Air Djibouti

Air Djibouti ( since 1973 trading as Air Djibouti - Red Sea Airlines ) was a national carrier of Djibouti, which ceased operations in 2002.

History

Air Djibouti was founded in April 1963 by the French pilot and entrepreneur Bernard Astraud. Initially, the company led by charter flights within the colony of French Somaliland with aircraft types Bristol Wayfarer, De Havilland Dragon Rapide and Beechcraft Model 18. In April 1964, the company set up domestic regular services from Djibouti (city ) to Dikhil, Obock and Tadjoura and shortly thereafter an international connection to Taiz in Yemen. In 1965, Air Djibouti took its first Douglas DC -3 and unified in the 1960s, the fleet gradually with this type of aircraft. The company also continued in 1969, with helicopter.

In 1970, Air Djibouti was acquired by Air, founded in 1962 Somali, where the French airline Air France was a majority interest. After the merger of the two companies in July 1971, Air France had a 50.7 % stake in Air Djibouti and used their aircraft for regional feeder services. In addition to domestic routes, the company operated from October 1973 international scheduled flights to Aden, Asmara, Dire Dawa, Hargeisa, Mogadishu, Sanaa and Taiz. In addition, continued Air Djibouti their aircraft type Douglas DC-6 on tourist charter flights to Europe as well as for cargo transportation to Nairobi one. The remaining Douglas DC-3 were replaced by two de Havilland Canada DHC -6 in 1975.

The newly founded Republic of Djibouti participated in 1977 with 62.5 % of the company and took over in early 1981 additional shares of Air France, so that the state finally had a 90% stake in the company. At the same time opened a guided over Rome Air Djibouti scheduled flights to Paris, which was operated with the first jet aircraft company, a leased from Transavia Holland Boeing 737. After the nationalization of the company flew a loss. In May 1982, the Company recorded a Boeing 727, but this was sold again in the spring of 1984 acquired to avoid bankruptcy. Instead, the company began in the 1980s leased aircraft of the Belgian Sobelair and Yugoslav Jat Airways on their flights to Europe. On 22 January 1991, the flight was closed down for economic reasons and sold the two planes of the Company in connection. At this time, the company's debt amounted to 11 million U.S. dollars.

After 1997 private investors had shares in the Company, in early 1998, the resumption of flight operations with a leased Boeing 737 Swedish Nordic European Airlines. In July 1998, the Company leased an Airbus A310, which was used on two weekly flights to Paris. The capacity of the Airbus proved to be too large, so that Air Djibouti sublet the airline Royal Jordanian unprofitable machine in the spring of 1999. The company then led by only freight transport and regional charter flights on which an initially leased Ilyushin Il -18 and from mid-1999, an Antonov An-24 were used. In March 2001, Air Djibouti leased a widebody aircraft of type Boeing 747 to make it long-term to Nigeria Airways continue to rent from August 2001 onwards. The aircraft should operate between Lagos and London. Because of security concerns prohibited the British Aviation Authority but the use of this machine so that Nigeria Airways terminated its lease early. Djibouti Airlines in early 2002 was their last aircraft, an Antonov An-24, to the lessor back and stopped flight operations.

Incidents

  • On July 23, 1969, both engines of a Douglas DC-3 (F- OCKT ) Air Djibouti were damaged by a bird strike. The crew succeeded in ditching off the coast of Djibouti. The four people on board were unharmed.
  • On October 17, 1977 attempted two people on the Tadjoura airport to kidnap a de Havilland Canada DHC -6. They shot the pilot and a passenger.
  • On August 17, 1986, a leased Boeing 737-200 (OO - SBQ ) Air Djibouti intercepted on the flight from Sanaa over the Red Sea from two fighter aircraft of the South Yemen Air Force and forced to land in Aden. There ransacked security forces the machine after supporters of Ali Nasir Muhammad and arrested one person. Because of the incident, the Republic of Djibouti their diplomatic relations with the state of South Yemen broke off.

Used aircraft

  • Airbus A310 -200
  • Alouette III
  • Antonov An- 24RV
  • Beechcraft Model 18
  • Beechcraft Musketeer
  • Bell 47
  • Bell 206B
  • Boeing 737-200 and 737 - 200C
  • Boeing 727-100 and 727- 100C
  • Boeing 747-200 ( leased to Nigeria Airways )
  • Bristol Wayfarer
  • Cessna 206
  • De Havilland Dragon Rapide
  • De Havilland Canada DHC- 6-200
  • Douglas DC-3
  • Douglas DC -6A and DC-6B
  • Douglas DC 9-32
  • Ilyushin Il- 18gr
  • Piper PA -32
IATA-Code International Civil Aviation Organization airport code Ilyushin Il-18
37237
de