Transway is established at Monrovia, Liberia, in 1990 to provide on-demand all-cargo flights to international destinations. Revenue flights begin with a single Boeing 707-323C.
In 1993, the company is transferred to a new base at Entebbe, Uganda. President Roger Sherman’s concern continues flights with the Boeing into 1998 before shutting down.
TRANSWEDE AIRWAYS, A. B.: Sweden (1986-1998). Transwede is conceived by Thomas Johnsson as Aerocenter Trafikflyg, A. B. at Stockholm’s Arlanda Airport on April 1, 1985 to operate both scheduled and nonscheduled flights. Leif Lundin is president and his initial fleet comprises Fokker F.27-600s, which undertake charter flights throughout Scandinavia.
Late in the year, the company’s name is changed to the current title and as three Aerospatiale SE-210 Caravelle XRs arrive, a new corporate identity is unveiled, including a distinctive blue, yellow, and white aircraft livery.
At the same time, a maintenance joint venture and marketing agreement is signed with Finnair, O/Y.
Charter, inclusive-tour, and other passenger and cargo flights are undertaken from Scandinavian destinations to points in Europe, the Mediterranean, and later, Florida. In 1986, two McDonnell Douglas MD-83s join the fleet.
For the first full year of operations, a total of 199,287 passengers are flown.
Icing causes an SE-210 Caravelle XR to fail its takeoff from Stockholm on a January 6, 1987 charter; the aircraft lands hard back on the runway, slides off and catches fire. Although the aircraft is damaged beyond repair, there are no fatalities.
Johnsson’s operation now takes partners as major client Star Tours/ Fritidsresor purchases 35.6% shareholding and Stockholm-Saltsjon, a Wallenburg company, acquires 52% majority ownership. During the summer and under the 90-min. rule, MD-83 charter service is started from Oslo and Stockholm to Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
A total of 750,000 passengers are transported during the 12 months.
Operations continue apace in 1988 to destinations in Europe, Florida, the West Indies, the Mediterranean, and the Maldives. During the year, a subsidiary, Sultan Air, A. S., is established and provided with the surviving two SE-210 Caravelle XRs.
In 1989, the fleet of Sweden’s largest private airline includes 2 Caravelle XRs, 1 B-737-205, 4 leased MD-83s, 1 of which is subleased to Finnair, O/Y). Orders are outstanding for 2 B-737-5Q8s and 20 MD-87s. Plans are made to inaugurate scheduled services in competition with SAS (Scandinavian Airlines System).
Enplanements total 858,318, but losses are suffered: $5.2 million (operating) and $548,000 (net).
Company employment is increased by 10.9% in 1990 to 459. In addition to the original aircraft, the fleet also includes 2 more B-737-205s, 1 B-737-217, which is leased to Sultan Air, A. S., 4 leased McDonnell Douglas MD-83s and 2 leased MD-87s. Orders are outstanding for a pair each of B-737-5Q8s and MD-83s. One Caravelle is retired and in May, travel industry official Lars Svenheim is appointed president.
Late in the year, a B-737-205 is sold to VASP Brazilian Airlines (Vi-acao Aerea Sao Paulo, S. A.). At the end of December, founder Johansson sells his remaining shares to NRT; ownership is now NRT 71%, Stockholm-Saltsjon 20%, and Sterling Airways, A. S. of Denmark 9%.
Passenger boardings slip 0.7% to 852,352 and revenues ascend 13.9% to $155.4 million. The operating loss increases to $19.8 million; however, a net $175,440 profit is generated.
A B-737-205 is leased to Time Air Sweden, A. B. in 1991 as a second leased MD-83 and two leased MD-87s are received. Early in the year, the carrier joins in a Transnordic Group alliance with Sterling Airways, A. S. and Norway Airlines, A. S. As a result of a change in the Maersk Air, A. S. service to London, scheduled deep discount MD-83 service is inaugurated in March from Stockholm to London (LGW). Sterling acquires an additional 24% interest in April, buying out Stockholm-Saltsjon and taking 4% from NRT; shareholding in Transwede is now NRT 67% and Sterling 33%.
The fleet in 1992 comprises the B-737-205 leased to Time Air Sweden, A. B., 6 MD-83s, 1 of which is leased to Norway Airlines, A. S., 2 MD-87s, another of which is also leased to Norway Airlines, and 1 Caravelle XR.
In 1993, Chairman Bo Johansson and President Christer Petren oversee a workforce of 425. Three more MD-83s are delivered in the spring, two of which are leased to Centennial Airlines, S. A. In May, the airline’s shareholding is acquired by the SARA Group of travel and hotel companies.
The company orders five Fokker 100s in July, taking options on two more. The Caravelle and B-737-205 are withdrawn when the chartered Fokker 100s arrive, beginning in October.
Enplanements for the year total 1,325,000.
Airline employment balloons 96.5% in 1994 to 835 and the leased fleet now includes 9 MD-83s, 1 MD-87, and 7 Fokker 100s. Two of the MD-83s remain chartered to the Spanish Centennial Airlines, S. A. and the MD-87 is out to the Greek Venus Airlines, S. A.
By the summer, the carrier is mounting 20-times-per-week service from Stockholm to London (LGW). In July, a code-sharing agreement is signed with American Airlines, covering new scheduled flights between London (LGW) and Stockholm (Arlanda Airport).
Passenger boardings increase 53.4% to 2,033,100.
The workforce is cut by 55.1% in 1995 to 375. The company enters into two block-seat marketing agreements with European neighbors. The first provides for dual-designators on domestic Swedish routes with Swissair, A. G. The other begins in August with Finnair O/Y and covers flights from Stockholm to London (LGW). The two Scandinavian airlines also agree to frequent flyer program linkage and joint maintenance services.
In December, the Transwede Engineering division based at Stockholm’s Arlanda Airport is sold to FFV AvioComp for $19 million; the arrangement includes a three-year maintenance contract for the airline’s planes. A B-757-236 painted in the nation’s yellow and blue colors is delivered in mid-month and is christened Anne Anke.
Enplanements this year fall 15.3% to 1,721,100.
Seventy-five more employees retire or are laid off in 1996 and a number of aircraft leases are ended, including those for two Fokker 100s and two MD-83s. These are replaced by charters for one B-757-236ER and another MD-87.
In June, a 50% stake is taken by Braathens SAFE, A. S. of Norway in order to acquire the Swedish line’s scheduled services. The company is restructured during the remainder of the year and the separate charter company Transwede Leisure, A. B. is established to undertake flights for various tour operators. It takes the Boeing and McDonnell Douglas jetliners, leaving what is left of Transwede, to operate Fokker 100s.
Customer bookings drop 12.2% to 1,511,200.
Flights continue in 1997. Destinations visited include Halmstad, Jonkoping, Lulea, Ostersund, Stockholm (Arlanda Airport), Sundsvall, and Umea. In May, a Fokker 100 is leased from Debis Airfinance for three years.
During the year, Transwede Leisure, A. B. is renamed Blue Scandinavia, A. B. In December, Braathens SAFE, A. S. purchases the company’s remaining stock and takes complete control. Plans are made to rename the carrier Braathens Sverige, A. B. and to make it a part of the alliance that has been forged between Braathens, KLM (Royal Dutch Airlines, N. V.), and Northwest Airlines.
Passenger boardings plunge 44.4% to 862,249.
In January 1998, KLM takes a 30% stake in new parent Braathens, S. A., which has also changed its identity. At this point, Transwede is renamed Braathens Sverige, A. B.
TRANSWEDE LEISURE, A. B.: Sweden (1996-1997). During the fall of 1996, Transwede Airways, A. B., following purchase of half its stock by Braathens SAFE, A. S., is restructured to allow creation of this international and domestic charter operation. Per Odegaard is CEO and he employs a workforce of 300. Revenue flights on behalf of various tour operators commence from Stockholm’s Arlanda Airport with a fleet of 3 McDonnell Douglas MD-83s, 1 MD-87, and 2 Boeing 757-200s. Early in 1997, the company is renamed Blue Scandinavia, A. B.
TRANSWEST AIR, LTD.: Box 100, Municipal Airport, Prince Albert, Saskatchewan S6V 5R4, Canada; Phone (306) 764-1404; Fax (306) 763-1313; Http://www. athabaskaairways. com; Code 9T; Year Founded 2000. Athabaska Airways, Ltd. General Manager Jim Glass announces on August 4, 2000, that following 40 years of competition, his carrier will takeover Air Sask Aviation, Ltd., the airline division of La Ronge Aviation Services, Ltd. on August 15. The new entity, renamed Transwest Air, Ltd. on September 9 in an employee contest won by Lisa Tremblay, is based at Prince Albert. From there, it operates 40 fixed-wing and 3 rotary-wing aircraft and employs over 300 people.
Twice-weekday roundtrips are inaugurated on October 30 from Brandon, Manitoba, to Edmonton, Alberta, via Regina and Saskatoon.
TRANSWESTAIRLINES (PTY.), LTD.: Australia (1967-1982). Originally known as TransWest Air Charters (Pty.), Ltd., this carrier is formed at Jandakot, Western Australia in 1967. Originally flying nonscheduled services only, the carrier in the 1970s becomes a scheduled operator.
Destinations regularly visited include Port Hedland, Marbie Bar, Mount Newman, Nullagine, Goldsworthy, Shap Gap, Derby, Fitzroy Crossing, Halls Creek, Margeret River, Leonora, Laverton, Kalgoorlie, and Perth.
The fleet grows to comprise 2 de Havilland Canada DHC-6-200 Twin Otters, 1 Cessna 404, 2 Britten-Norman BN-2 Islanders, 2 Cessna 421s, 8 Cessna 310s, 2 Beech Super King Air 200s, 1 Beech B-55 Baron, 1 Cessna 206, and 1 Cessna 210.
In January 1982, the carrier is taken over by Skywest Airlines (Pty.), Ltd.
TRANSWESTERN AIRLINES: United States (1978-1984). Originally formed as a private partnership in mid-1978, Logan, Utah-based Transwestern is equipped with a fleet of 9 Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftains and 1 PA-31-310 Navajo. The new commuter carrier undertakes scheduled services linking its base with Salt Lake City, Moab, and Grand Junction.
Enplanements total 8,460 by December 31.
The workforce is increased by 44.4% in 1979 to 52. Passenger boardings skyrocket 384.9% to 22,000 and 45,000 pounds of cargo are carried.
In 1980, the fleet includes 2 Beech 99s, 8 Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftains, the original Piper PA-31-310 Navajo, and 1 PA-34 Seneca.
Customer bookings, because of recession, fall by 21.8% to 16,761. On the other hand, freight traffic increases an unbelievable 474% to 255,872 pounds.
Airline employment increases 150% in 1981 to 80. The carrier is reorganized into a public corporation, with George Bagley named president. He is assisted by Executive Vice President Edward H. Allen and Vice President-Operations Stanley Johnson. The fleet is altered to include 4 Beech 99s and 3 Navajo Chieftains while the route network is enhanced and now features stops at Logan and Salt Lake City, Utah, Grand Junction, Colorado, Reno, Nevada, and Boise and Sun Valley, Idaho.
Enplanements climb 36.1% to 22,914, but cargo falls 9.7% to 245,000 pounds. Revenues total $1,493,273 and expenses are $1,533,170. Although an operating loss of $39,897 is suffered, a net gain of $67,970 is achieved.
Airline employment in 1982 stands at 168 and a fifth Beech 99 joins the fleet. Management is also changed, as President Bagley is succeeded by M. Christianson.
Passenger boardings increase 169.7% to 61,981, but freight plunges again, falling 79.6% to 50,000 pounds.
Two more Metro IIs are delivered in 1983 and Seattle-based Horizon Airlines purchases the third-level operator in October.
For its 10 months of independent operation on the year, Transwestern boards 75,519 customers, a 52.5% boost. Horizon integrates its purchase completely by January 1984.
TRANZIT AVIA TRANSPORT ENTERPRISE (TRANZIT AVIA TRANSPORTNOE PREDPRIATIE): Russia (1994-1991). TATE is established at Moscow in 1994 to offer regional passenger and cargo charters. V. I. Drutikov is appointed director general and he begins revenue services with 2 Antonov An-24s and 1 An-12. Flights continue in 1995-1999. During these years, the previous fleet is replaced with a pair of An-32s.
The impacy of the Russian currency crisis makes it impossible for the carrier to remain in business.
TRAPAS AIRLINES. See SOCIETE FRANCAISE DE TRANS-PORTES AERIENS DU PACIFIC SUD (TRAPAS)
TRAVELAIR SERVICE. See VIKING AIRWAYS
TRAVEL SERVICE AIRLINES, A. S.: Canaria Travel, Jungman-nova 6, Prague, 110 00, Czech Republic; Phone (02) 24 97 70 00; Fax (02) 24 94 80 25 Code TVS; Year Founded 1996. Formed in the spring of 1996 as an affiliate of CSA Czech Airlines, TVS will be reformed into the house airline of the Canaria Travel Group. Ownership will be divided between the flag carrier (35%), Canaria, and private interests. TVS will have the distinction of being the first airline in the Czech Republic to operate a Next Generation Boeing.
In early May 2000, a Next Generation B-737-86N is accepted from GECAS and is placed into service operating charters to points in Europe, the Mideast, the Far East, and Africa. Another aircraft, a Dash-4Q8, is expected from ILFC. During the summer, the carrier begins employing the large international terminal at Ruzyne Airport, which is located 17 km. W of Prague.
In September, the B-737-4Q8 is tasked to provide capacity for weekly roundtrip charters between Frankfurt and Monrovia on behalf of the new Liberian concern Simon Air. Later in the fall, two B-737-4Y0s are chartered from GECAS, with one subchartered to Jordan Aviation, Ltd. on October 30.
As the year ends, delivery of a second Next Generation B-737-86N is anticipated in June
TRAVELAIR: United States (1990). Travelair is founded at Newark in late spring 1990 by Dominick Borzoman, former president of Holiday Airlines. Operations are inaugurated to Hartford, Nantucket, and Martha’s Vineyard on July 12 with 2 Shorts 330s. In August, Iraq invades Kuwait, driving up fuel prices which, when combined with the deepening recession, conspire to drive this new commuter out of business in early November.
TRAVELAIR, S. A.: Apartado 381, Pavas Airport, San Jose, Costa Rica; Phone (506) 232-7883; Fax (506) 220-0413; Http://www. cen-tralamerica. com/cr/trav/travlair. htm; Code U3; Year Founded 1991. Travelair is established at San Juan’s Pavas Airport in 1991 to provide scheduled daily flights to many of the nation’s far-flung destinations. Employing a pair of Pilatus-Britten-Norman PBN-2A Trislanders and a PBN-2 Islander, the company undertakes roundtrips linking its base with Barra del Colorado, Carrillo, Golfito, Liberia, Nosara, Palma Sur, Puerto Jimonez, Punta Islita, Quepos, Tamarindo, Tambor, and Tor-tuguero.
Operations continue apace in 1992-2000. The company’s schedule is regularly updated at its World Wide Web homepage on the Internet.
TRAVERSE CARGO AIRLINES, LTD.: Tekhnopark Business Center, All-Russia Exhibition Center, Moscow, 129223, Russia; Phone 974 62 69; Fax 234 50 37l; Http://www. traverse-cargo. ru; Year Founded 1993. The freight forwarding concern Traverse Cargo is established at Moscow in 1993 as a limited liability company to provide services in the Russian and CIS markets. Over the next six years, the company specializes in making arrangements for the transport of passengers and cargo. Freight cargos include industrial equipment, consumer goods, medicines, computer hardware, telecommunications, oil, gas, and military equipment, and hazardous materials.
In 1999, the decision is taken to join with the closed joint stock company Sukhoi Civil Aviation Company that has been authorized by the Sukhoi design bureau (best known for its ground attack aircraft), in the creation of a freight airline. Under the leadership of Director General Nikolai Sergeevich, the new concern launches Ilyushin Il-76T charter flights to China, the United Arab Emirates, and various CIS and European locations. Antonov An-12s and An-32s are also employed.
After what it terms “a short break associated with solving our organizational problems,” Traverse returns to the skies in August 2000 with a fleet of 5 Il-76Ts.
TRB AIRLINES: United States (1969-1972). TRB is set up at Centerline, Michigan, in 1969 to operate domestic all-cargo services. Revenue flights commence with a pair of Curtiss C-46 Commandos and continue until the company goes bankrupt in the summer of 1972.
World History
