Roochy is established in early 1993 to operate scheduled regional services. Flights to five cities commence, and continue, with 2 Cessna 402s and 1 Partenavia P-68. Traffic and financial data is not released, but the lack of success becomes evident in 1994, leading to the company’s shutdown at year’s end.
AIR MARSHALL ISLANDS: P. O. Box 1319, Majuro, 96960, Marshall Islands; Phone 625-3731; Fax 625-3730; Code CW; Year Founded 1989. Upon independence of the Marshall Islands in 1989, Airline of the Marshall Islands receives its present name and is designated as the national flag carrier for the government of Tuvalu. The new nation’s president, Amata Kabua, becomes chairman; Neville Hill is managing director. A $1.5-million annual subsidy is provided by the republic’s government, which is justified on the grounds that it will ensure the airline’s independence from Continental Air Micronesia.
The previously operated GAF-Nomads are replaced by a pair of Dornier 228s (a Dash-101 and a Dash-201); a Dornier 228-212 is acquired in 1990. These maintain a variety of routes, the most important of which runs from Majuro to Kwajalein, site of a USAF base.
A McDonnell Douglas DC-8-62CF is leased from Arrow Air in 1991, allowing scheduled twice weekly return services Majuro/Kwajalein-Honolulu. A British Aerospace BAe (HS) 748-B2 is acquired in 1992 and begins services from Majuro to Suva and Nadi.
In 1993, Managing Director Stephen Fulk’s company employs 147 workers and provides scheduled domestic services to 26 destinations. The Douglas jetliner increases the number of weekly frequencies to and from Hawaii to three in 1994. A $60-million order is placed for two SAAB 2000s, plus an option.
The first of the two new SAAB 2000s arrives in June 1995. When it enters service in July, it replaces the BAe and allows an increase in the frequency on the Fiji route from twice weekly to thrice weekly. The second Swedish-made turboprop is slated to enter service in December.
Mounting national debts force the Majuro government into fiscal crisis early in 1996. Consequently, state aid to many different enterprises is ended or severely cut, including that to AMI, now the country’s largest financial drain.
New Zealander Thomas Ryan becomes the new managing director, on an interim basis, and is faced with the task of cutting costs and restoring profitability. His first step is to ask President Kabua to return the DC-8 and end the unprofitable Hawaiian frequencies. The leader is in poor health and is not receptive to the idea.
On the other hand, the HS 748 is put up for sale and SAAB agrees to lease the second SAAB 2000, as yet undelivered, to the French commuter Regional Airlines, S. A. until August 1997. The HS 748 remains in service while a buyer is sought; the first SAAB 2000 is chartered to Air Vanuatu for one day each week.
In 1997-1998, the company continues to provide flights to 28 domestic locations, as well as Nadi and Tarawa, plus Honolulu, Los Angeles, and Tuvalu. The DC-8 and a SAAB 2000 are withdrawn while Managing Director Ryan departs in October of 1997.
Flights continue without change during the remainder of the decade.
World History
