daily frequencies between Cincinnati and Detroit become jet flights. Canadairs also take over two of four daily flights to Milwaukee as well as all seven to St. Louis. Initial daily roundtrips commence the same day between Cincinnati and Madison, Wisconsin.
All six daily frequencies between Cincinnati and Charlotte become jet flights on March 1, along with all seven roundtrips to Knoxville. Jet service is also expanded that day to Chattanooga, Charlottesville, and Roanoke and introduced four times a day between the Cincinnati, Wilkes-Barre, and Scranton and Cedar Rapids and Iowa City.
On April 5, a major code-sharing agreement, originally announced on February 19, begins with Sabena Belgian World Airlines, S. A. Under its terms, the carriers will share codes on Comair flights from the international hub at Cincinnati to Akron, Canton, Dayton, Detroit, Des Moines, Kalamazoo, Lexington, and Louisville. Europe-bound passengers from those points may connect at Cincinnati for Brussels and links to Sabena’s European and African networks.
Two morning Canadair flights are added from Boston to Toronto on April 6 and one afternoon jet flight from Boston to Montreal for a total of six daily roundtrips in each market.
Ground is broken in May for a $25-million expansion of the company’s facilities at the Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport. Completion of the new addition of offices, maintenance, and training facilities is anticipated within a year.
Also during the month, the carrier retains the Chicago-based law firm of Merlo, Kanofsky and Brinkmeier and files suit against the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer in U. S. District Court in Louisville, Kentucky. The company charges that the manufacturer of the EMB-120 had failed to warn it concerning design problems, especially icing difficulties, such as those believed to have caused the crash of Flight 3272 on January 9, 1997.
Thrice-daily nonstop CRJ service is inaugurated on June 1 from Newburgh, New York, to Cincinnati and Atlanta. These services replace mainline Delta Air Lines flights. The same day, direct Saturday and Sunday roundtrip jet service is started from St. Louis to Nassau, Bahamas.
In addition, daily nonstop CRJ roundtrips are started from Dayton to New York (LGA); two more flights are simultaneously added between Dayton and Cincinnati, bringing the total of daily roundtrips between the Ohio cities to 10.
Also on June 1, thrice-daily nonstop CRJ roundtrips commence from Cincinnati to Long Island MacArthur Airport at Islip, New York. The same day, a third CRJ nonstop roundtrip is initiated between Cincinnati and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, bringing to three the number of daily jet services between the two communities.
The first scheduled nonstop return jet service between Cincinnati and Nassau, Bahamas, is flown by company CRJs on Saturdays and Sundays beginning on June 6.
Thrice-daily RJ-200 roundtrips commence on July 1 between Cincinnati and Houston (IAH). Simultaneously, thrice-daily nonstop CRJ roundtrips begin from Bush International to Cincinnati.
The code-sharing arrangement with Sabena Belgian World Airlines, S. A. is expanded on July 15 to include service to Brussels from Toledo, Indianapolis, St. Louis, Charlotte, and Birmingham. The new dualdesignator flights allow Comair passengers from the five cities to travel to and from Brussels via Cincinnati under Sabena’s SN code.
Daily service between Cincinnati and Fort Wayne is upgraded on August 1 with the addition of a third CRJ roundtrip; two other frequencies continue to be offered with turboprops.
Bringing Cincinnati Bengals and Green Bay Packers fans and travelers together for the first time, Comair, on August 3, initiates thrice-daily nonstop CRJ flights between the two NFL cities in Ohio and Wisconsin.
A fifth nonstop roundtrip frequency is added on August 10 between Cincinnati and Chattanooga. At this point, four of the daily trips between the Ohio hub and the Tennessee community are operated by CRJs. Simultaneously, a third CRJ roundtrip is offered from Cincinnati to Kalamazoo and Battle Creek; two other daily frequencies between the two points are offered by turboprops.
While en route from Covington, Kentucky, to Columbia, South Carolina, on August 13, Flight 431, a CRJ with 4 crew and 45 passengers, receives a smoke cargo warning message. With triple chimes sounding and a smoke aural, an emergency is declared and the aircraft is diverted to Knoxville. A rapid evacuation is effected once the aircraft is on the ground, but no evidence of fire in the cargo bay is found. The airplane is released to continue to its destination.
On September 23, a day after Gulfstream International Airlines begins air shuttle flights to assist in the evacuation of Key West in the face of Hurricane Georges, Comair also lays on additional frequencies to Orlando in order to assist in the removal of people from the path of the storm. Flights between Key West and Orlando are suspended from September 24-29.
On October 1, a $1-billion contract is signed with Bombardier Aerospace for the acquisition of 50 aircraft over the next decade, including 30 CRJ200s and 20 of the manufacturers new 70-seat regional jets, plus 115 options. Simultaneously, a sixth daily roundtrip Delta Connection frequency is initiated between Cincinnati and Chattanooga; five of the frequencies from the Ohio hub to the south Tennessee city are operated by CRJs.
Daily nonstop roundtrip Delta Connection CRJ frequencies are launched between Cincinnati and Nassau on October 1; it also introduces two daily flights to Colorado Springs and two additional daily frequencies to Washington, D. C. (IAD).
Also at the start of the fourth quarter, a $1-billion order is signed with Bombardier Aerospace for the acquisition of 50 more regional jetliners, including 20 of the new 70-passenger models. The company will take delivery of its 80th CRJ in August 1999 and in each month thereafter until the order is finished.
The Delta Connection carrier, which has three daily Embraer EMB-120 and three Canadair services from Cincinnati to Ft. Wayne, Indiana, upgrades the service on November 1 to all-jet; a seventh daily jet frequency is simultaneously added. The carrier, which operates three jet and four turboprop roundtrips per week from Cincinnati to Toledo upgrades the Embraer flights to Canadair frequencies on the same day.
Daily CRJ Delta Connection roundtrips are begun on December 1 between Cincinnati and Boston. The same day, the carrier announces that it will add one daily CRJ roundtrip on January 3 between Cincinnati and Columbia, Des Moines, Greenville/Spartanburg, Houston (IAD), and the Tri-Cities Regional Airport in Tennessee.
A Comair press release is put out on December 2 revealing that the airline will begin thrice-daily CRJ Delta Connection roundtrips on March 2 between Cincinnati and Bangor, Maine. The new service will replace mainline jet service previously provided by Delta Air Lines.
Passenger boardings at the nation’s largest regional surge 16.6% to 6,175,295. Operational revenues total $651.1 million, while expenses are $489.6 million. There are profits: $161.5 million (operating) and $102.2 million (net).
The carrier, on January 3, 1999, adds one daily Delta Connection CRJ roundtrip between Cincinnati and Columbia, SC; Des Moines, IA; Greenville/Spartanburg, SC; Houston (IAD); and Tri-Cities, TN. Also during the month, Comair Holdings is added to the NASDAQ-100 Index. The airline becomes the first regional to install automatic external defibrillators on all of its aircraft.
Beginning on February 1, Comair upgrades two nonstop flights to jet service between Nassau and Orlando, adds a nonstop CRJ jet flight between Orlando and New Orleans, and upgrades one roundtrip flight to jet service between Orlando and Ft. Myers.
The company’s spring schedule is announced on February 4. When all of the flights are implemented, 42 of the 66 cities Comair serves nonstop from Cincinnati will be all-jet. More than 80% of all seats out of Cincinnati will be jet; and Cincinnati will be the only hub in North America where passengers can travel exclusively on a jet plane to every city.
This fact is celebrated on the fuselage of the newly received 70th CRJ, which wears a livery highlighting Cincinnati’s skyline as seen from Kentucky east of the Licking River. Titles reading “Cincinnati: The Jet Hub” also appear over the forward half of the windowline.
Also during the month, Comair presents a plan to Cincinnati Airport planners for a new $25-million, 150,000-sq.-ft., 5-story office building to replace the current 38,000-sq.-ft. building, which will become a training center.
On March 1, a second of the six daily Delta Connection roundtrips between Cincinnati and Akron-Canton Regional Airport is upgraded to CRJ as is one to Richmond and Williamsburg, Virginia.
Comair begins thrice-daily CRJ Delta Connection roundtrips on March 2 between Cincinnati and Bangor, Maine. The new service replaces mainline jet service previously provided by Delta Air Lines.
Simultaneously, Delta Connection jet service is increased from Cincinnati to Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (2 flights to 4), to Toronto (2 to 7), to Wichita (2-4), and to White Plains, New York (3 to 4).
Just weeks after the board of directors approves a 3 to 2 stock split, company shares, on March 8, hit a high of $40 each.
On April 1, daily Delta Connection Canadair roundtrips are increased to St. Louis (1 to 8) and to Washington, D. C. (IAD) (1 to 7). One daily
Delta Connection roundtrip between Tallahassee and Orlando is upgraded to CRJ on April 4.
Electronic ticketing becomes available on all flights beginning on April 26. The next day, lawyers for members of the ALPA chapter of Delta Air Lines file suit against management in an effort to block a move by the parent to employ Comair CRJs on Delta Shuttle flights between Boston and Washington, D. C. (DCA) starting on June 1.
The number of daily Delta Connection CRJ roundtrips between Cincinnati and Memphis are increased on May 1 (1 to 4), to Newburgh, New York (1 to 4), and to Tulsa (1 to 4).
The airline wins three major awards during the month. Chairman Mueller is named “Airline Executive of the Year” by Regional Airline World; President/CEO David A. Siebenburgen wins the “Regional Airline Executive of the Year” award from Commuter/Regional Airline News, and Comair itself is named “Best Managed Regional Airline” for 1999 by Aviation Week & Space Technology.
With 24,460 customer enplanements on May 28, the carrier sets the best single-day boarding record in its history.
One daily Delta Connection CRJ roundtrip is added on June 1 from Cincinnati to Bangor, Maine (3 to 4), to Columbia, South Carolina (5 to 6), to Houston and to Sarasota and Bradenton (through October 31). Thrice-daily Delta Connection roundtrips from Cincinnati to Savannah and Hilton Head, South Carolina, are initiated.
One Delta Connection daily roundtrip is upgraded to CRJ on June 3 from Cincinnati to Appleton and Fox Cities, Wisconsin (5 to 6), to Grand Rapids (3 to 4), and to Milwaukee (3 to 4).
Two Delta Connection roundtrips between Dayton and Cincinnati are upgraded to CRJ on July 1 (7 to 9), while one daily Delta Connection roundtrip is simultaneously upgraded from Cincinnati to Indianapolis (5 to 6), Kalamazoo and Battle Creek (4 to 5), and to Tri-Cities, Tennessee (3 to 4). Twice-daily Delta Connection roundtrips from Cincinnati to Charleston, South Carolina, are introduced.
Daily Saturday and Sunday CRJ nonstop Delta Connection return service is launched on July 17 from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, to both Chicago (ORD) and New York (LGA).
Twice-daily Delta Connection roundtrips begin on August 1 from Cincinnati to Jacksonville, Florida.
As the October 31 date for renewal of the carrier’s Delta Connection contract nears, negotiations over a new prorate with Delta Air Lines intensify during the summer. A new code-sharing agreement with Air Canada, Ltd. that begins on October 7 allows connections for the Canadian major’s passengers traveling to 18 U. S. cities.
Unable to come to an acceptable agreement, Delta Air Lines (which already holds a 22% stake and believes itself to be under compensated), in early October, makes a $23.50 per share/$ 1.8-billion cash offer to purchase outright the remainder of its Cincinnati-based affiliate. Comair’s board agrees to the transaction on October 16 and it is announced two days later. The new wholly owned Delta Connection subsidiary will join Atlantic Southeast Airlines (taken over earlier in the year) as a Delta division, with the entire commuter network falling under the direction of Comair President/CEO David A. Siebenburgen.
On November 1, frequencies between Cincinnati and Columbia, South Carolina, are increased to seven and those to Minneapolis are increased to five.
Also in November, a number of Comair shareholders file two class action lawsuits (one each in Kentucky and New York) against the airline and its board charging that the takeover price is inadequate and seeking to halt the sale.
On December 1, CRJ roundtrips from Cincinnati to Akron are increased to six, Charleston, West Virginia, to five, Evansville to seven, Madison to four, Orlando to Ft. Lauderdale to seven, and Ft. Myers to five.
Following an illegal job slowdown in mid-December, the airline obtains a court order from the U. S. District Court in Kentucky stopping a work slowdown by its pilots.
Overall passenger boardings climb 14% to 7,032,000.
Airline employment at the start of 2000 stands at 4,536, a 17.7% increase over the previous 12 months. Comair owns the 25th largest fleet among the world’s top 25 airlines at the beginning of the new millennium.
When President/CEO Siebenburgen launches his revamped Delta Connection network on January 18, he is succeeded as Comair Holdings president by Randy D. Rademacher.
Until they can be replaced with Canadairs, all of the company’s EMB-120s are based at Orlando during the first quarter. Thrice-daily CRJ roundtrips are started on March 16 between New York (LGA) and Charleston, South Carolina.
Air France begins to code-share on company flights to 31 U. S. domestic destinations on March 26.
The largest regional jet order in airline history is placed on March 29. Siebenburgen, acting on behalf of Comair and Atlantic Southeast Airlines, signs a $10-billion, 4-year order with Bombardier Aerospace for a mix of 94 CRJ100, CRJ200s, and CRJ700s. Comair’s share will include 25 CRJ100s and 20 CRJ200s.
On April 2, CRJ100s double to eight the number of roundtrips offered between Cincinnati and Atlanta, thereby replacing all four of Delta Air Lines’s daily roundtrips in this market. It also replaces the twice-daily return service from Cincinnati to Colorado Springs. New twice-daily return flights simultaneously begin from New York to Savannah.
A month later, daily CRJ100 flights are initiated from the Queen City to Norfolk and twice daily to Oklahoma City.
Also in the spring, a new Comair Jet Express charter service is established at Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport. To accelerate the growth of CJE, the company, on July 1, opens a new $8-million FBO at the same location. Also during the month, 400 lAM-represented maintenance workers ratify a new four-year contract.
Four-times-a-day CRJ100ER roundtrips commence on July 1 from New York (LGA) to Buffalo and Manchester.
A proposal to merge the pilot unions of the Delta Connection partners Comair and Atlantic Southeast Airlines with that of Delta Air Lines is rejected by the ALPA executive council in late August.
Thrice-daily CRJ100 Delta Connection roundtrips, code-shared with Aeromexico (2), S. A. de C. V., commence on September 1 between Dallas (DFW) and Mexico City, along with a single roundtrip from Dallas (DFW) to Puebla. The world’s largest RJ operator takes delivery of its 100th CRJ100ER on September 29.
On October 1, thrice-daily CRJ100 “Delta Connection” return service is started from Orlando to Greensboro, High Point, and Winston-Salem and from Cincinnati to Sarasota and Brandenton. Twice-daily CRJ flights between New York (LGA) and Birmingham, Alabama, begin on November 1.
Daily CRJ100ER Delta Connection roundtrips begin on December 1 from Cincinnati to Augusta, Georgia, along with twice-daily return service to Syracuse.
COMAIR (COMMERCIAL AIRWAYS [PTY.], LTD.): P. O. Box 7015, Bonaero Park, Kempton Park, 1622, South Africa; Phone 27 (11) 921-0111; Fax 27 (11) 973-3913; Http://www. comair. co. za; Code MN; Year Founded 1967. Comair is formed at Transvaal’s Jan Smuts Airport on November 1, 1967 as successor carrier to Commercial Air Services (Pty.), Ltd. and as the airline division of the Comair Group. A second subsidiary, Aircraft Distributors of Southern Africa (Pty.), Ltd., concentrates on the airline’s previous role as South Africa’s Cessna lightplane and Hughes helicopter distributor.
Equity participant Piet van Hoven is named managing director and the fleet comprises 5 Douglas DC-3s, 2 Cessna 404s, and 1 Cessna 401, the 4 surviving Lockheed L-18 Lodestars having been withdrawn. A full schedule of commuter services are undertaken to link Johannesburg with Phalaborwa, Welkom, Durban, and Skukuza.
Flights on behalf of Lesotho Airways (Pty.), Ltd. are maintained in 1968, while Letaba Safaris’ stake in a joint service to the national game parks is purchased and the subsidiary is renamed Comair Safaris (Pty.), Ltd.
The government of Lesotho purchases the Comair stake in its national airline in 1969 for R 100,000. Comair Holding’s Aircraft Distributors of Southern Africa subsidiary now becomes South Africa’s Learjet distributor. The first DC-3, acquired in Canada in 1963, is withdrawn and replaced by a newer model DC-3D, purchased from Austrian Airlines, A. G.
In 1970, South African Marine Corporation (Pty.), Ltd. (Safmarine) purchases a 50% stake in Comair Holdings (Pty.), Ltd. for R 20,000 and 100,000 shares of Safmarine stock. D. Novick becomes chairman during August.
Flights continue apace in 1971-1974. On behalf of the government, the company inaugurates on-demand charters to Phalaborwa, a mining community just outside of Kruger National Park. Billing itself as “The Safari Airline,” Comair carries 39,510 passengers during the latter year.
Airline employment in 1975 is 65. Passenger boardings increase by 6.3% to 42,166. Freight traffic skyrockets by 92% to 398,000 FTKs. The employee population is increased by 28% in 1976 to an even 100 workers. Corporate headquarters are transferred from Ran Airport to Jan Smuts Airport.
Customer bookings accelerate 34% to 53,200 while freight traffic increases 51% to 314,000 FTKs.
Managing Director van Hoven’s company changes its fleet somewhat in 1977, adding a Fokker F.27-200, deleting one 404, and trading the Cessna 401 for a Cessna 206. The Fokker enters service on a Phal-aborwa-Skukuza route on January 31 while a new commuter stop is added, under contract to South African Airways (Pty.), Ltd. (SAA), at Richards Bay. Regular aerial safari and tour services are also begun to Skukuza, within Kruger National Park, while charters continue to be flown to various points within the country.
The workforce in 1978 totals 140 and the fleet includes 1 F.27-200, 5 DC-3s, and 1 Cessna 404. Two more Friendships join the fleet in 1979-1980 and service is initiated to Sun City. Enplanements in 1981 reach 96,000.
Two DC-3s are sold to Ethiopian Airlines, S. C. in 1982.
On October 12, a Douglas transport with 3 crew and 27 passengers is involved in an accident at Graskop; no serious injuries are reported.
Customer bookings this year ascend to 105,000.
Margate receives a new service in 1983. Flights are undertaken to the Margate resort area and, beginning at the end of the year, to Gaborone, Botswana, under contract to SAA. This is the first international route authorized to a South African private airline. These flights help passenger boardings ascend to 110,000.
Airline employment reaches 150 in 1984 and the longtime service to Welkom is contracted to Magnum Airlines (Pty.), Ltd. During the year the fleet is increased through the purchase of 2 more F.27-200s and a new fleet livery is unveiled. On December 17, 1985, a company DC-3 participates in a flyby over the air force base at Swartkop to help celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the Douglas transport.
Between 1986-1989, the company removes its Cessnas and a DC-3 and orders a Fokker F.28-4000 that will be placed in service at the beginning of the new decade. Meanwhile, on March 1, 1988, Flight 206, an EMB-110P1 with 2 crew and 15 passengers en route from Phalaborwa to Johannesburg, crashes 13 km. S of its destination. It will later be determined that a nitroglycerine bomb has caused the disaster.
In January 1990, the company seeks government authority to open scheduled competition with South African Airways (Pty.), Ltd. on the Johannesburg-Durban route; the state carrier offers no objection.
Chairman Novik and Managing Director van Hoven oversee a workforce of 200 in 1991. The Fellowship is replaced by a fourth F.27-200. Enplanements total 131,328, including 13,980 flown on charters. Income exceeds costs and there are profits: $7.38 million (operating) and $6.81 million (net).
With the deregulation of South Africa’s air transport industry in 1992, Comair enters a period of rapid expansion. The workforce is increased by 35.4% to 218 and a Boeing 737-244, acquired from South African Airways (Pty.), Ltd., allows the initiation of low-fare flights from
Johannesburg to Cape Town, Gaborone, and Manzini. In August, Co-mair joins IATA.
Later in the year, the F.28-4000 is reacquired and, by year’s end, 12 Boeing and 8 Fokker weekly flights are offered over the new run.
Passenger boardings increase 34.6% to 161,534 while freight skyrockets 131.8% to 9.45 million FTKs. Revenues increase 18.5% to $39.19 million and expenses climb 30.7% to $29.65 million. The operating surplus that results is $9.54 million and net gain reaches $9.68 million.
Airline employment is increased by 5.8% in 1993 to 290 and the fleet now includes 2 B-737-244s, 4 F.27-200s, and 1 F.28-4000. A new Jo-hannesburg-Durban route is launched in September and pushes customer bookings up a remarkable 92% to 310,730. Cargo traffic, however, declines 11.1% to 24 million FTKs.
In 1994, the workforce is cut by 31% to 200; however, orders are placed for 2 Avions de Transport Regional ATR42-300s. Flights begin linking Johannesburg with Maputo and Harare and, through July, passenger boardings skyrocket 60.9% to 249,000 and 81,000 FTKs of freight are flown.
The first ATR42-300 is delivered in May 1995 and enters service between Johannesburg and the Botswana town of Gaborone via Skukuza in Kruger National Park. The second turboprop arrives in June and begins flying the Richards Bay Line. The fleet is enhanced not only through delivery of the 2 ATRs, but by the addition of 1 more B-737-244, 2 B-737-230As, and 2 B-737-236As.
Two F.27-200s are withdrawn in 1996. On June 12, the carrier signs a nonequity transfer franchise agreement with British Airways, Ltd. (2). Under the arrangement, the South African regional’s fleet is repainted in the colors of the U. K.-based major, which will also cooperate in sales and marketing and make its frequent flyer program available to Comair passengers.
The company begins to feed passengers to BA from its domestic South African routes on October 27.
Operations of the BA franchise partner continue in 1997. During the fall, 3 of the company’s aircraft are repainted in the new and controversial color scheme of British Airways, Ltd. (2) that features a different tail design (representing a BA region served) on each aircraft.
The company during the remainder of the year repositions itself as an all-jet operator on the major trunk routes and makes plans to go one-on-one with South African Airways (Pty.), Ltd. Managing Director van Hoven orders the ATRs sold.
Five of Comair’s turboprop destinations are passed to SA Express (Pty.), Ltd. during late summer; its managing director, Israel Skosana, refuses to disclose the purchase price. Comair will continue to market the routes and retain a share in any profits gained from them.
In October, stated-owned Sun Air (Pty.), Ltd. is sold to a consortium that includes Comair (25%), the Black empowerment consortium Retha-bile and Coordinated Network Investments (55%), National Empowerment Fund (15%), and company employees (5%).
Given their alliances with rivals British Airways, Ltd. (2) and Virgin Atlantic Airways, Ltd., Comair and Sun Air will continue to compete with one another over established trunk routes. There will be no changes in branding or management. The two will, however, seek synergies in the joint purchase of equipment, will coordinate schedules, and will refrain from launching routes in opposition to one another.
In 1998, Comair operates over 250 flights weekly on routes between Johannesburg and Cape Town, Durban, and Port Elizabeth, as well as across borders to Harare, Victoria Falls, and Windhoek. Direct twice-weekly flights are also offered between Cape Town and Windhoek.
On July 23, the company is listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.
SA Express Airways (Pty.), Ltd. sparks a fare war on October 5 when it reduces its domestic ticket prices by up to 15%. Competing Co-mair indicates that it will immediately match the lower tariffs, but Sun Air (Pty.), Ltd. refuses to join the conflict.
Comair joins with Sun Air (Pty.), Ltd. and Nationwide Air Charter (Pty.), Ltd. during January 1999 in lodging a complaint with the South
African Competition Board. The three allege that South African Airways (Pty.), Ltd. has reduced prices and increased capacity on a number of domestic routes to the point where it is engaged in predatory pricing violations. Some SAA fares on the routes between Johannesburg and Durban are less expensive than motor buses. The board indicates that it will undertake an investigation over the next few months. When made aware of the Competition Board complaint, officials from SAA indicate that they will contest the claims.
Leaders of East Africa end their 2!‘2-year embargo of Burundi on January 26; Comair, which has honored the sanctions since their imposition in July 1996, indicates that it will resume flights to Bujumbura in mid-February.
Following a review of its Southern Africa timetables, new schedules, developed by British Airways, Ltd. (2) with Comair, come into effect on April 1. These schedules not only offer passengers daily connecting flights between Durban and Johannesburg, but a choice of daily departure times. The new revised schedules replace BA’s four-times-per-week Durban services.
During the first week of November, two more daily roundtrips are initiated between Johannesburg and Cape Town and two new weekly return services are started from Johannesburg to Windhoek.
Traffic figures for the year are not released. It is, however, revealed that revenues have increased by 19% to $283.54 million. With operating expenses of $268.45 million, there are increased profits: $15.09 million (operating) and $14,61 million (net)
During the last week of January 2000, British Airways, Ltd. (2) purchases a ?17-million ($27.9-million) 18.3% stake in its South African franchise partner from Gensec and CNI. Comair continues to be listed on the South African stock exchange.
On March 26 Austrian Airlines, A. G. begins to code-share on Co-mair’s twice-weekly return flights between Johannesburg and Harare, Zimbabwe. Daily B-737-244 roundtrips simultaneously start from Johannesburg to Lusaka.
Plans are announced during the summer for an increase of frequencies to Harare, Lilongwe, and Victoria, plus expansion of service into Ndola and Nairobi. A new marketing and code-sharing agreement is signed with Air Namibia (Pty.), Ltd. on October 9, offering 15 weekly round-trips between Johannesburg and Windhoek.
COMBS AIRWAYS: United States (1983-1984). Combs Freigh-tair is established at Denver in October 1983 to offer scheduled third-level passenger service in Wyoming, Colorado, and Idaho under the name Frontier Commuter. Revenue flights commence with Convair CV-580s leased from Frontier Airlines (1). When the parent files for Chapter XI bankruptcy in April 1984, Combs Airways also fails. Two months later, the CA assets are sold to another new entrant, ITR Airlines.
World History
