FleetWatch

Airline Start-Ups: Southern Star Airlines launches services

Fleetwatch Administrator — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 10:52:34 GMT

The newly independent state of Southern Sudan, which was created on 9 July 2011 following an overwhelming referendum result in favour of secession from Sudan, has established its national flag carrier, Southern Star Airlines, based at Juba International Airport. Domestic services were launched on 20 August 2011, using a Bombardier DHC-8-102 (reg 5Y-BZI, serial 105) wet-leased from Aircraft Leasing Services (ALS) of Kenya. Services link Juba with Aweil, Malakal, Rumbek and Wau. The airline plans to introduce international services from early 2012, using an Embraer ERJ-145, also wet-leased from ALS. Limited contact details are so far available:

Southern Star Airlines
Tel: +0922 477 246 / 247
Web: http://flysouthernstar.com

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Airline Start-Ups: California Pacific Air to begin operations in early 2012

Fleetwatch Administrator — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 14:54:29 GMT

The airline’s application for Part 121 certification has been accepted by the FAA and the company anticipates completing the regulatory process by April 2012. It will start by acquiring two nearly new and three new Embraer 170 aircraft. The airline will operate services from Carlsbad, San Diego to five destinations in Western USA. The contact details are:
California Pacific Airlines
2198-E Palomar Airport Rd
Carlsbad, CA 92011
Email: media@flycpair.com
Web: www.flycpair.com

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Airline Start-Ups: SIA Group to launch Long Haul LCC

Fleetwatch Administrator — Fri, 27 May 2011 15:10:09 GMT

In the face of increasing competition and declining traffic and market share for its full-service carriers, Singapore Airlines and Silk Air, the SIA Group sees its new long-haul, low cost carrier, announced on 25 May 2011, as its best opportunity for growth. Plans call for the, as yet unnamed, airline to be operational within 12 months. The start-up will operate separately of Singapore Airlines and be independently managed, but there are good prospects for synergies between the two carriers. The SIA Group studied the success of AirAsiaX very closely, and seems likely to follow the Malaysian long haul LCC by offering two classes of seating, thereby enabling interlining with Singapore Airlines. The new carrier could also be used to develop new routes for Singapore Airlines or substitute for its sister company on routes less well suited to the SIA's full-service product offering. Airbus COO John Leahy was reported to be upbeat about the SIA Group announcement and the prospects it brings of an order for new Airbus A330s, although some of Singapore Airlines standard model Boeing 777s are also likely to be tansferred.

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nouncement, and the propects that the new LCC will select the A330 for its new fleet.

Airline Start-ups: Air Canada Express to launch services, will replace Jazz Air brand

Fleetwatch Administrator — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 11:26:41 GMT

Services under the Canadian flag-carrier's new "Air Canada Express" brand are set for launch on Sunday, 1 May 2011. Recently created Sky Regional Airlines will operate a fleet of five Bombardier DHC-8 402Q "Q400"s, under a capacity purchase agreement with Air Canada, initially on a single route linking Toronto's city centre Billy Bishop Airport and Montreal Trudeau International. The fleet is as follows: reg C-FSRJ / msn 4165, C-FSRN / 4170, C-FSRW / 4172, C-FSRY / 4174, and C-FSRZ / 4176.

This is just the start for Air Canada Express, as it was announced this week that the brand will replace the current Jazz Air brand, under which almost all of Air Canada's regional services are currently flown, with a fleet of around 120 aircraft, operated by Chorus Aviation (the former Jazz Air Income Fund). The current agreement with Chorus means that the company will continue to provide the great majority of Air Canada's regional services until at least 2020, as it has done for the last decade. However, Air Canada's preference to go with Sky Regional, taken together with Jazz Air's recently introduced holiday flights for Thomas Cook Canada, in direct competition with Air Canada Vacations, would seem to indicate that an extension of current arrangements between the two companies beyond 2020 can no longer be taken for granted. Contact details for Sky Regional are:

Sky Regional Airlines Inc
9785 Avenue Ryan
Dorval
Montreal
H9P 1A2
Quebec
Canada

Tel: +1 888 759 2479

email: info@skyregional.com
web: http://www.skyregional.com

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Airline Start-ups: Fly Guam launches services

Fleetwatch Administrator — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 14:06:49 GMT

Founded as a joint venture between locally-based carrier Freedom Air and the Hong Kong-based investment firm, World Aviation Incorporated, the new carrier received its first aircraft, a Boeing 737-400 (reg N238AG, serial 23866) on 28 February 2011. The aircraft, which is configured for 12 first class and 132 economy seats, is wet-leased from Sky King. Atwater, California-based charter specialist Sky King is currently operating under bankruptcy protection, with plans to emerge in May 2011. Sky King's fleet includes seven Boeing 737-200s, all but two of which are leased and five leased 737-400s.The inaugural service from Guam to Hong Kong, via Saipan, took off on 4 March 2011. Air Guam is also planning to serve Guangzhou, Manila, Palau, Seoul, Shanghai and Taipei, following the arrival of a second Sky King 737. Freedom Air is expected to continue its existing passenger schedules from Guam to Tinian, Rota and Saipan, together with passenger and cargo charters in and around the Marianas, flown with a fleet of two Shorts 360s, one Shorts 330 and a several light aircraft. Contact details for the start-up are:

Fly Guam
Guam International Airport
Admiral Sherman Boulevard
Building 17-80
Tiyan
Guam

Tel: +1 671 588 2359
Fax: +1 671 477 0203

e-mail: guamreservations@flyguam.com
web: http://flyguam.com

Airline Start-Ups: Jetisfaction plans new airline operation

Fleetwatch Administrator — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 22:39:46 GMT

The start-up regional airline arm of the aircraft brokerage and consultancy of the same name is planning to launch scheduled services. The company will link Münster-Osnabrück with Zürich and Poznan from 27 March 2011 with a 48-seat ATR42. The company originally planned to launch scheduled services between Bremen City Airport, Berlin Tegel and Cologne last summer, using a single Beech 1900D turboprop, supplied and operated by Orange Aircraft Leasing. In December 2010, the company also announced the intended acquisition of a 50-seat Fokker 50, for use on regional airline services (flown under other carrier's AOCs). Contact details are:

Jetisfaction GmbH
An der alten Aller 4b
27299 Langwedel
Germany

Phone: +49 4235 990 101
Fax: +49 4235 990 102

e-Mail: info@jetisfaction.com
Web: http://www.jetisfaction.com

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Airline Start-Ups: Crystal Thai launches with an A320

Fleetwatch Administrator — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 22:08:58 GMT

Crystal Thai Airlines (CTA), a Thai/South Korean joint-venture, was scheduled to operate its inaugural service from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport to Muan, South Korea today (3 February 2011) after delaying its launch by four days. This was to be followed by a second South Korean destination, Incheon. The low cost, full-service carrier's first aircraft is a 174-seat Airbus A320-211 (reg HS-CTA, serial 234) which has been acquired on lease from Macquarie Airfinance. CTA intends to use the larger A330 for Incheon-Phuket services from next month, followed by a second A320 in April. Two Boeing 747s are also listed on the carrier's website for delivery in April 2011. A domestic routing to Phuket and international services to points in Bhutan, India, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand are planned.

Contact details are:

Crystal Thai Airlines
222, 19A Fl. Voravit Building,
Surawong Road,
Sipraya,
Bangrak,
Bangkok 10500,
Thailand.

Tel: +662-631-7771
Fax: +662-631-7772
E-mail: info@crystalthaiair.com
Web site: http://www.crystalthaiair.com

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Airline Start-ups: SKY Aviation starts small but looks to add Fokker 50s

Fleetwatch Administrator — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 11:52:26 GMT

Jakarta-based start-up SKY Aviation which began as an air charter company with two Cirrus light aircraft, launched airline services on 29 December 2010. Services link Surabaya, Banyuwangi and Denpasar with a single Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, although plans call for the first of three leased Fokker 50 turboprops to be introduced into service in the first quarter of this year. In addition to servicing a regional network in Sumatra, SKY will also operate charter services, which are expected to be flown primarily in support of oil and gas extraction activities in the region. Contact details are:

PT SKY Aviation
Halim Perdanakusuma Airport
Terminal Building, 2nd Floor, Room A-03
Jakarta 13610
Indonesia
Tel: +62 21 8087 8854
Fax: +62 21 8087 8743
e-mail: sales@ptskyaviation.com
web: http://www.ptskyaviation.com

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Airline Start-ups: Czech Airlines creates new charter subsidiary with dedicated 737-400s

Fleetwatch Administrator — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 15:01:32 GMT

Parent carrier CSA Czech Airlines decided to transfer all of its charter business to an existing subsidiary, the HOLIDAYS Travel Agency, on 1 June 2010. The resulting new airline subsidiary, HOLIDAYS Czech Airlines, received its AOC on 31 August 2010 and ICAO code HCC, launching operations 4 September 2010. Initial equipment was the Czech flag-carrier's last two remaining leased Boeing 737-400s (reg OK-WGX, serial 25349 and OK-WGY / 25839), both of which have recently been repainted in HOLIDAYS Czech Airlines colours. The start-up can also call on other aircraft from the Czech Airlines fleet, as required. For the current winter season charter programme, the new airline will serve destinations in Austria, Cyprus, Egypt, France, Israel, Tunisia and Turkey. Ad hoc charters are also offered. Plans call for two more aircraft, of as yet unspecified type, to join fleet for the start of the summer 2011 season.

Airline Start-Ups: First Nation Airways looks to takeover from Bellview Airlines

Fleetwatch Administrator — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 11:36:47 GMT

Former owners and staff of Bellview Airlines are shortly planning to launch services with a new carrier. Nigerian regional carrier Bellview, which also operated a long-haul service to London until August 2009, was finally grounded in October 2009. The new carrier plans to operate domestic and African regional services with Airbus A320s and Bombardier DHC-8s, as well as long-haul services using Boeing 767-300EREMs. First Nation is to lease three former Gulf Air A320s (reg 5N-FNA, serial 409, 5N-FNB / 466 and 5N-FNC / 497) from Aviation Capital Group. Contact details are:

First Nation Airways (SS) Ltd.
FirstNation Plaza
66b Opebi Road,
P.M.B 21766, Ikeja,
Lagos
Nigeria.

Tel: +234-1-2702700-1
Fax: +234-1-2707936

Email: reservation-IKJ@flyfirstnationair.com
Web: http://flyfirstnation.com

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Airline Start Ups: Swedish Moose hopes to be airborne this year

Fleetwatch Administrator — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 11:22:33 GMT

Stockholm Arlanda-based Swedish Moose Airlines is planning to launch services with the first of two Airbus A320s. The carrier, which intends to concentrate on providing ACMI leasing services to other carriers and charter flights, has been created by SMA Aviation. The parent company's CEO is Daniel Lundberg, who just nine months ago was the CEO of Air Sweden, another Arlanda-based ACMI and charter airline operating Airbus A320s, when it launched services. Swedish Moose, which expects to receive a second A320 in April 2011, will presumably face fierce competion from its local rival. Contact details are:

Swedish Moose Airlines
PO. Box 99
190 45 Stockholm-Arlanda
Sweden
tel: +46 708 466280

e-mail: sales@flymoose.com
web: http://www.flymoose.com

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Airline Start Ups: New UAE airline to be headquartered in Kyrgyzstan

Fleetwatch Administrator — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 10:51:25 GMT

First reported nearly three years ago, Al Sayegh Airlines was created with a reported US $100 million in launch capital by the Sharjah-based National Paints Company's CEO Saleem Al Sayegh. The start-up, which planned to establish its offices in Biskek, has recently taken delivery of three former QANTAS Boeing 747-300s (reg N175SG, serial 23823; N176SG / 23408 and N177SG / 23823). The aircraft were recently flown out of desert storage in the USA to Fujairah in the UAE. The first of these is reported to be destined for operation on behalf of Centrafrique Air Express, although all three seem likely to see service in this year's Hajj, the start of which is imminent. Al Sayegh Airlines originally planned to launch services in early 2008 with the first of five Airbus cargo aircraft, presumably A300(F)s. These were expected to be followed by three unspecified passenger planes, for use on charter and ACMI work in Europe and the Middle East.

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Airline Start-Ups: Jordanian newcomer Solitaire Air receives first aircraft

Fleetwatch Administrator — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 22:58:37 GMT

Details are sparse as yet concerning Solitaire Air, an Amman-based carrier which has already received its first
aircraft, on lease from ILFC. The former Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-4Q8 (reg N776AS, serial 25109) passed
through Shannon on delivery to Amman on 16 October 2010 and is expected to be re-registered as JY-SOA.
The company website, while still under construction, suggests a planned launch date of 1 May, presumably in
2011. Contact details are as follows:

Solitaire Air

Tel: +962 6 5688 430/1

Fax: +962 6 5688 432

E-mail: info@solitaire.com

Web: http://www.solitaireair.com.

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Airline Start-Ups: Petra Airlines plans launch after receiving first Airbus A320s

Fleetwatch Administrator — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 17:27:17 GMT

Jordanian start-up carrier Petra Airlines has received the first of two former Gulf Air Airbus A320-212s (reg JY-PTA, serial 459). The carrier was awarded its Air Operators Certificate on 7 October 2010. Petra Airlines is a subsidiary of Rum Group for Transportation and Tourism Investment, the privately owned Jordanian concern with interests across the local travel, tourism and transport sectors. Under phase one of its development plan, the carrier will initially specialise in offering passenger charters and ACMI leasing services with two A320s. The second aircraft (reg JY-PTB, serial 537) is expected to arrive in Amman before the end of this month. Plans call for the operation of low cost scheduled services at a later date. Contact details are:

Petra Airlines
Tel: +962 567 6212
Fax: +962 567 6242
e-mail: info@petraairline.com
Web:http://www.petraairline.com

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Airline Start Ups: ANA Wings launches services today

Fleetwatch Administrator — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 08:55:55 GMT

ANA All Nippon Airways has a new subsidiary, effective today, 1st October 2010. ANA Wings consolidates into a new single brand three ANA subsidiaries, Air Nippon Network, Air Next and Air Central. The airline will be based on Air Nippon Network, retaining its IATA (EH) and ICAO (AKX) codes and operating a fleet of 14 Boeing 737-500s, 14 Bombardier DHC-8-402Qs and three DHC-8-315Qs out of its main base at Sapporo's New Chitose Airport.

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Airline Start Ups: Venezuelan newcomer LAMIA expects to launch services with ATR72s next month

Fleetwatch Administrator — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 22:11:11 GMT

The airline, full name Línea Aérea Merideña Internacional de Aviación, has been created in a 50:50 joint venture between the Government of the Venezuelan state of Mérida and private interests. LAMIA operated its inaugural flight on 16 August 2010 from the recently re-opened Mérida Airport in the Venezuelan Andes, using an ATR72-500. The aircraft (reg EC-KKQ, serial 0763) is wet-leased from Spanish charter and ACMI leasing specialist Swiftair. LAMIA plans to have six ATR72s in service by the end of the year and anticipates a requirement for twelve of the type. It is thought that at least half of these will be new-build aircraft acquired directly from the manufacturer. From September 2010, LAMIA plans to launch a domestic route between Mérida (IATA:MRD / ICAO:SVMD) and the capital, Caracas. Thereafter, the airline also plans to operate from a second base within Mérida state, at El Vigia (IATA:VIG / ICAO:SVVG), and to serve a domestic network of around ten destinations. Aruba, Bogota, Curacao, Manaus, Medellin and Miami are expected to be among the first International destinations served by LAMIA.

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Airline Start Ups: Sol del Paraguay plans regional schedules with Fokker 100s

Fleetwatch Administrator — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 10:35:48 GMT

The airline represents a major expansion for the long distance bus line which operates between Paraguay and Argentina under the same branding. Although the start-up originally planned to operate either Embraer 190s or Bombardier CRJ-900s, it now plans to launch using two former MexicanaClick Fokker 100s, and to have five F100s in service in its second year of operations. Regular flights are to link Asunción with Sao Paulo and Buenos Aires before the end of the year. It is believed that the airline eventually plans to serve several other countries in the Mercosur region. Contact details, as so far available are:

Sol del Paraguay
Eligio Ayala 988
Asunción
Paraguay
Phone: + 595 21 559 087 (Call Centre)

Email: info@soldelparaguay.com.py
Web: http://www.soldelparaguay.com.py

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Airline Start Ups: Nordflyg Air Logistics takes over from Nord-Flyg

Fleetwatch Administrator — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 11:02:47 GMT

The new company, based at Eskilstuna in south-central Sweden, is taking over some of the operations of the former carrier Nord-Flyg. The latter ceased flying in April this year and was subsequently declared bankrupt. The defunct carrier had cited its inability to profitably integrate the much larger Bombardier DHC8-Q400(PF) converted freighter, for which it was the launch customer in March 2008. Unfortunately for Nord-Flyg, the Q400(PF) represented a major expansion for an operation which previously centred on three Cessna 208B Caravans, at a time when the bottom was rapidly falling out of the air cargo market due to onset of global recession. The new company has taken over two former Nord-Flyg C.208B Caravans (SE-LSK, serial 208B-1012 and SE-LSL serial 208B-0810) and launched cargo charter services on 10 June 2010. Contact details are:

Nordflyg Air Logistics
Eskilstuna Flygplats
Eskilstuna
63506
Sweden

Tel: +46 169 4015
Fax: +46 169 4090

Web:http://www.nordflyg.se (Swedish only, under construction)

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Airline Start Ups: Hansung Airlines plans to re-start services with Boeing 737-800s

Fleetwatch Administrator — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 09:34:09 GMT

The South Korean low-cost carrier which operated domestic services centred on Jeju Island between August 2005 and October 2008 using ATR72 turboprops, announced in April that it planned to resume services in July 2010 with 189-seat Boeing 737-800s. While the re-start seems to be behind this schedule, a new all white Boeing 737-800 (reg HL8235, serial 39448) recently spotted on the Boeing production line at Renton, is believed to the first for the resurgent carrier.

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Airline Start Ups: Swedish newcomer Flyglinjen to re-launch domestic services

Fleetwatch Administrator — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 10:25:13 GMT

Established and owned by five local entrepreneurs, Flyglinjen originally launched services linking Jönköping with Stockholm-Bromma and Copenhagen last February, using Jetstream 41 aircraft operated by UK carrier Eastern Airways. The airline was however forced to suspend operations and was driven to near bankruptcy by the Icelandic volcanic ash cloud in May. Flyglinjen is now planning to re-launch services on the Jönköping - Stockholm-Bromma route, flying twice daily, Monday-Friday, from 16 August 2010. All services will be now be operated by Norwegian carrier Helitrans AS, using 18-passenger BAE Jetstream 32s.

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