Established at North Beach Airport on the East River at 42nd Street, New York City, in March of 1929, Airvia is equipped with a pair of Italian-made Savoia Marchetti S-55 flying boats. The type offers the company significant prelaunch publicity when, on July 8-9, two other aircraft are flown by Roger Q. Williams and Lewis A. Yancey from Old Orchard, Maine, to Santander, Spain, and then on to Rome.
Daily return revenue services commence on July 22, linking the carrier’s base to Boston. One-way fare (including lunch) for the daily frequency is $30. When Williams and Yancey return from Italy four days later, they are invited to serve as president and vice president, respectively. A week later, the two resign for pressing personal business reasons.
Former Commerce Department executive James A. Stader is hurriedly named president on August 8. He confirms a rumor of August 1 that Airvia will merge on September 25 with local floatplane operator
Coastal Airways (1), with integration of the new Airvia Coastal Transportation Company slated for conclusion on October 15. Plans are made to initiate services northward to Montreal and south to Florida, the Bahamas, Bermuda, and Cuba.
On September 17, Airvia dies. On that date, postal inspectors inform President Stader that they have arrested Austin H. Montgomery and Harry Taylor on charges of selling some $350,000 in unauthorized stock through the federal mail. During its entire period of operation, the company has only gained $8,000 above expenses on its New York-Boston service. Unable to recover or cover the Montgomery-Taylor swindle, Airvia declares bankruptcy before dark.
AIRVOLGA. See AERO VOLGA CONCERN
AIRWARD AVIATION SERVICES, LTD.: The Business Aviation Centre, Glasgow-Prestwick International Airport, Prestwick, Ayrshire, Scotland, KA9 2PL, United Kingdom; Phone 44 (0) 1292 511100; Fax 44 (0) 1292 61120; Http://www. glasgow. pwk. com/ airward; Year Founded 1992. AAS is established at Prestwick in 1992 to provide executive and small group passenger charters. Flights begin and continue with one each Beech King Air 100 and Cessna Citation I.
AIRWAYS INTERNATIONAL: United States (1980-1997).
Miami-based Airways International is established by Izad Djahanshahi, former advisor to the managing director of Air Taxi of Tehran, in 1980 to undertake passenger and freight charters within the U. S. and to Mexico, Canada, and the Caribbean. Operations commence with a single Con-vair CV-440 Metropolitan, a Cessna 402B, and several Piper lightplanes.
In 1985, Cessna 402Cs are employed to inaugurate scheduled daily roundtrips linking the company’s base with the Bahamian communities of North Eleuthera, Governors Harbour, Rock Sound, and Marsh Harbour. In the middle years of the decade, Chairman/President Izad N. Djahanshahi’s fleet is altered; gone is the Convair, replaced by five Cessna 402Cs.
Airline employment is increased by 33.3% in 1989 to 40 and the fleet now includes 2 Cessna 402Bs and 10 Cessna 402Cs. Orders are placed for 10 more Cessna 402Cs. Scheduled services are inaugurated in April between Miami and Marathon, the latter destination located in the Florida Keys.
Enplanements for the year total 13,999 and revenues reach $2.1 million. Expenses are $1 million, leaving an operating profit of $1.1 million. Net profit is $118,719.
In spring 1990, frequencies are increased to Marathon and service is started to Key West and three Bahamian markets. The number of 402Cs is increased by 15 and 1 more is added in 1991. The 35-employee regional transports a total of 49,428 passengers.
Expansion continues for the 35-employee carrier in 1992 as 7 additional Cessna 402Cs and 2 Shorts 330-200s are purchased. The latter are acquired in December from Cayman Islands and Metroflight.
Passenger boardings ascend 22.3% to 60,438.
In 1993, airline employment stands at 175. Destinations served by Chairman/President Djahanshahi’s company from Miami include Ft. Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, North Eleuthera, Governor’s Harbour, Rock Sound, Treasure Cay, Marsh Harbour, Georgetown, Androg Town, Key West, and Marathon. Passenger boardings skyrocket to 70,000.
Airline employment is decreased in 1994 to 140. Early in the spring, a Beech 99 joins the fleet. Enplanements total 73,753.
Operations continue apace in 1995.
The workforce still stands at 140 in 1996 and the fleet includes 15 Cessna 402Cs and 2 Shorts 330-200s. Traffic figures are reported through the first quarter and show customer bookings of 6,275. Sales of $9 million are generated.
The workforce is increased to 160 by the start of 1997. Unable to maintain economic viability, the company shuts down before Christmas.
AIRWAYS INTERNATIONAL CYMRU, LTD.: United Kingdom (1984-1988). AIC (“Cymru” is Welsh for Wales) is founded at Cardiff in early 1984. On March 22, equipped with a BAC 1-11-304, it inaugurates regional holiday charter tours and general passenger group flights to destinations in Europe. Points visited include Nice, Faro, Palma, Barcelona, Ibiza, Malaga, and Alicante.
On April 1, the BAC 1-11-432 Island Esprit, leased from British Island Airways, Ltd. (2) for eight months, enters service. A second BAC 1-11-304 is delivered in November, allowing return of the Island Esprit.
Over the next three-and-a-half years, the fleet is increased by the addition of two Boeing 737-200s. Operations cease in January 1988.
AIRWAYS OF INDIA, LTD.: India (1945-1953). Airways of India is founded at Calcutta in September 1945. Equipped with de Havilland DH 104 Dove 1s, it begins nonscheduled service to the demilitarizing wartime “Hump” airlift bases at Bagdogra and Gauhati in Assam during September 1946. Charters are also flown into Burma, the first postwar commercial flights into that country by a Western carrier.
Two Douglas C-47s (military transports converted to DC-3 civil standard) are acquired during the winter and in March 1947, a thrice-weekly Calcutta-Vishakhapatnam-Madras-Bangalore service is inaugurated. With a suspension of surface transport in the area, the Indian government contracts with the carrier to fly passengers and mail from Calcutta to North Bengal, Gauhati, Silchar, Dibrugarh, and Tezpur.
During 1948, all previous services are maintained and in February 1949, the company is granted new licenses to fly scheduled routes from Calcutta to Bagdogra and Mohanbari. During the year, two Sud Ouest S. O.-95 Corse transports are placed in service. They are withdrawn in October 1950. Low-cost “Airist” service is introduced between Delhi and Gauhati in December 1951.
As the result of parliamentary study and debate, the decision is taken to nationalize the Indian air transport industry. An Air Corporation Bill receives presidential assent on May 28, 1953, resulting in the August 1 creation of Indian Airlines Corporation, which takes over AI and other small carriers.
AIRWAYS OF NEW MEXICO: United States (1979-1985). Based at Almagordo, founder and President G. Wayne Nelson’s 5 Cessna 402s and 3 Beech 99s begin to operate scheduled passenger and cargo flights in 1979 linking the company’s base with Albuquerque, Las Cruces, El Paso, and Tucson.
By 1984, the fleet includes 6 Cessna 402s and enplanements in total 24,000. The FAA, in the first of several actions against commuter carriers deemed to be operating outside of FAR regulations, shuts the carrier down on April 11, 1985 for pilot proficiency and maintenance violations.
Hopes to resume operations in May are not realized as company officials fight an unsuccessful appeal through government administrative channels.
AIRWORK, LTD.: United Kingdom (1928-1960). Alan Munz establishes his FBO/air charter service, Airwork, Ltd., at London (Heston) aerodrome in 1928. After four years of general work, Munz, in 1931, explores the possibilities of starting an airline in Egypt; authority for sole operations within that country is granted on December 31.
The subsidiary carrier Misr-Airwork, Ltd.—Misr being the Arabic word for Egypt—is formed at Cairo on June 7, 1932. The Misr Bank provides 85% of the ?E20,000 start-up capital, with another 5% coming from private investors, while Airwork, Ltd. takes a 10% interest and assumes technical and operational responsibility.
Employing DeHavilland DH 84 Dragons, Misr-Airwork, Ltd. inaugurates domestic Egyptian service in early July 1933 over a route Cairo-Mesa Matruh. Meanwhile, the company also participates in the formation of Indian National Airways, Ltd. Twice-daily Cairo to Alexandria flights commence in August.
Misr-Airwork, Ltd. launches a route in 1934 from Cairo to Lydda, Haifa, and Palestine, via Port Said. Weekly Cairo-Lydda-Nicosia DH 86 mail flights commence on August 3, 1935.
New scheduled routes are opened in 1936-1937 from Alexandria to Asyut via Port Said and Minia; and from Cairo to Baghdad via Cyprus and Haifa. Charter flights are also arranged for Hadj pilgrims in the spring between El Medina and Jeddah. The fleet grows to include 2 each DH 82 Tiger Moths and DH 84 Dragons and 5 DH 89 Dragon Rapides.
In 1938-1939, flights are also started from Cairo to Larnaca via Lydda and Haifa. The fleet is altered to include the 5 Dragon Rapides, 1 Dragon, 2 Tiger Moths, 1 each DH 60 Moth, DH 85 Leopard Moth, and DH 87 Hornet Moth, and 2 miscellaneous de Havilland types.
Following the outbreak of World War II on September 3, 1939, the Egyptian government assumes majority control of the airline. Airwork, however, retains its management and support contract. During the war, the company’s aircraft are employed at home to train RAF personnel. They also serve as transports.
In 1943, service is launched to Palestine and Beirut and, in the fall of 1944, the fleet is bolstered by the addition of 3 Avro 19s. Three Mideast accidents late in 1945 bring a public outcry. Service in Egypt is suspended on February 6, 1946, but is restarted in May.
With the war over, Airwork now becomes an authorized Airspeed Consul dealer, acquiring its first AS.65 in April. A Percival 1 Proctor is added in June and a Bristol 170 Mk. 11 Freighter in August. In Cairo, site of an Allied war surplus depot, Misr-Airwork, Ltd. executives are able to purchase an entire new fleet. Included in this fleet are 2 North American AT-6 Texans, 4 Avro Ansons, 5 Beech C-45s, and 1 Beech AT-11. Only 4 Dragon Rapides remain from the 1945 aircraft complement.
Company official Sir Richard Barlow is sent to Ecuador at the end of November to discuss a business proposal with officials of the Shell Oil Company. While on a survey flight out of Quito on December 3, Sir Richard’s Grumman G-21A Goose crashes 14,000 feet up in the Llan-ganate Mountains (5 dead).
On January 15, 1947, the company signs a contract with Shell to operate and maintain that corporation’s Ecuadorian air fleet. During the year, additional Consuls are acquired, along with 2 de Havilland DH 89A Dragon Rapides and 6 Vickers Vikings, which are also added to the revitalized Airwork, Ltd. operation. Flying out of the U. K. on charter, Airwork, Ltd. undertakes military-sponsored flights to the Middle East and Far East. In Egypt, two more Beech C-45s are added to the Misr-Airwork, Ltd. enterprise.
In need of additional capitalization, the South African carrier Commercial Air Services (Pty.), Ltd. sells a half interest in itself to Air-work, Ltd. during the year. Airwork, which is winding down its involvement in Egypt, is ready for a new challenge. Miles D. M. Wyatt, the chairman of Airwork, becomes chairman of Commercial Air Services, but the three cofounders, A. S. Joubert, Leon Zimmerman, and J. M. S. Martin, are left to operate the company on the scene.
A number of different aircraft types join the fleet in 1948. These include 3 more Dragon Rapides, 1 Percival Proctor 4, 2 additional Vikings, and 1 Bristol 170 Mk. 21 leased from its manufacturer.
In May, a ? 1.2-million contract is received from the International Refugee Organization for the transport of displaced persons from Hamburg to Montreal.
Government charters continue and a subsidiary, Airwork (East Africa), Ltd., is formed to develop East African air transport with two Bristols. Two Vikings are dispatched to provide additional lift for Misr-Airwork, Ltd.
On November 10, the company’s Bristols begin limited participation in the Berlin Airlift from Hamburg, flying a total of 74 sorties before retiring on the following February 12. Meanwhile on November 30, a Viking flies urgently required currency to West Africa.
Another leased Bristol 170 Mk. 21 is acquired in January 1949. A de Havilland DH 104 Dove is purchased in February, and is followed by a Percival Proctor 3 in September and the carrier’s first ex-military Douglas C-47 (converted to civil DC-3 standard) in December. The last remaining interest in Misr-Airwork, Ltd. is relinquished during the year and the airline begins full concentration on troop charters from Britain under contract to the War Office. The government of Egypt now inaugurates its own airline, Misrair, Ltd., employing the equipment Airwork leaves behind.
On April 4, 1950, the 345th roundtrip flight is undertaken London-Wadi Halfa/ Khartoum. The company’s contract with Shell Oil Company also ends in April when that corporation departs Ecuador. In June, another Dakota and another Dove are added.
War Office contracts continue in 1951 and the fleet is increased by the purchase of a Percival Proctor 3. Among the contracts is a huge ?1.25-million arrangement for the transport of soldiers between the U. K. and the Mideast. During the year and into the next, the company facilitates the delivery of two DH 104 Doves to Commercial Air Services (Pty.), Ltd., one under lease.
The number of Airwork aircraft increases significantly in 1952. One more Viking, another ex-military C-47, and 6 Handley-Page HP-81 Hermes 4s, the last acquired from British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC), are acquired under lease and retain their names, Hamilcar, Hecuba, Hadrian, Heron, Hebe, and Hermione.
In the spring, the operator’s DH 104s begin oil industry support operations in the Middle East. On June 14, Airwork, Ltd., joins with Hunting Air Transport, Ltd. to inaugurate low-fare “Colonial Coach” service; the first Viking departs Blackbushe for Nairobi, flying the two-day operation with two overnight stops via Nice, Malta, El Adem, Wadi Halfa, Khartoum, Juba, and Entebbe.
During June, four of the HP-81s begin a trooping contract for the British government. For political reasons, the aircraft are operated as military aircraft, with RAF markings and the serials WZ838-WZ841.
The Handley Page HP.81 Hermes 4A WZ839 and originally known as the Hebe, with 6 crew and 64 passengers, must be written off after a hard landing at Pitviers, France, on July 23; there are no fatalities.
On August 25, the Hermes 4 WZ841 originally known as the Hadrian, with 6 crew and 51 passengers and chartered by the government to return its employees from vacations, crashes off Trapani, Sicily (7 dead).
In September, the company applies for a license to operate an allfreight service to North America.
Three more C-47s join the fleet in 1953. The Dove leased to Commercial Air Services (Pty.), Ltd. is returned in January as that South African carrier, after consultation, acquires a pair of Lockheed L-18 Lodestars from East African Airways Corporation.
Permission for an all-cargo route to Montreal and New York from London is authorized in February; however, the carrier has no aircraft with the range to undertake the operation. Under the marketing label “Safari Flights,” “Colonial Coach” service is extended to Salisbury, Rhodesia, on June 26.
One more C-47 joins the fleet early in 1954. A three-year Air Ministry troop contract for the Far East is awarded to the company; the largest such charter awarded to that time, it is valued at ?1.25-million per year. On June 14, “Safari Flights” begin service to Accra; mail is added to the London-Dakar and Bathurst sections of this route on June 21.
A disabled Vickers 627 Viking 1B, with 5 crew and 32 passengers, crashes while on approach to the airport at Blackbushe on August 15; although the aircraft is burned out and must be written off, there are no fatalities. A hostess is credited with averting a disaster.
Airwork, Ltd., launches London-Frankfurt am Main DC-3 cargo flights on January 12, 1955, the same day the carrier joins IATA. With two DC-4s leased from Transocean Airlines (TAL), weekly London-Montreal and New York multistop all-cargo service begins on March 1; the frequency becomes thrice weekly on May 20. London-Basle and Zurich DC-3 all-cargo operations start on May 28, with a stop at Dus-seldorf added on May 31. The New York City to London route is extended beyond London to East Africa on August 14.
Despite the addition of a DC-6A chartered from Slick Airways early in the fall, the unprofitable North Atlantic cargo service is suspended on December 18. Its failure is blamed on lack of government support. DC-3 all-cargo flights to the continent are discontinued on March 8, 1956. During the year, the company assists in the formation of the German carrier Deutsche Flugdienst.
In January 1957, the company purchases from British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) the HP-81 Hermes 4s Hecuba and Hermione while, in February, the Hermes 4A Hamilcar, which has been leased from the flag carrier, is also purchased. The HP-81 Horsa arrives in May. Concentrating exclusively on its Far Eastern and African routes, Airwork, Ltd., introduces the ex-BOAC HP-81 Hermes 4A Horsa, newly acquired, during July.
While landing at Dum Dum Airport, Calcutta, on September 1, the chartered Airwork HP.81 Hermes 4A Hamilcar, with 6 crew and 64 passengers, collides with an Indian Airlines Corporation DC-3, with
4 crew; all aboard the Indian aircraft are killed, along with 3 persons on the ground.
Two Vickers Viscount 736s are placed on the Nairobi weekly service on October 17.
Two Viscount 831s are placed on the Accra service on January 6, 1958, allowing discontinuance of the overnight stop at Las Palmas, and retirement of the Vikings. Late in the year, the independent British carrier Transair, Ltd. is taken over, but allowed to continue flying under its previous identity.
Air Charter, Ltd. and Olley Air Services, Ltd. are acquired on January 1, 1959 and both are allowed to continue flying under their prepurchase identities. On June 8, “Blue Nile” Viscount service is initiated from London (LGW)-Khartoum on behalf of Sudan Airways, Ltd. Troop work falters during the year and in the fall, the “Colonial Coach” flights are transferred to Transair, Ltd. Meanwhile, Airwork, Ltd. is reconfigured into a holding company and negotiations begin for the acquisition and merger of several independent airlines in addition to the three already obtained. The ex-BOAC Hermes 4s Hecuba and Horsa are sold to Falcon Airways, Ltd. in October.
On May 19, 1960, the following acquisitions are merged into British United Airways, Ltd.: Airwork, Ltd.; Hunting-Clan Air Transport, Ltd.; Air Charter, Ltd.; Olley Air Service, Ltd.; Morton Air Services, Ltd.; Transair, Ltd.; Airwork Helicopters, Ltd.; and Bristow Helicopters, Ltd.
AIRWORK NZ, LTD.: P. O. Box 516, Papakura, 1733, New Zealand; Phone 64 (9) 298-7202; Fax 64 (9) 298-7834; Http://www. airwork. co. nz; Code NZ; Year Founded 1936. Airwork NZ, Ltd. is established as a general aviation company at Wellington, on the North Island, in 1936. Aircraft charter and leasing, engineering, and maintenance services for fixed-wing, and later rotary-wing, aircraft are undertaken and maintained over the next 50 years.
Having been relocated to Papakura, near Auckland, by 1984, Airwork NZ is purchased by Hugh R. Jones. Scheduled and charter passenger and cargo services to domestic locations, along with a full line of maintenance activities, are operated over the next decade. By 1994, Managing Director Jones oversees 120 employees and a fixed-wing fleet that comprises 3 Fairchild Metro Ills, 2 Fokker F.27-500Cs, and 1 Piper T-1040. Destinations visited include Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Invercargill, Palmerston North, and Wellington.
The carrier in January 1995 takes possession of two Fairchild Metro 23s. Although the aircraft will be available as necessary for passenger service, they are intended primarily for inauguration of a recently won New Zealand Post Office night-airmail contract. One Metro III is retired.
A rotary-wing division is set up under Hugh Jones. It is outfitted with
5 Eurocopter BO-117s, 3 AS-355F1s, and 1 each AS-350B, Bell 206B JetRanger, and Bell 222.
Operations continue apace in 1996-2000. By the latter year, airline employment stands at 120 and the helicopter unit has been increased by the addition of two BO-117s. Destinations visited include Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Invercargill, Palmerston North, and Wellington.
AIRWORLD AVIATION, LTD.: United Kingdom (1993-1999). Air-world Aviation, Ltd. is established at London in September 1993 to provide international charter passenger service as the U. K. subsidiary of Grupo Viajes Iberia, S. A., the largest Spanish travel concern. Miguel
Fluxa is chairman with Shaun Dewey, a former Inter-European Airways, Ltd. executive, as managing director.
Bases are established at Cardiff and Manchester, and revenue flights are started in April 1994 with a pair of leased Airbus Industrie A320-231s to holiday destinations in Cyprus, Malta, Greece, Portugal, Spain, and Turkey.
The company adopts the unusual response to the winter slowdown in traffic; it simply goes dormant, returning its aircraft to ORIX, its Japanese Lessor, and laying off its operational staff, all but the senior managers of which are temporary workers. During the first full season, a total of 250,000 passengers are carried.
Operations continue apace in 1995 and flights are now undertaken for Sunworld, Ltd., as well as 33 smaller U. K. tour operators. Orders are placed for two A321s and flights begin from Bristol and London (LGW).
In 1996, the workforce stands at 250 and Sunworld, Ltd., part of the Thomas Cook Group and a major tour concern, purchases the company.
On November 13, one of the Airbuses, painted in a blue-and-white color scheme with yellow, red, and blue titles, is subleased to the new Spanish charter operator BCM Airlines, S. A.. The company’s two aircraft transport a total of 435,000 passengers through November and operate 28,000 FTKs.
The third A320-231 arrives in April 1997 under charter from ILFC. One of the earlier Airbuses remains out with BCM Airlines, S. A. Destinations visited include Cyprus, Greece, Malta, Portugal, Spain, and Turkey.
A fourth A320-231 is leased from ILFC in April 1998.
In June, Sunworld acquires the Flying Colours Leisure Group, and its carrier Flying Colours Airlines, Ltd., as its parent, Thomas Cook Group, consolidates as a major European tour operator. The combined Airworld/Flying Colours fleet creates the U. K.’s sixth largest airline, with a huge European charter network.
Traffic figures are reported through October and show enplanements of 1.72 million. Additionally, 4.3 million FTKs are also operated.
By November 1, the U. K. charter airline business is rapidly approaching consolidation. In late October, Thomas Cook Group, which has recently purchased and begun to merge both Sunworld and its house carrier Airworld, as well as Flying Colours Airlines, Ltd., acquires Carlson Leisure Group and its airlines Caledonian Airways, Ltd. (2) and Peach Air.
Through the move, Thomas Cook gains Caledonian’s slots at London (LGW) and Manchester and, with 32 aircraft, now owns the second largest fleet among the nation’s charter carriers. Plans are announced for an increase of service from London (STN), Bristol, Cardiff, Birmingham, and Glasgow. The fleet will also be rationalized, with only the TriStars seen as certain for retention.
As the year ends, Thomas Cook Group, which has assigned its own name to the enlarged travel group, is conducting marketing surveys to determine which airline brand name has the best public image and should be retained for the larger carrier. Early betting is that the names Caledonian (with its memory of delays and incidents) and Peach Air will disappear in addition to that of Airworld, with the romantic Flying Colours winning the label. A final decision is promised before the start of the 1999 summer holiday season.
Flying Colours is, indeed, the surviving name and its enlarged fleet of 34 aircraft begins the new summer holiday season at the end of March 1999. The amalgamation comes as the European Commission grants permission for Thomas Cook to merge with the Carlson Leisure Group’s U. K. travel interests.
AIRZENA GEORGIAN AIRLINES: 49-A Chavchavadze Ave., Tbilisi, 380062, Georgia; Phone 995 (8832) 987 328; Fax 995 (8832) 221 179; Http://www. airzena. com; Code NQ; Year Founded 1999.
This new carrier is established on October 31, 1999 when Air Georgia and Georgian Airlines are merged. To supplement the Russian-made equipment in the combined fleet, arrangements are made to lease a pair of Boeing 737s from Germany.
A code-sharing agreement is signed with Aeroflot Russian International Airlines (ARIA) on February 1, 2000 allowing for joint service over the Tbilisi-Moscow route as well as combined maintenance and service activities.
During the spring, the company places 2 B-737-5K5s, leased from Hapag-Lloyd Fluggesellschaft, mbH., into service. These are employed to maintain scheduled and charter services from Tbilisi to Tel Aviv, Moscow, Athens, Sochi, Frankfurt, Kiev, Samara, Tashkent, Tehran, Vienna, and St. Petersburg.
A third chartered B-737-5K5 arrives on June 30 and begins new twice-weekly return service to Amsterdam on July 11.
A European development bank announces safety rankings for the world’s carriers on September 11; Airzena Georgian is ranked last, with a 1 in 333 chance of a passenger being in an airliner accident.
AIS AIR COMPANY: 6/3/84 Miyusskaya Square, Moscow, 125267, Russia; Phone 7 (095) 250-6325; Fax 7 (095) 251-3696; Year Founded 1996. AIS is established at Moscow in 1996 to provided international and domestic passenger and cargo charters. M. I. Denko is general director and he begins and continues revenue flights with one Antonov An-12, a Tupolev Tu-154B, and three Tu-134s.
AJT AIR INTERNATIONAL (AKTSIONERNOE OBSHCH-ESTVO): Leningradski Prospekt 37, Building 7, Moscow, 125167, Russia; Phone 7 (095) 155-6432; Fax 7 (095) 155-6466; Code E9; Year Founded 1991. Founded at Moscow in late 1991 as a charter subsidiary of Vnukovskie Avialini, AJT is principally owned by Teimouzaz Kazchava. President Alexander A. Tsomaya’s company acquires 2 leased Ilyushin Il-86s. These are employed to inaugurate passenger flights to destinations in the Mideast and Europe at the end of 1992. AJT enjoys the distinction of being the first independent Russian aviation company to be founded after the breakup of Aeroflot Soviet Airlines.
ATupolev Tu-154S joins the fleet in 1993-1994. During 1995-1997, a network of regional, international, and domestic routes is established between the company’s base and such destinations as Antalya, Kinshasa, Bumba, Lisala, Istanbul, and Rimini.
To assist in revenue enhancement, strategic alliances and code-sharing arrangements are entered into with Aeroflot Russian International Airlines and THY (Turk Hava Yollari, A. O.).
It is reported at the beginning of 1998 that, cumulatively, the company has boarded 2.5 million passengers since its start. The workforce stands at 80 and services are provided with 3 chartered Ilyushin Il-86s and 1 Tupolev Tu-154S.
Enplanements for the year total 457,000. AJT is now the largest holiday charter operator in Russia.
Airline employment at the beginning of 1999 stands at 117.
Despite a very difficult market, the company reports the following January that it has been able to increase its volume and produce good revenue figure.
AKDENIZ AIRLINES (AKENDIZ HAVA YOLLARI, A. O.): Turkey (1989-1995). Akdeniz is set up at Istanbul in 1989 to offer passenger charters throughout the Mideast and Mediterranean. Revenue operations begin with a pair of Airbus Industrie A300B4-103s, which visit destination in the Middle East and southern and eastern Europe.
Six years later, in 1994, the fleet comprises 2 Boeing 727-200As. Unable to maintain economic viability, the carrier is shut down in 1995.
AKHAL AIR COMPANY: Turkmenistan (1993-1995). AAC is reformed at Ashgabat Airport, Turkmenistan, in 1993 from the former Aeroflot Soviet Airlines division Turkmenavia. Commander Alexi P. Boldyrev is placed in charge and his fleet comprises 10 Antonov An-24Vs, 9 Tupolev Tu-154B-2s, 4 each An-24RVs and Yakovlev Yak-42Ds, 3 Tu-154B-1s, and 2 Ilyushin Il-76TDs.
Operated for the government are 1 each Tu-154B-2, British Aerospace BAe 125-1000B, and Boeing 737-341 originally delivered to VARIG
Brazlian Airlines (Viacao Aerea Rio-Grandense, S. A.), as well as 1 B-757-23A acquired from Ansett Australia (Pty.), Ltd. Scheduled and charter passenger services are continued over previous routes.
Three An-24RVs are retired in 1994 and, in 1995, the company becomes a division of the new state carrier Turkmenistan Airlines.
World History
