BOP AIR (PTY.), LTD. (BOPHUTHATSWANA NATIONAL AIR SERVICES [PTY.], LTD.): South Africa (1985-1994). In 1985, Mmabatho Air Service, Ltd., which had been formed at the national capital on July 20, 1979, is redesignated the national airline of the South African black “homeland” Bophuthatswana. Operations are undertaken linking Johannesburg’s Jan Smuts International Airport with Pilanesberg Airport, near the resort community of Sun City.
In 1986, the carrier is renamed Bophuthatswana National Air Services (Pty.), Ltd.—or Bop Air. Within a year, Managing Director Ian J. Bond’s carrier establishes routes to all of the major airports in southern Africa.
The fleet in 1987 comprises 1 British Aerospace BAe (HS) 748-B2,
1 Cessna 550 Citation II, 3 Embraer EMB-110P1 Bandeirantes, 1 Piper PA-31-310 Navajo, and 2 Piper PA-34 Senecas. Orders are outstanding for 2 EMB-120 Brasilias. Enplanements for the year total 45,000. Operations continue apace in 1988-1989.
One Bandeirante is withdrawn in 1990 as 2 new EMB-120 Brasilias are acquired. J. Borstland succeeds Managing Director Bond in 1991 and is followed, in turn, by J. L. Borstlap in 1992. During the latter year a Gulfstream G-3 is purchased. Services are maintained from Johannesburg to Mmabatho and Sun City and return flights are made from Thaba’Nchu to Mmabatho. Contract service and passenger and cargo charters are also undertaken.
In 1993, Managing Director Borstlap oversees a workforce of 132 and a fleet that includes 2 each EMB 110P1s and EMB-120s and 1 each Cessna 550 Citation II and BAe (HS) 748-B2. Cape Town joins the route network.
Flights continue; however, on May 1, 1994, the company is renamed Sun Air (Pty.), Ltd. as Bophuthatswana is integrated into South Africa.
BORDER AIR (PTY.), LTD.: South Africa (1972-1990). Formed at East London in 1972, Border Air (Pty.), Ltd. undertakes scheduled commuter services linking its base with Queenstown, Umtata, Butter-worth, Durban, Grahamstown, and Port Elizabeth. Charters are also undertaken to Wild Coast resorts. For a decade, the fleet comprises 1 Piper Pa-31-310 Navajo, 1 Cessna 402, and 2 Beech B-55 Barons.
In 1983, the fleet is enlarged by the addition of another Cessna 402,
2 Britten-Norman BN-2 Islanders, 1 Shorts SC-7 Skyvan, and 1 Piper PA-34 Seneca. In 1988, General Manager A. Barski adds another Sky-van and services are initiated to Bisho and Wild Coast. Bloemfontein becomes a destination in 1989.
Unable to continue in the face of significant economic difficulties, the carrier is forced to seek a partner or cease operations. Early in 1990, it is combined with Magnum Airlines (Pty.), Ltd. of Johannesburg and Durban-based Citi Air (Pty.), Ltd. to form Link Airways (Pty.), Ltd.
World History
