Organized at Red Bank, New Jersey, in the fall of 1960, this scheduled air taxi service inaugurates daily Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander round-trip frequencies to New York City on December 8.
The route network is expanded in 1961-1965 to include services to Allentown, Reading, Lancaster, Philadelphia, and Buffalo.
In September of the latter year, it joins with several other small third-level operators and American Airlines to provide “Metro Air Service” (traffic feed) to the major’s gates at New York. On July 29, 1968, the company is merged with Reading Aviation to form Suburban Airlines.
AIR TAXIS (PTY.), LTD.: Australia (1938-1939). P. H. Moody forms a small charter company at Rockhampton in early July 1938. Employing small de Havilland aircraft, the carrier begins Rockhampton to Mount Coolon service on July 7. Unable to find sufficient traffic or revenue, Moody is forced to cease operations on November 10, 1939.
AIR TCHAD (COMPAGNIE NATIONALE TCHADIENNE, S. A.): 27 Ave. du President Tombaibaye, BP 168, N’Djamena, Chad; Phone 235 51 5090; Fax 235 51 3581; Code HT; Year Founded 1966.
Created at N’Djamena (formerly Fort Lamy) on June 24, 1966, this state carrier is owned by the government (66%) and the UTA French Airlines (Union de Transports Aerienne, S. A.) associate company Sode-traf (34%). Marcel Bourdin is named general manager and is given a fleet consisting of 2 each Douglas DC-3s and Cessna 206s.
Revenue services begin on August 4 and are conducted with operational and technical assistance contracted from the French partner-owners. A leased DC-4 provides the connection to Paris from the former French colony via Algiers and replaces a service previously offered on Chad’s behalf by Air Afrique (2) (Societe Aerienne Africaine Multinationale, S. A.).
Enplanements by the end of 1967 total 7,000, with 240 tons of cargo also transported.
Flights continue throughout the decade and into the 1970s. By 19771978, President Adoum Aganaye’s fleet comprises 1 DC-4, 2 DC-3s, 1 Piper PA-28 Cherokee, and 1 Beech 58 Baron. Destinations linked to the capital include Mongo, Ati, Abecher, Fort Archambault, Faya, Am Timan, Largeau, Pala, Bongor, Moundou, Geneina, Boi, Abou Deia, Oum Hagjer, and Bokoro.
During the years that follow, Air Tchad is often inactive due to severe domestic political turmoil and a continuing war with Libya. Regularly scheduled operations resume in 1982-1983 at which time the fleet comprises 1 Fokker F.27-600RF Friendship and 1 DC-3.
Operations continue apace in an on-again, off-again manner in 19841988. The difficulties with Libya cause all kinds of security problems and frequent suspensions of service.
In 1989, General Manager Mahamat Nouri continues to provide domestic services; however, his fleet has been upgraded by the addition of two de Havilland Canada DHC-6-300 Twin Otters in place of the Douglas. In 1990, one of the Twin Otters is replaced by a Cessna 402 and Cessna 310. Domestic services continue into the new decade.
A Boeing 707-347C joins the fleet in 1991, but due to recessionary pressures must be withdrawn in 1992. During the latter year, the factions that have been in conflict for almost 30 years reach a peace accord. When Air France takes over UTA French Airlines, S. A., the original UTA stake passes to the Paris-based survivor, which now enters into a cooperative agreement.
In 1993, General Manager Nouri oversees a 61-employee workforce and one each Fokker F.27-600RF and DHC-6-300. Flights link N’Djamena with Abecher, Bol, Bongor, Mao, Pala, Mongo, Am Timan, Sahr, and Moundou. Two DC-3 freighters are acquired in 1994. These are withdrawn in 1996, along with the Fokker.
Djibangar Madjirebaye is president in 1997, with General Manager Nouri continuing in office. Destinations visited from N’Djamena include Abecher, Moundou, and Sarh. A total of $4.4 million in sales are generated.
Flights continue in 1998-2000, during which time the airline employment numbers 61.
AIR TERREX, LTD.: KA Kablu 971, Praha 10 CZ-100 00, Czech Republic; Phone 42 (2) 70 50 89; Fax 42 (2) 70 44 93; Year Founded 1992. Air Terrex is founded at Prague in 1992 to offer passenger and inclusive-tour charters to regional and Mediterranean destinations. Revenue operations commence with a single Boeing 727-230A once flown by Deutsche Lufthansa, A. G. In 1993, the fleet is increased by the addition of 2 chartered trimotors, 1 B-727-51 originally operated by Northwest Airlines, and 1 B-727-2D3A first delivered to Alia Royal Jordanian Airlines.
With flights to North Africa and Mediterranean holiday destinations continuing in 1994, a second hub is set up at Bratislava. The B-737-230A is leased to Air Pacific, Ltd. (2).
It is understood that flights continue largely without change during the remainder of the decade; exact information is, however, unavailable.
AIR TEXANA: United States (1980-1981). Employing one each Beech 18 and Convair CV-580, this Beaumont, Texas-based regional inaugurates scheduled passenger and cargo services in 1980 linking its base with Dallas (DFW and DAL) and New Orleans.
In the wake of the 1981 PATCO air traffic controllers’ strike, Air Tex-ana is unable to function with the restrictions placed on ATC at its large destinations and is forced to shut down.
AIR TEXAS: United States (1968-1971). Walter S. Miller establishes Air Texas at Waco in 1968 to provide scheduled air taxi flights to McGregor via Dallas. Daily Aero Commander 500B and Beech 99 revenue flights are duly inaugurated and maintained until 1971. Aircraft tails wear a circular “Lone Star” logo taken from the blue, red, and white fields of the state flag.
AIR TEXAS AIRWAYS: United States (1980). ATA is set up at Dallas in early 1980 to offer scheduled daily roundtrip shuttle flights to Houston. Although Piper lightplane flights are duly inaugurated, they cannot be maintained for more than a few months.
AIR 3000 AIRLINES, LTD.: Canada (1988-1989). Air 2000 Airlines, Ltd. is formed at Toronto on April 1, 1988 as a Canadian associate of the U. K. charter operator by that name, which is the airlift arm of the tour group Owners Abroad. The Manchester-based airline, with quarter ownership, holds too much “foreign” interest, and is forced to divest itself in order for the Canadian operation to get started.
Accordingly, the 25% shareholding is sold to Toronto-based Deluce Investments, Ltd. and Robert Deluce becomes president. Other shareholders include Colin Hunter, Paul Jervis, and Chairman John Lecky.
A Boeing 757-28A leased from Air 2000, Ltd. in the U. K. arrives in late November; it is painted in Air 2000 livery with a maple leaf painted on the forward passenger door.
The company receives an operating license from the National Transportation Agency (NTA) of Transport Canada on November 29. On December 1, certification allows the Canadian company to begin non-scheduled flights to holiday destinations in the Caribbean, Mexico, and Florida.
Airline employment in 1989 stands at 165. In accordance with the terms of its license, the company begins seeking a new name with which to replace the one employed. An initial idea, Air 3000, Ltd., is submitted to the NTA at the end of April; the regulators will turn the concept down.
The company receives the first B-757-28A it has chartered from the International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC) on May 5, allowing return of the leased unit. The new plane, with Air 3000, Ltd. titles, will have to be repainted.
Agreeable to NTA, the carrier disassociates itself entirely from the British carrier on May 10 by changing its name to Canada 3000 Airlines, Ltd. With two chartered B-757-28As in hand by mid-month, the company is able to launch its first service on May 17 from London (LGW) to Toronto.
AIR TINDI, LTD.: P. O. Box 1693, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories X1A 2P3, Canada; Phone (403) 920-4177; Fax (403) 920-2836; Http://www. airtindi. com; Code 8T; Year Founded 1988. Members of the Arychuk family found Air Tindi, Ltd. at Yellowknife, Northern Territories, in 1988 to offer regional scheduled and nonscheduled passenger and cargo services. “Tindi” means “big lake” or “great slave lake” in the native Dogrib language.
Alexander Arychuk is chairman/president; Peter Arychuk is vice president; Teri Arychuk is operations manager; and Sheila Arychuk is treasurer. Operations commence with a single de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter.
Services continue apace during the remainder of the decade and into the next, with a leased de Havilland Canada DHC-6-300 Twin Otter committed to a dedicated service on behalf of the Echo Bay Mines. The company’s first owned DHC-6 arrives in 1990, acquired with assistance of the Rae-Edzo Development Corporation.
Air Tindi merges with Latham Island Airways, Ltd. in 1991, thereby acquiring additional aircraft, including 1 Twin Otter, 1 medevac-equipped Beech Super King Air 200C, 1 DHC-2 Beaver, and 1 Piper PA-31-310 Navajo. All of Latham’s experienced personnel are taken on and a floatplane base is taken over. By the summer of 1992, the company is also flying another Twin Otter, float-equipped like the others, along with a new Cessna 208B Grand Caravan.
Although traffic figures are not released for these two years, the privately owned company, in something of an about-face from the usual release of traffic numbers, does reveal its revenue figures. In the former year, income is C$6.91 million and the net profit is $C259,959. During the latter period, revenues slide to $C5.09 million, but net gain jumps to $C394,432.
Air Tindi acquires its first large aircraft in 1994, when it purchases a DHC-4 Caribou for seasonal resupply to various exploration companies. Loganair, Ltd. of Scotland sells the carrier a fifth Twin Otter, while a Beech King Air C90 arrives from the U. S. A flying school, christened the Northern Flight Training Center, is opened at Yellowknife Airport. Four small Cessnas are acquired for schooling purposes.
A DHC-3T Turbo Otter arrives in 1995. At the same time, construction is begun on a new three-story office building at Yellowknife.
A large passenger plane is acquired from de Havilland Canada in 1996, a DHC-7-102. It is employed to upgrade scheduled service to Lut-sel K’e, Rae Lakes, Snare Lake, and Wha Ti. The new office building is
Opened later in the year. The workforce stands at 65 in 1997 as a second Grand Caravan enters service. Revenues reach C$11 million.
Flights continue in 1998. On April 1, scheduled service is expanded with daily roundtrips started from Yellowknife to Fort Simpson.
Flights continue apace in 1999-2000. During July of the latter year, another DHC-6-300 is acquired, this one from an airline in Abu Daibi, U. A.E.
AIR TIWI (PTY.), LTD.: Australia (1996-1998). This tiny regional is established at Darwin in June 1996 as a subsidiary of Airnorth (Pty.), Ltd., which also enjoys shareholding by Pimtubula, a trustee for the Tiwi native peoples. Employing a brightly painted Shorts 330-200, the new entrant launches scheduled third-level flights from Darwin to Bathurst Island and Melville Island.
Additional services are laid on in 1997-1998 as the company works to enhance the tourist industry on the two islands. Unhappily, this upgrade cannot achieve viability and the company shuts its doors during the latter year.
AIR TORONTO, LTD.: Canada (1988-1991). Owned by Soundair, Ltd. and its founder, Brian Child, the Air Canada, Ltd. commuter partner Commuter Express, Ltd. is renamed Air Toronto, Ltd. in March 1988. At the time of this image makeover, undertaken to improve marketing in the U. S., President Stephen Smith’s “Air Canada Connector” carrier is operating a fleet of 11 Fairchild-Swearingen SA-226 Metro IIs and Merlin IVs. Scheduled international passenger commuter return frequencies from Toronto include Columbus, Dayton, Saginaw, Grand Rapids, Allentown, and Harrisburg.
During May, the acquisition of 1 Douglas DC-4, 1 Fokker F.27, and 3 Cessna 402s further upgrades the fleet. Later in the month, 3 Merlin IVs are replaced by 1 Convair CV-580, which begin flights to Louisville, Kentucky. Twice-daily nonstop Convair service between Toronto and Indianapolis begins in June.
In July, finding that the former Commuter Express, Ltd. fleet and the recent acquisitions are inappropriate for the route structure, President Smith requests 6 British Aerospace BAe Jetstream 3201s (upgraded Jetstream 31s known as Super Jetstream 31s) for lease from their manufacturer, pending delivery of an equal number of ordered machines.
When the purchased BAes, for which Air Toronto is launch customer, begin to arrive on February 21, 1989, the 4 remaining Merlins and 5 of 6 Metro IIs are transferred to another Soundair subsidiary. The first Super Jetstream 31 service is flown on February 26 from Toronto to Louisville, Kentucky.
The Grand Rapids route is revised in March to include stops at Kalamazoo and Battle Creek. The last of the leased Jetstream 31s departs Toronto for Air BC, Ltd. at Vancouver on April 28. The service to Saginaw is eliminated, but flights begin to Green Bay and Madison, Wisconsin, on May 14. The CV-580 is withdrawn from service on July 2 and the ninth Super Jetstream 31 arrives later in the month.
The Convairliner, the F.27, and a Fairchild are assigned to an Air Toronto charter division, two more daily frequencies are added in October from Toronto to Indianapolis, and the number of daily transborder flights is increased to an even 50.
Passenger boardings increase 68.1% to 116,000.
The workforce is cut by 11.8% in 1990 to 150 and the fleet comprises 9 BAe Jetstream 3201s, the Fokker, and the Convair. Soundair Corp. is placed into receivership by the Royal Bank of Canada on April 15. The airline division briefly assumes independent status, which is surrendered when it is purchased by Air Canada, Ltd. late in the month.
The new “Air Canada Connector” continues its operations from Toronto to eight northeastern U. S. cities as before; however, the number of frequencies are increased by 15% in May. Negotiations with Soundair’s receivers, Ernst & Young, over the airline’s cost are terminated in September.
Customer bookings ascend 3.4% to 120,000 and revenues total C$22.4 million.
The Fokker and Convairs are removed in early 1991 as the carrier battles its parent in court over the right of Air Canada, Ltd. to take over its assets. Weekend Jetstream 31 roundtrips from Toronto to Dayton commence in January.
In April, the company, having lost its side of the legal proceedings, is liquidated. The remnants and the U. S. routes are sold and merged into the Canadian Airlines International, Ltd. partner, Ontario Express, Ltd.
World History
