SKYJET, S. A.: 75 Blvd. Louis Schmidt, Brussels, 1040, Belgium; Phone 32 (2) 735-6335; Fax 32 (2) 735-6335; Http://www. users. skynet. be/airline. skyjet; Code S9; Year Founded 1992. Skyjet is established by Pierre Vandenbroucke and Henri Fabry at Brussels in October 1992 to offer passenger charter and inclusive-tour flights to international destinations. The former becomes president with the latter taking the post of managing director. Revenue operations commence at the end of the month with a single leased Douglas DC-10-30.
Operations continue apace over the next five years. A DC-10-15 is leased in 1994, the same year in which the company establishes a South American subsidiary, Skyjet Brazil, S. A. Destinations visited now include Cancun, the Caribbean, Margarita Island off the coast of South America, South American destinations, and the U. S. Virgin Islands.
Airline employment stands at 54 in 1997 and plans are made to launch services to Miami, Orlando, and Malaga. The South American subsidiary is renamed World Brazilian Air, S. A. during the first quarter, while a chartered Airbus Industrie A300B4 enters service in June.
Flights continue in 1998. The A300B4 is returned to its lessor and the chartered fleet now includes 1 each DC-10-15 and DC-10-30. The later wide-body is often employed to operate as additional capacity for the larger European package tour agencies.
On June 12, another DC-10-30 is acquired, this one from Aeromex-ico (2) (Aerovias de Mexico, S. A. de C. V.). It enters service with the carrier as soon as it completes a “D” check at Mexico City. On July 19, the Brazilian Douglas is returned to the Belgian register.
On August 1, the company begins operating under the government-approved marketing name of Skyjet Europe. To provide capacity for the new three new routes initiated by Tunis Air, S. A. in late March, the DC-10-15 is leased to the North African carrier on August 9.
Service is maintained during the remainder of the year and in 1999. It is announced on November 9 that a new subsidiary, Skyjet France, S. A., will be established at Lille to operate DC-10-30CF freighter service beginning in March or April. This arrangement is delayed.
On July 28, 2000, the DC-10-15 is chartered to Greece-based Electra Aviation, S. A., while the lease of the DC-10-30, out with Ghana Airways, Ltd., is extended through February. On August 3, a DC-10-15F is chartered to DAS Air Cargo, Ltd, wearing full Skyjet colors and DAS titles, leaving Galaxy 1 each DC-10-30 and DC-10-15 to operate on its own business.
SKYJET AVIATION, INC.: Halifax International Airport, 549 Barnes Road, Enfield, Nova Scotia B2T 1K3, Canada; Phone (902) 835-6330; Fax (902) 835-1833; Year Founded 1994. Gary Hamblen establishes his small concern at Halifax in 1994 to provide executive and small group charters throughout Atlantic Canada. By 2000, he employs two pilots and operates his single Beech Super King Air daily.
SKYJET BRAZIL, S. A.: Brazil (1994-1997). Skyjet Brazil is established by Skyjet, S. A. at Rio de Janeiro in 1994 to offer worldwide passenger and inclusive-tour charters. Revenue flights commence and continue with a single Douglas DC-10-30 previously operated by Deutsche Lufthansa, A. G.
The fleet is increased in 1996 by the charter of a B-707-331C. Service continues without change. Early in 1997, the company is renamed World Brazilian Air, S. A. The leased DC-10-30 is repainted in a new blue and white livery.
World History
