Air Kosova is founded at Geneva by Milazim Berisha in June 2000 for the specific purpose of returning Kosovar refugees to their homeland from all over Europe.
Four-times-per-week roundtrips from Geneva and Zurich to Pristina are begun on July 3 with a Fokker 50 wet-leased from Newair Air Service, A. S. Another Newair Fokker 50 is acquired on July 21.
Nonstop roundtrips from Pristina to Munich are launched on August 15.
The contract with Newair Air Service, A. S. is unhappily concluded on September 28 when Newair, which has not received its leasing fees, withdraws its aircraft. Flights to Switzerland are suspended. Mr. Berisha seeks a new carrier and new support.
On October 2, a $15-million bid is accepted from Transaer International, Ltd. for a new 18-month contract. The upgraded arrangement, which includes training and management consultancy services, will be paid for by the U. S.-based Foundation for the Reconstruction of Kosovo.
Just 18 days later, on October 20, Transaer International, Ltd. suspends operations and goes into liquidation. At this point, Air Kosova’s future is uncertain.
AIR KRUISE, LTD.: United Kingdom (1946-1958). Ex-RAF Wing Commander Hugh Kennard founds Air Kruise, Ltd. at Lympne in the summer of 1946 to offer pleasure and charter flights with a Miles M.38 Messenger 2A, a Percival Q.6, and a Percival Proctor 1. In February 1947 , an Airspeed AS.65 Consul is acquired and, while the other aircraft handle local pleasure and charter flights, the Consul provides on-demand service to Belgium and French coastal towns. These services continue in 1948 and 1949.
The first de Havilland DH 89A is acquired in April 1950; christened Nicole, it initiates thrice-daily Lympne-Le Touquet flights on July 15. This service proves so popular as to require the purchase of another Dragon Rapide. In June 1953, the company takes over operation of Ramsgate Airport; however, its three DH 89As fly scheduled operations to the Continent from Lympne under the marketing name Trans-Channel Airways, Ltd. British Aviation Services acquires the company late in the year, but allows it to continue flying under its own name and upgrades its fleet by the transfer of two Douglas DC-3s.
During 1954, scheduled services are inaugurated not only to the transChannel towns, but to Basel, Birmingham, and Zurich as well. On the year, a total of 25,000 passengers are carried. Three more Douglas transports are received in 1955 and are used to step up inclusive-tour work.
In addition to the transport of refugees after the Hungarian Revolution in 1956, Air Kruise, Ltd., by its flights throughout Europe, becomes the U. K.’s most significant inclusive-tour operator. During the year, three Bristol 170 Wayfarers are transferred to the carrier from Silver City Airways, Ltd. On September 22, a DH 89A is lost at Gerdes El Adol.
Company operations continue during 1957 and 1958; however, during the latter year, aircraft are gradually shifted to Silver City Airways, Ltd. and at the end of the summer tour season, Air Kruise, Ltd. is amalgamated into the larger carrier.
AIR L. A.: United States (1979-1996). MentalMed Systems Founder/ COO Wayne Schoenfeld sells his interest in his firm in July 1979 and, together with Kenneth Dickey, acquires the nonscheduled operator Pacific Airways, Inc. in September. The company is now incorporated as Air L. A. and begins to offer both “quasi-scheduled” air tour flights and direct intercity charter services to both Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon.
Former American Express Corporation executive William Wolf buys into the company in 1980 and operations continue apace in 1981.
President Schoenfeld’s Cessna 402Cs commence scheduled passenger and cargo commuter services on May 1, 1982 and services, over the original nonscheduled network, continue without change in 1983-1984.
By 1985, the fleet comprises 2 Cessna 402Cs, 3 Cessna 414s, and 4 Piper PA-31-310 Navajos. These are withdrawn in 1987-1988 and replaced by 2 Cessna 421s and 2 PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftains. Orders are placed for 3 Embraer EMB-110P Bandeirantes. In October of the latter year, thrice-daily nonstop service begins from Bermuda Dunes Airport at Palm Desert, California, to Los Angeles (LAX).
Airline employment is increased by 73.3% in 1989 to 52. The 421s are removed as the fleet is enlarged with another Chieftain and the first two Bandeirantes. Services are inaugurated to Las Vegas from Palm Springs and Bullhead City. Enplanements climb 66.7% to 50,000.
On May 13, 1990, the company merges with a wholly owned subsidiary of Delaware-based 900 Entertainment Network; the latter changes its name to Air L. A. and assumes Air L. A.’s business. The flight equipment is altered, yet again; all of the previous aircraft are replaced by two British Aerospace BAe Jetstream 31s. In December, the company is merged with Air Resorts Airlines, but is allowed to operate separately.
An Embraer EMB-110P1 is acquired in 1991 as scheduled regional services are inaugurated, beginning in May, to the Mexican cities of Tijuana, Ensenada, and San Felipe from Los Angeles, Ontario, and Burbank. Two more Bandeirantes are purchased in late 1992.
Airline employment at the beginning of 1993 stands at 50. In February, the carrier becomes a code-sharing partner of AeroMexico (2) (Aerovias de Mexico, S. A. de C. V.). Two Fairchild Metro Ills replace the EMB-110s on the Mexican routes. Traffic figures for the year are not released; it is learned that financial losses are suffered: $1.7 million (operating) and $1.6 million (net).
Chairman Hershey Moss and President Wayne Schoenfield place orders on January 24, 1994 for 10 Metro 23s at a cost of $3.8 million per unit. Service is started from Bakersfield, Ontario, and San Diego to the Mexican city of San Felipe. The first Metro 23 is received at the end of March and, by May 1, the carrier offers 84 weekly international flights from southern California to Tijuana, Mexicali, Ensenada, and San Felipe. It also operates 63 weekly flights from Los Angeles to Monterey and from Bakersfield to Ontario and San Diego.
The company “goes public” during May. The conversion is not overly successful and the carrier will lose money ever after.
After receiving the third Metro 23, Air L. A. becomes a marketing partner of Mexicana Airlines, S. A. de C. V. Under terms of the arrangement between the two airlines, the American regional, in July, begins connecting services to Phoenix in addition to the California and Mexican cities already served. Tucson joins the route network later in the summer.
In the fall, Chairman/CEO Schoenfeld signs a letter of intent to purchase Capitol Air, a subsidiary of Idaho-based Empire Airlines, which had been established at Minneapolis (MSP) in 1993.
Passenger boardings total 34,796 and revenues reach $900,542. Expenses increase and for a pretax loss of $4.1 million and a net loss of $3.9 million.
The fleet at the beginning of 1995 includes 6 Metroliners.
Just after New Year’s, the acquisition of Capitol Air is completed. The acquisition is a stock transaction with Chairman Schoenfeld paying Empire with 800,000 common shares of Air L. A. stock.
Employing a Metroliner transferred from California, scheduled services between Minneapolis and Chicago (MDW) begin on January 30.
Although route authority is received for services to Milwaukee, Madison, Fargo, Bismarck, Omaha, and Des Moines, these are not immediately started.
Although the enlarged airline soldiers on over two fronts, it loses $8.82 million this year.
At the beginning of 1996, Air L. A. is in debt by $3 million. In March, a letter of intent for sale is signed with Conquest Industries and Co., parent of Texas-based Conquest Airlines. The deal is canceled in early April, but concluded, for $6 million and debt assumption, on June 20.
World History
