Established at Ypsilanti in 1972 as the flight training center International Airlines Academy, the company elects to add an air cargo division in early 1975. Employing a fleet of 7 Curtiss C-46 Commandos, IAA inaugurates freight flights from Detroit’s Willow Run Airport in August, largely in support of the automobile industry.
In 1977, the company is reformed and renamed, adopting an airline marketing title. During the next 12 years, scheduled all-cargo only services retain their auto emphasis; however, destinations visited are extended throughout the nation. The Commandos are withdrawn and replaced by three Convair CV-440Fs and four Douglas DC-6As. Operations continue apace with little notice for over a decade.
By 1989, the fleet also features four leased Douglas DC-8-54Fs and a DC-8-63. During the spring, the decision is made to enter the passenger charter and inclusive-tour business; revenue flights to TCA’s cargo markets commence in July.
By December 31, a total of 39,660 passengers are flown. In the freight department, cargo reaches 67.1 million FTKs. Revenues are $32.39 million, expenses are $33.38 million, and the operating loss is $988,574. Net loss is $1.56 million.
Two chartered DC-8-55Fs and a DC-8-61 arrive in 1990. Passenger charters are suspended on October 8.
Still, customer bookings for the 10 months skyrocket to 107,000 and full-year freight traffic surges to 183.59 million FTKs. Revenues slip 0.6% to $32.19 million, expenses jump 15% to $38.37 million, and an operating loss of $4.71 million is suffered. The net loss deepens to $5.19 million.
As a result of the recession, President R. Deane Melvin’s fleet is cutback in 1991 to three DC-8-54Fs, including two leased from Zantop International Airlines.
Partially in consequence, cargo declines by 23.7% to 33.73 million FTKs. Revenues plunge 64.3% to $11.51 million and expenses drop 60.4% to $14.64 million. The resulting operating loss is $3.12 million. The net loss is cut to $225,604. Unable to continue in a tough recessionary year, the carrier ceases operations in January 1992.
After affiliating with Connie Kalitta’s Detroit-based American International Airways (3), Transcontinental, under the direction of Tom Gor-lesky, is able to relaunch operations in 1994 with a single DC-8-54F. Plans are made to acquire one each DC-8-51F, DC-8-55F, and DC-8-62F.
A total of 8.74 million FTKs are operated on the year and operating revenues of $4.61 million are earned. Expenses are only $2.31 million, allowing a $2.3-million operating profit. An equal $2.3-million net profit is also reported.
The workforce stands at 80 in 1995 as the 3 additional Douglas freighters enter service.
Cargo traffic rises dramatically as 50.75 million FTKs are operated. Costs exceed revenues and there are small losses: $88,000 (operating) and $68,000 (net).
There is no change in the employee population during 1996. The company enjoys an outstanding year as traffic soars 116.8% to 110 million FTKs. Operating income skyrockets 322.9% to $19.67 million while expenses jump 267.5% to $17.42 million. The previous year’s losses become sizeable gain as an operating profit of $2.25 million and a net profit of $1.9 million are reported.
The owned fleet in 1997 includes 2 DC-8-62Fs, 1 DC-8-61F, and 1 DC-8-55F. A DC-8-51F and DC-8-54F are also operated under charter from American International Airways (3). The contract will pass to Kitty Hawk Air Cargo when AIA and the rest of the Kalitta empire is purchased by the Texas-based carrier.
Freight ascends 2.3% to 112.3 million FTKs, but operating revenues, reported through June, decline 2.6% to $8.67 million. Expenses jump 23.6% to $9.53 million and leave an operating loss of $861,000. The previous year’s net gain is turned into a $1.27-million net loss.
During the 12 months of 1998, cargo traffic falls 25.4% to 83.86 million FTKs. Revenues total $9.97 million, while expenses are $10.58 million. The operating loss is $562,000, while a net loss of $1.13 million is also suffered.
Services are maintained during 1999, but cargo traffic plunges 63.8% to 35,583,000 FTKs.
A total of 80 workers are employed at the beginning of 2000. During the first week of January, the company is renamed Express. Net Airlines.
TRANS DOMINICAN AIRWAYS, S. A. (TRADO): Dominican Republic (1984-1994). TRADO is established at Santo Domingo in 1984 to operate regional all cargo charters employing a single Lockheed L-749A Constellation.
The Connie is removed in 1985 and replaced with two Douglas DC-6s that maintain its freight runs throughout the Caribbean and to Miami and Mexico City. A DC-7CF is acquired in 1986, along with a Convair CV-440. Unlike the Douglas transports that remain painted in an allmetallic finish with few titles, the Convair is painted in full TRADO colors and is employed for both passenger and mixed-cargo services.
Flights cease in 1994.
TRANS EAST AIRLINES: United States (1964-1971). Established as Statewide Airlines at Manchester, New Hampshire, in the fall of 1964, this commuter is soon purchased by Walter S. Blandford, who changes its name. Employing a pair of de Havilland DH 104 Doves, daily roundtrips revenue frequencies are inaugurated on November 5, linking the company’s base with New York (LGA) via Hartford and New Bedford.
Operations continue apace in 1965-1967 and the route network is expanded with flights to Lebanon, Albany, and Portland. The contract airmail operator Buker Airlines is purchased and merged on August 29, 1968. Services are maintained in 1969-1971 and the fleet is upgraded by the addition of a de Havilland Canada DHC-6-100 Twin Otter.
TRANS EAST INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES: United States (1982-1984). Not to be confused with the nonunion carrier established by Texas Air Corporation, New York Air (2) is reformed at Farmingdale in October 1982 and renamed. Employing a Cessna 402, an Embraer EMB-110P1 Bandeirante, a de Havilland Canada DHC-6-200 Twin Otter, and a Cessna 404 Titan, the carrier continues to maintain daily roundtrip scheduled passenger services to New York (LGA) and from that airfield to Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard.
Operations continue apace in 1983 and 1984; late in the latter year, the company is renamed Island Air (5).
TRANS EUROPA (COMPANIA DE AVIACION, S. A.): Spain (1965-1982). Trans Europa, S. A. is established at Palma de Mallorca in July 1965 to offer international and domestic passenger and cargo charter services. Equipped with a single, Douglas DC-7B, ad hoc flights commence in September, bringing in tourists from Spain and other Northwest Europe destinations.
In 1969, the company acquires two Sud-Est SE-210 Caravelle 10Rs and expands its network of holiday vacation points to southern Europe and North Africa, including Morocco and Tunisia. Two more Caravelle 10Rs are acquired from LTU International Airlines (Lufttransport Unternelhmman, GmbH.) in 1976, while two Caravelle 11R combis are brought in to operate not only passenger charters, but to fly cargo, on behalf of Iberia Spanish Airlines (2) (Lineas Aereas de Espana, S. A.).
By 1978, President Benito Tamayo and Managing Director Tomas Perez Ruiz oversee a workforce of 185 and a fleet comprising 4 Car-avelle 10Rs and 1 Caravelle 11R. Runaway expenses caused by higher fuel bills and a lack of traffic generated by world recession force the carrier to cease operations before the beginning of the summer season at the end of March 1982. Most of the company’s inventory and many of the staff are taken on by Aviacion y Comercio, S. A. (AVIACO).
World History
