TAM-MERIDIONAIS (TRANSPORTES AEREOS MERIDIONAIS, S. A.): Rue General Pantaleao Teles 210, Sao Paulo, SP, CEP 04355040, Brazil; Phone 55 (11) 582-8737; Fax 55 (11) 533-2469; Code JJ; Year Founded 1996. When the Brazilian government grants Brazil Central (Linha Aerea Regional, S. A.) the rights of a trunk carrier, the newly formed Brazilian airline holding company TAM Group, parent of TAM (Transportes Aereos Regionais, S. A.) renames its subsidiary during December 1996. TAM founder Rolim A. Amaro is chairman, with Armando
L. Filho as managing director. Scheduled Fokker 100 passenger revenue flights commence in December, linking Sao Paulo with four other destinations under the marketing name TAM Express.
Passenger boardings during the 12 months inch up 1.9% to 409,995, while cargo moves ahead by 7.7% to 1.6 million FTKs.
The company expands its route network in early 1997 by four additional domestic locations. TAM Group and American Airlines sign a major code-sharing agreement in May; the document covers dualdesignator services, which will begin later between 41 Brazilian cities and 25 communities in the U. S. and Canada, as well as the linkage of frequent flyer programs.
A previously announced order for five A330-223s for TAM-Meridonais is confirmed by its parent during October.
Plans to lease aircraft and begin daily roundtrip services from Sao Paulo to Miami in November are postponed for a year. In the meantime, American Airlines will operate the route as part of its dual-designator arrangement with TAM.
The Brasilian Department of Civil Aviation (DAC) indicates on December 30 that it will begin to institute domestic airfare deregulation in January.
Enplanements for the year reach 674,226, while 2.6 million FTKs are also operated. Revenues of 530 million reals are generated, with a net gain of 31.9 million reals ($38 million).
Flights continue apace in 1998. Beginning in February, TAM places its code on American Airlines services from Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro to Miami, New York (JFK), and Dallas (DFW). Plans are announced for the initiation of nonstop dual-designator TAM services to those U. S. gateways, beginning in November.
American Airlines places its “AA” code on TAM-Meridionais services on July 16 from Sao Paulo and Porto Alegre. The code-sharing service is expanded by the two companies on August 12 as the American major begins code-sharing on the carrier’s flights from Sao Paulo to Brasilia, Curitiba, and Rio de Janeiro.
TAM-Meridonais becomes the first airline in Latin America to take delivery of a long-range Next Generation Airbus when it receives its first two A330-223s in a November 23 twin delivery. After it has conducted workup flights, It enters service in early December over a direct return route from Sao Paulo to Miami. The flights are the first for the company outside of South America.
The third A330-323 arrives on December 22. On December 30, the Brazilian DAC scraps its last regulations over passenger airline fares, a year to the day after it had launched domestic deregulation. DAC does, however, indicate that it will remain vigilant to abuse, including dumping, cartels, monopolies, and predatory pricing. As domestic competition stiffens, additional alliances with foreign airlines are expected.
Passenger boardings skyrocket 274.6% to 2.52 million, while cargo traffic accelerates 136.4% to 6.21 million FTKs.
During January 1999, it is announced that discussions are underway with Air France aimed at the formulation of a strategic alliance.
On February 3, American Airlines places its code on the two daily return flights from Miami to Sao Paulo made by the A330-223 of TAM-Meridonais, the long haul subsidiary of TAM (Transportes Aereos Re-gionais, S. A.).
TAM-Meridonais successfully completes its strategic discussions with Air France on February 15, at which point a major marketing agreement is announced. Under its terms, the two international airlines will link their frequent flyer programs, coordinate scheduling and marketing, and code-share on routes between Brazil and France.
The dual-designator pact between TAM (Transportes Aereos Re-gionais, S. A.), its long-haul subsidiary Tam-Meridionais, and American Airlines is further expanded on May 6. AA begins to place its code on TAM flights from Sao Paulo to Florianpolis, Fortaleza, and Recife. TAM is allowed to place its “JJ” code on AA domestic services.
Dual-designator flights with Air France commence on June 10 between Sao Paulo and Paris (CDG) four times a week; the French line places its code on the services, which are operated by TAM-Meridonais’ A330-223s. TAM is able to place its designator aboard the French major’s existing B-777-228 roundtrips.
It is announced on April 27 that TAM-Meridionais is interested in taking over the long-haul international routes of VASP Brasilian Airlines (Viaceo Aerea Sao Paulo, S. A.) to Europe and North America. The pioneer will be forced to suspend them on May 15 when its last four MD-11s are returned to their lessors.
During June, special “Voo Presidencial” inscriptions are placed on the engine nacelles of an A330-223, along with yellow and green logos, to designate the VIP nature of the aircraft that transports Brazil’s president on a state visit to Paris.
The carrier’s fifth A330-223 enters service on November 13. On November 24, TAM is designated by the Brazilian authority International Air Navigation Studies Committee (CERNAI) to receive 43 of the 63 international route allocations it had requested, including some that will replace services previously operated by its fiscally challenged local rival. The first of these, which will be flown by the TAM parent itself, covers the Sao Paulo to Buenos Aires air bridge route. TAM will offer five-times-a-day roundtrips in that market beginning on March 1. At the same time, CEO Rolim Adolfo Amaro announces that TAM has received CER-NAI certification for the initiation of twice-daily roundtrips, also on March 1, over the former VASP routes from Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo to Montevideo. All of these routes will be operated with A320s.
In addition to these local and regional opportunities, TAM is also designated to replace the long-haul international flights previously operated by VASP Brasilian Airlines (Viaceo Aerea Sao Paulo, S. A.). A codesharing agreement is signed with Air France and, on November 29, it is revealed that TAM-Meridionais (Transportes Aereos Meridionais, S. A.) will bring its total of U. S. roundtrips to 28 on May 1 when it adds 14 weekly roundtrips from Brasilia to Miami (7 flown via Manus), in competition with VARIG Brazilian Airlines (Viacao Aerea Rio-Grandense, S. A.). It is hoped that these flights will attract new U. S. tourist traffic to the Amazon region.
The TAM long-haul subsidiary will also add seven weekly return flights on June 1 to both Frankfurt and Madrid and one to Paris (CDG). These flights will be operated by A330-223s in code-share with Deutsche Lufthansa, A. G., Iberia Spanish Airlines (2) (Lineas Aereas de Espansa, S. A.), and Air France, respectively.
TAMAIR (PTY.), LTD.: Australia (1992-1998). Tamair is established at Tamworth Airport, New South Wales, in 1992 as a division of New England Airways (Pty.), Ltd. Paul Bredereck is named managing director and scheduled passenger and cargo third-level flights are inaugurated to Sydney with 6 Cessna 310s and 3 Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftains.
The Chieftains are replaced in 1993-1994 by 3 Fairchild Metro Ills and these help enplanements to grow to 36,000 during the latter year. Orders remain outstanding for a fourth Metroliner.
Customer bookings accelerate 16.6% in 1995 to 42,000.
Airline employment stands at nine in 1996 as the Metro 23 enters service. In November, a Metro III is painted as a flying billboard to promote Tamworth’s January 19-28 country music festival. The color scheme has been designed by three local art students.
Enplanements in these 12 months drop 5% to 40,000.
Destinations visited in 1997 include Glen Innes, Inverell, Sale, Sydney, and Tamworth. Customer bookings increase 24% to 52,916.
Despite this positive traffic picture, Tamair ceases trading in July 1998. Its assets are sought by Impulse Airlines (Pty.), Ltd.
TAME (TRANSPORTES AEREOS MILITARES ECUATORIANOS): Ecuador (1962-1970). With presidential backing and under the leadership of Maj. Jose Maria Montesinos, a special air transport division is established within the Ecuadorian Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Ecuatoriana) on December 17, 1962. Its purpose is to supplement existing civil airlines and to make certain that, in light of a deteriorating financial and managerial situation within CEA (Compania Ecuatoriana de Aviacion, S. A.), better known as Ecuatoriana Airlines, S. A., domestic civil operations continue. With two military C-47s that have not been reconfigured, TAME begins flying the Guayaquil-Quito trunk route as well as services to smaller cities.
Monthly flights to Baltra in the Galapagos Islands begin in 1963 at which point the route network also includes stops at Tukan, Iberra, Quito, Latacunga, Ambato Riobamba, and Guayaquil. On January 9, 1964, a new management team is installed, which quickly negotiates TAME’s transformation from a military squadron into a civil airline. As the year continues, additional local destinations are added: Esmeraldas, Bahia, Manta, Pertoviejo, Cuenca, Machala, Macara, and Loja.
Additional Douglas transports are provided to handle the increased workload and in early 1967, a DC-6B is purchased to fly the Galapagos run, which monthly service it begins in April. In 1968, and in cooperation with Metropolitan Touring of Quito, the Galapagos frequency becomes daily.
The use of military airfields as airline bases is discontinued in the fall of 1969 when operations are transferred to Quito and Guayaquil.
On September 6, 2 DC-3s with a combined 50 customers aboard en route from Quito to Esmeraldas, are hijacked by upwards of a 12 antigovernment rebels. Both aircraft land for refueling at Tumaco, Colombia, where one DC-3 copilot is killed and another wounded. A number of hostages are released, but the remainder, together with the terrorists, band together on one Douglas, which proceeds to Havana.
On January 19, 1970, TAME is reorganized into a mixed-stock company and although remaining under Air Force administration, it is allowed to retain its acronym, the name is legally changed to Transportes Aereos Nacionales Ecuatorianos, S. A.
TAME (TRANSPORTES AEREOS NACIONALES ECUATORI-ANOS, S. A.): Avenue Amazonas 13-54, P. O. Box 8736, Sucursal Almagro, Quito, Ecuador; Phone 593 (2) 509 375; Fax 593 (2) 509 594; Http://www. tame. com. ec; Code EQ; Year Founded 1970. The military-sponsored TAME (Transportes Aereos Militares Ecuatori-anos) is reorganized at Quito into a mixed-stock company on January 19, 1970. Although remaining under Air Force administration, it is allowed to retain its acronym and is renamed. Later in the year, orders are placed for two Hawker Siddeley HS 748s with which to supplement the fleet, which still consists of Douglas DC-3s and a DC-6B.
A DC-3 crashes at Cerro de Hojas, Ecuador, on September 12, 1971; there is no information on casualties.
The HS 748s enter service over the domestic routes in September 1972, with the DC-6B employed as backup. All of the DC-3s are withdrawn to lesser routes and cargo flights. When CEA (Compania Ecuatoriana de Aviacion, S. A.), better known as Ecuatoriana Airlines, S. A., suspends operations on April 16, 1974; it is nationalized on July 31. Shareholding is assigned to TAME on behalf of the government and the military carrier’s CEO General Carlos Banderas becomes president.
Although the reconstituted airline is allowed to operate under its previous identity as the nation’s long-haul carrier, its fleet of four Lockheed L-188 Electras is passed to TAME for domestic flights. One is placed in service with the HS 748s on the domestic network on August 10 and another is assigned to the Galapagos run on October 25.
Destinations visited in 1975 include Tulcan, Manta, Portoviejo, Quito, Cuenca, Machala, Guayaquil, and Macara.
An HS 748-2A with 6 crew and 36 passengers crashes into a mountain near Loja on January 20, 1976 (34 dead).
A de Havilland DHC-6-300 Twin Otter joins the fleet and, by 1978 the company’s employee population has reached 250. A second Twin Otter is added in 1979, during which year the BAC 1-11-409 El Izalco is sold back to British Aerospace.
In 1980, a new Boeing 727-2T3Ais delivered; the carrier’s first jetliner is christened Cotopaxi and is placed on the Guayaquil-Quito trunk route.
The DHC-6-300 is lost in Ecuador on September 2; there is no other information on the accident.
AB-727-134 and a B-727-17 join the fleet in 1981, by which year the airline boasts stops at a 12 domestic destinations.
While flying in formation with a Beech Super King Air 200 on May 22, a DHC-6-300 with 3 crew and 15 passengers, joins it in crashing into a mountain near Zumba, Ecuador; there are no survivors from either aircraft.
Enplanements total 519,574.
Bookings grow to 668,763 in 1982 as airline employees total 400 and a B-737-2V2 is purchased.
While on final approach to Cuenca on a service begun at Quito on July 11, 1983, the B-737-2V2 with 8 crew and 110 passengers crashes into a hill 1.5 km. from the runway in rough terrain; there are no survivors.
During the 1980s, TAME becomes the nation’s primary domestic operator; President Gen. Maco Chavez Duque’s airline provides regularly scheduled services to 17 locations.
En route from Loja on November 20, 1984, a DHC-6-300 with 2 crew and 12 passengers crashes into a hill; there are no survivors.
A new Fokker F.28-4000 Fellowship is received in 1985. In an unusual exchange with VARIG Brazilian Airlines (Viacao Aerea
Rio-Grandense, S. A.) in 1986, TAME turns over a pair of Electras; VARIG, in turn, overhauls and repaints the two remaining in TAME service.
New destinations added during 1987-1988 include Lago Agrio, Tara-poa, Macas, and Coca. There are losses.
As the result of an electrical failure, an HS 748-2A with 38 passengers overruns the runway at Lago Agrio, Ecuador, on June 23, 1987, after a service from Quito; although the aircraft is damaged beyond repair, there are no fatalities.
Just after takeoff from Lago Agrio on a ferry flight to Quito with an inoperative No. 2 engine on July 1, 1988, an L-188A with six crew and a passenger loses No. 1 engine; with two engines out on the same wing, the plane veers left and crashes. There are no survivors.
In 1989, the fleet includes 2 British Aerospace BAe (HS) 748-2As, 1 B-727-17, 2 B-727-134s, 1 B-727-2T3A, 1 Fokker F.28-4000 Fellowship, and 1 Lockheed L-188C.
The left main landing gear of an L-188C with 7 crew and 92 passengers remains down after the aircraft takes off from Quito on September 4 on a service to Mariscal Sucre. An emergency landing is completed at Taura AFB and although the aircraft is damaged beyond repair, there are no fatalities.
Airline employment in 1990 stands at 650 as the Lockheed is withdrawn. In 1991, a B-727-230 is acquired under lease from Air France, followed by a B-727-230A in 1992. The company now begins to feed the French flag carrier’s flights in Caracas, by connecting to them from Quito via Bogota. Also during the year, a Frontier Integration Agreement allows flights to be operated from both Tulcan and Esmeraldas to Cali, Colombia, four times a week. Also during the year, TAME flies within the Frontier Integration Agreement, with four frequencies weekly to Cali, Colombia, from Tulcan and Esmeraldas.
In 1993, President Gen. Duque and Managing Director Armando Nuney remove the Twin Otters. Destinations visited from Quito now include Ambato, Bahia, Esmereldas, Galapagos Islands, Guayaquil, Loja, Macara, Machala, Manta, Oriente, Portoviejo Cuenca, Salinas, and Tulcan. Operations continue apace in 1994.
The fleet in 1995 includes 1 each B-727-12, B-727-134, B-727-230, B-727-2T3A, and Fokker F-28-4000 Fellowship, 2 B-727-230As, and 2 British Aerospace BAe (HS) 748-2As.
One more B-727-134 is acquired in 1996 and regular service is launched on April 30 to Santiago de Chile, Panama City, and Havana. A code-sharing agreement is entered into with EVA Air, Ltd. in 1997 covering connecting flights from Los Angeles to the Orient.
Flight 422, the B-727-230 leased from Air France, with 10 crew and 43 passengers, crashes into 3,100-m. high Cerro el Cable Mountain just after takeoff from Bogota for Quito on April 20, 1998; there are no survivors.
During the first quarter of 1999, a new homepage is opened on the Internet’s World Wide Web. Later in the year, Brig. Gen. William Birkett is president.
The government of Ecuador announces on July 21, 2000, that it will privatize its national carrier in 2001. The search for a strategic partner now begins, while a new Civil Aviation Act works its way through Congress. The fleet now includes 8 B-727s, 1 each Dash-17 and Dash-2T3A, 2 Dash-134s, and 4 Dash-230As, one of which has been hush-kitted.
World History
