Is organized at Palma de Majorca in 1957 by shipping magnate Naveira Aznar as an aerial division of his shipping concern, Compania de Naveira Aznar. Although the paperwork is completed, difficulties in obtaining an air operator’s certificate force the start-up of operations to be potponed until April 1967. At that point, the carrier, from a new base at Palma de Mallorca, inaugurates charter and inclusive-tour services with long-haul piston-engine aircraft to Spain and destinations in North Africa.
To assist in the expansion, the company leases a BAC 1-11-402 from its manufacturer on March 1, 1969. The long-haul enterprise proves a fiscal failure and the company is consequently shut down in early 1970. The BAC is returned to England.
Following lengthy negotiations with various financial institutions, TAE is able to obtain sufficient backing to resume operations on April 1, 1973. A technical assistance contract is entered into with UTA French Airlines, S. A., which provides two chartered Douglas DC-8-32s with which to begin holiday flights to Germany. The world energy crisis has an adverse economic impact, but does not put the company out of business.
Three Sud-Est SE-210 Caravelle XBs are chartered in 1974-1977 and enhance the number of charters flown into Northwest Europe. Although arrangements are completed for the lease of a DC-8-51 from Delta Air Lines, the transaction is not completed.
Santiago de Andrews Solana becomes chairman and Aznar’s new managing director in 1978 and he now oversees a fleet comprising 3 DC-8-30s and 3 Sud-Est SE-210 Caravelle XBs. Service is maintained during the remainder of the decade and into the next, but higher fuel bills and a loss of traffic due to world recession cause the carrier to cease trading at the beginning of 1982.
TRADE AIR: Vladimira Nazora 6, 10410 Velika Gorica, Zagreb, Croatia; Phone 385 (1) 6265-053; Fax 385 (1) 6265-054; Http://www. trade-air. com; Code TDR; Year Founded 1994. Trade Air is established at Zagreb by Capt. Michael Cvijin in 1994 to offer domestic and regional cargo services. Flights commence in May 1995 employing a single Let L-410UVP-E.
Flights continue during the remainder of the decade. During these years, two more Lets are acquired, along with a chartered Antonov An-72. A scheduled roundtrip cargo route is operated on behalf of DHL Worldwide Express five times a week between Zagreb and Bergamo.
By 2000, President Michael Cvijin oversees a workforce of 9. A Web site is opened on the Internet later in the year.
TRADE WINDS AIRWAYS. See TRADE WINGS & WESTERN AIRWAYS
TRADE WINDS & WESTERN AIRWAYS: United States (19591975). In 1959, Tradewinds Airways is established to offer irregular Beech 18 charter services from San Juan, Puerto Rico, to various other destinations on that island as well as in the U. S. Virgin Islands. Scheduled services are inaugurated over the previous charter routes in June 1964.
Four years later in 1968, another small charter operation, Western Air Services, is taken over and merged to form Trade Winds & Western Airways. The enlarged airline employs Beech 18s and Aero Commander 500Bs on its services.
Operations continue apace for the remainder of the decade and into the 1970s. Destinations visited include Mayaguez, St. Thomas, Ponce, Viequez, and St. Croix. Unable to withstand higher fuel costs after the 1973 OPEC embargo, the carrier ceases operations in 1975.
TRADEAIR, LTD. (1): United Kingdom (1957-1962). Eric S. Hanks and Laurence N. Monnickendam register Tradair, Ltd. as an airline company on November 22, 1957. Two Vickers Vikings are purchased in February 1958 and delivered to the company’s Southend base. Inclusive-tour flights are now undertaken on behalf of various travel agencies to such destinations as Barcelona, Basel, Munich, Perpignan, Lyons, Vencie, and Santander. The “Queens Flight” of three Vikings are purchased in July.
Two more Vikings are purchased in May 1959 and during the summer a significant number of new tour destinations are added, including Stockholm, Rotterdam, Copenhagen, Malmo, Goteborg, and Hamburg.
Two Vickers Viscount 707s are acquired from Aer Lingus Irish Airlines in February 1960, followed by three more Vikings in May. Although inclusive-tour work is resumed for the summer season, there is not enough to fully occupy the Viscounts, so one is leased to Kuwait Airways, Ltd. for a year. During the third quarter, three Vikings are sold.
Both Viscounts are back in service for the 1961 summer season and new inclusive-tour destinations of Maastricht, Rotterdam, and Treviso are added. By November, the carrier owes Esso Petroleum over ?87,000 and its Viscounts are grounded. Its backer, Barclays Bank, appoints a receiver to handle company business.
During the winter, an all-cargo route is opened Southend-Malmo. Inclusive-tour flights to southern Europe are also flown. During the spring of 1962, the carrier’s Vikings undertake a heavy inclusive-tour schedule and between July and October, a Viscount flies German internal services on behalf of British European Airways Corporation (BEA). Upon its return to the U. K. in November, the Vickers is sold to Starways, Ltd. Following negotiations, Tradair becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of Channel Airways, Ltd. on December 31.
TRADEAIR, LTD. (2): Zimbabwe (1980-1986). The Zimbabwe-based all-cargo airline Tradeair, Ltd. is established in 1980 as a sister to the British freight line Tradewinds, Ltd. Employing a B-707-320C leased from its U. K. associate, the new entrant inaugurates scheduled all-freight flights to London and to regional African destinations.
When Tradewinds, Ltd. fails in 1986, so to does Tradeair.
TRADEWINDS (TRADEWINDS [PTY.], LTD.): Singapore (19761992). Formed as a wholly owned travel and tour subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, Ltd. on February 17, 1975, Tradewinds (Pty.), Ltd.
Does not initially begin operations. Indeed, the carrier’s first charter flights—to Peking and Shanghai—are not undertaken until the summer of 1976. In October, Tradewinds begins service as both a regional scheduled carrier and a world charter operator.
Thereafter and throughout the 1980s, nonscheduled passenger flights, many inclusive tours, are undertaken to seasonal destinations in Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, China, and the Philippines. Ad hoc charters and oil-crew changes are also undertaken, again using aircraft leased from SIA.
Scheduled flights are undertaken with Malaysia Air Charter, Ltd. from Singapore’s Seletar Airport nonstop to Malacca and Tioman (both in Malaysia) employing MAC’s Dornier 228s. Manager Raymond Lim’s company also flies charters with jetliners leased from the parent.
In October 1983, the latter arrangement is put in the form of a marketing agreement, which also includes joint services on routes to Singapore from Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi. Daily Dornier 228 shuttle flights from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur and Malacca commence on May 25, 1984, while Shorts SC-7 Skyvan flights to the Malaysian resort island of Tioman on June 8. These and other services continue apace in 1985.
The joint service with Malaysia Air Charter, Ltd. ends with its 1986 cessation. A Shorts SC-7 Skyvan is employed to continue domestic flights within Singapore and long haul charter and wholesale tour services continue to be provided with the major’s jetliners. In 1988, the company is split into two divisions: Air Services and Tour and Travel. Operations are conducted from Seletar Airport until midyear. Revenues for the year total $30 million.
In February 1989, 163-employee Tradewinds (Pty.), Ltd. returns to the scheduled arena and officially becomes the nation’s second airline. It upgrades its marketing compact with Singapore Airlines, Ltd. and becomes a member of the Passages frequent flyer program.
Outfitted with a wet-leased McDonnell Douglas MD-87 from GPA Group painted with the company’s new logo and colors designed by Landor Associates, Chairman Syn Chung Wah’s new entrant begins regional all-nonsmoking flights to destinations in Brunei, Malaysia, and Thailand. The first service, performed on February 21, is flown from Singapore to Pattaya, Thailand.
A two-year operations contract with Air Tara provides eight flight deck staff and five technical staff to operate the jetliners. Enplanements by year’s end total 84,710.
Company employment is increased by 35.6% in 1990 to 274 and 1 Boeing 737-3Y0, also chartered from GPA Group, is delivered in August. A Dornier 228-200, wet-leased from the Malaysian carrier Pelangi Air, Ltd., takes over the route from Singapore to Tioman Island.
Passenger boardings rocket upward by 66.2% to 184,696.
Airline employment grows by 26.2% in 1991 to 217. In January, a second GPA B-737-3Y0 replaces the MD-87, which is returned. The airline is now made Singapore’s second scheduled carrier and service is initiated to Jakarta and Langkawi from Singapore’s Changi Airport; in May, six charters are undertaken to Xiamen in the People’s Republic of China. A B-737-3L9 is acquired from Maersk Air, A. S. in October.
Enplanements for the year increase 47.9% to 250,452 and freight skyrockets 378.2% to 1.62 million FTKs.
The workforce is increased by 31.9% in 1992 to 310. In an effort to change its image as strictly a holiday-resort airline to a scheduled carrier with a business-class emphasis, the company, in April, is renamed
SilkAir, Ltd.
TRADEWINDS AIRLINES. See TRADEWINDS INTERNA-TIONALAIRLINES
TRADEWINDS AIRWAYS, LTD.: United Kingdom (1968-1990). In November 1968, Transglobe Airways, Ltd. ceases operations, leaving a fleet of Canadair CL-44s lease-purchased from Seaboard World Airlines in limbo. Later in the month, Bobwood, Ltd. is formed to take over the aircraft lease.
This company’s name is changed to Tradewind Airways, Ltd. in January 1969 and three ex-Transglobe Airways CL-44s are transferred over. In April, a British group is put together to take over the company, subscribing ?50,000 capitalization. The major shareholders are Charles F. Hughesden (85%), now chairman, and Stewart Wrightson and Co., Ltd. C. J. Stevens, former chairman of BKS Air Transport, Ltd., is named managing director.
In June, the ATLB turns down the new entrant’s application for a charter license on the grounds that it is not a wholly owned U. K. company. In July, a Bell 206B JetRanger helicopter joins the fleet and later in the year, the Canadairs begin limited ad hoc freight charter flights from London (LGW) on behalf of Trans-Mediterranean Airways, S. A.L.
In January 1970, two Tradewinds Airways, Ltd. freighters are employed to transport military and medical supplies to Lagos, Nigeria. In April, a 40% interest in the company is taken by the Crown Agents for Overseas Governments and Administrations and the carrier simultaneously receives its charter license. Two more CL-44s are added in June and October, respectively.
A route network is developed primarily to Africa and North America in 1971-1976. During 1972, the carrier begins flying from London (LHR), often on all-cargo subcontracts for foreign airlines.
A Canadair CL-44D with five crew is destroyed as the result of a heavy landing at Lusaka, Zambia, on December 22, 1974; there are no fatalities.
A replacement aircraft is found and placed in service on February 1975. Weekly London-Maastricht-Hong Kong flights begin during the summer. Ad hoc Ministry of Defence charters begin in 1976.
In January 1977, the carrier becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of the multinational Lonrho Group. The first of three Boeing 707-320Cs is delivered and Managing Director N. F. Curtis now oversees 220 employees.
With a fleet that comes to include 3 B-707-320Cs in place of the Canadairs, the carrier in 1978-1979 maintains scheduled jet freight service from London to Lagos, Kano, and Port Harcourt, Khartoum, Mogadishu, Accra, Chicago, New York, and Toronto.
Following takeoff from Mombasa with a 50-ton cargo of cement on July 6, 1978, the crew of a CL-44D with four men aboard is unable to lock up the right main landing gear, which subsequently collapses when the plane lands at Nairobi.
During 1979, a total of 157.9 million FTKs are operated.
Pooled services are started with Sudan Airways, Ltd. and Uganda Airways Corporation in 1980. As the carrier further emphasizes bloodstock transport, a special penning system is delivered. A Zimbabwe-based sister company Tradeair, Ltd. is established and supplied with a leased B-707-320C. During the recessionary early 1980s, the carrier does not do well financially and releases no figures. Its scheduled services are gradually reduced until, by 1984, its only regularly posted route extends to Chicago via Toronto. The three Boeing freighters do, however, fly ad hoc charters to many other-world destinations, particularly in Africa, although one of the freighters is withdrawn in 1985.
As Britain’s last remaining scheduled all-freight carrier in 1986, the airline ceases trading in late January, citing overcapacity, undercutting by competing charter services, and stringent new noise abatement rules as cause of the demise. A bid by the Deutsche Lufthansa, A. G. subsidiary German Cargo Airlines, GmbH. to purchase the assets is abandoned in April. In May, the aircraft and remaining assets are taken over by Tal Air, Ltd., a business travel airline based at London (STN). At a cost of $2.5 million, a B-707-320C is hush-kitted in California to operate a twice-weekly scheduled cargo service to Chicago.
Little is heard of the carrier until March 1988. At this point, it leases a hush-kitted B-707-320C from ZAS Airlines of Egypt and begins joint services with it to Sudan, Somalia, Kenya, and North Yemen.
On September 28, 1990, Tradewinds ceases operations and shuts down once more, this time for good.
TRADEWINDS AVIATION, LTD.: Canada (1982-1990). Tradewinds is established at Richmond, British Colombia, in 1982 to offer charter and contract service flights to various destinations in the province as well as throughout western Canada. A fleet is assembled that includes 2 Britten-Norman BN-2 Islanders, 1 Piper PA-31-310 Navajo, 1 de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver, and assorted Cessna singleengine types. These are employed to inaugurate revenue services during the summer.
The scheduled subsidiary Skylink Airlines, Ltd. is formed in 1983 to offer commuter flights linking its base at Boundary Bay Airport at Delta with Victoria. Operations for both carriers continue quietly apace during the next six years.
On September 28, 1989, a Skylink aircraft is involved in a fatal accident. A government safety audit following the tragedy turns up improprieties and the Skylink operating certificate is revoked in October. Unable to withstand the costs of the crash and the onrush of recession, Tradewinds closes its doors in 1990.
TRADEWINDS INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES: 7304 West Market Street, Greensboro, North Carolina 27409, United States; Phone (910) 668-7500; Fax (910) 668-7517; Code WI; Year Founded 1991.
Greensboro, North Carolina-based Wrangler Aviation is renamed in November 1991. Employing 6 (4 leased) Canadair CL-44Ds and a chartered Lockheed L-1011-1F—the only one of its type in the world— Chairman/president Richard Swirnow’s 182-employee company maintains scheduled all-cargo services to Hartford and Miami and the Caribbean-destinations of Aguadilla and Santo Domingo. A total of 4.52 million FTKs are operated.
Two leased CL-44Ds are temporarily withdrawn in January 1992 and the following month the company files for Chapter XI bankruptcy. The move is made to allow multimillion-dollar refinancing.
During the remainder of the year, the company hauls 7.81 million FTKs, a remarkable 72.6% boost.
The fleet in 1993 includes 6 CL-44Ds and 1 L-1011-1F. A total of 532,900 FTKs are operated and the freight operator reports revenues of $32.8 million, up 7.9%.
In February 1994 certain air operations and five CL-44Ds are sold to Florida West Airlines. The $5-million transaction is completed in March. The Lockheed freighter continues its operations from Piedmont Triad International Airport; it is the largest aircraft operating from that facility and Tradewinds is the only airline to offer regularly scheduled daily international service from Greensboro.
In 1995-1996, operations continue apace with the L-1011-1F under the marketing name Tradewinds Airlines. A contract is won to haul pharmaceuticals between the U. S. and Puerto Rico. Late in 1997, the company approaches the DOT seeking licensure to operate passenger charters between Hartford, Greensboro, Miami, and San Juan. DOT grants authority on December 4.
Arrangements are made on December 13 to acquire an L-1011-1 TriStar 1 from Delta Air Lines.
It is announced on January 26, 1998, that Tradewinds will lease three or four former Gulf Air Company G. S.C. L-1011 passenger planes from Interlease Aviation Group. The first, currently being checked at Shannon, Ireland, will be delivered within the next few weeks.
On February 12, the ex-Delta L-1011-1 TriStar 1 is officially commissioned Charlotte Rose in ceremonies at Greensboro. The first passenger charter, initiated three days later, is offered from Boston to Montego Bay, Jamaica, on behalf of Sunburst Holidays.
The company continues to expand its passenger charter capacity during the spring and summer, adding the L-1011-200 TriStar 1s Allison Ann and Susan Sabina, the latter arriving on August 14. The Allison Ann, meanwhile, begins operating from New York (JFK) to Georgetown on July 19 on behalf of Guyana Airways, Ltd.
During the 12 months, 42,000 passengers are flown by the 182-employee airline. Although revenues of $38.44 million are generated, expenses are $41.51 million. There are losses: $3.06 million (operating) and $3.08 million (net).
A second L-1011-1 and an L-1011F enter service during the first quarter of 1999. A disagreement with the carrier’s aircraft lessor, Interlease Aviation, results in the four passenger planes being parked on April 5. The matter is resolved in time for the aircraft to resume service on May 2.
With the Boston to Montego Bay flights suspended, the carrier now introduces TriStar flights from Hartford to Aguadila, Puerto Rico.
Passenger boardings jump 16.4% on the year to 128,000 while cargo traffic rises 9% to 98,797,000 FTKs. Revenues increase to $13.8 million.
A total of 182 workers are employed at the beginning of 2000.
Two Airbus Industrie A300B4-203Fs, chartered from P-G Aircraft Holdings for five years, enter service early in the new year. During the spring, the carrier unsuccessfully attempts to gain permission from the government of Poland for the initiation of charter services into Poland. Company officials appeal to the Department of Transportation, which exerts heavy pressure.
On May 15, an A300B4-203F begins operating from Fort Wayne to Los Angeles on behalf of Kitty Hawk Aircargo.
On June 1, the DOT warns the Warsaw government, as well as executives at American Airlines and LOT (Polish Airlines, S. A), that it will unilaterally cancel the code-sharing pact between AA and LOT unless Tradewinds is granted access under the bilateral air agreement between the two countries.
Flights continue during the remainder of the year. In December, the fleet includes 7 A300B4-203Fs and 1 L-1011F.
Overall customer bookings during these 12 months fall 18% to 105,000.
TRADO (TRANS DOMINICAN AIRWAYS, C. porA.): Aeropuerto International Las Americanas, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic; Phone (809) 549-0591; Fax (809) 542-0169; Code TRD; Year Founded 1995. TRADO is established at Santo Domingo in 1995 to provide both passenger and cargo charters to Miami and various Caribbean destinations. Under the direction of Amin Canaan, revenue operations begin with 1 each Convair CV-440, Douglas DC-6BF, and DC-7CF.
TRAMP AIRWAYS: United States (1931-1932). Named in honor of the mass movement of homeless men across the country during the Depression, Tramp is formed at Tulsa, Oklahoma, in the summer of 1931 to offer scheduled, multistop passenger service to Little Rock, Arkansas.
Employing a Stinson Junior, the carrier begins flight activities on August 28. Without a mail contract, success for the little carrier is as elusive as it is for most hobos; operations cease in February 1932.
TRANS ADRIA: Yugoslavia (1978-1988). In order to assure continuance of the services provided by the failed Pan Adria, this wholly owned and government-controlled carrier is established at Zagreb in December 1978. In addition to charter and agricultural work, the carrier provides scheduled flights both within in the nation and internationally. Domestic stops include Belgrade, Titograd, Skopje, Dubrovnik, Split, and Pula; international destinations are Linz, Klagenfurt, and Vienna. The fleet comprises 3 Fairchild-Swearingen SA-226 Metro IIs, 2 Merlin IVs, 3 Aero Commander 500Bs, 1 Piper PA-31T Cheyenne, 4 Piper Pawnee Braves, and 11 PA-25 Pawnees.
Two more Metro IIs are added in 1986. Operations cease two years later.
World History
