Air Alfa
Encyclopedia
Air Alfa was a charter airline based in Atatürk International Airport
, Istanbul
, Turkey
. It also had an additional base at Antalya Airport
. It also operated charter services to tour operators. Air Alfa ceased operations in December 2001 and had its licence revoked on 17 November 2002.
s. The Airline restarted flights in 1993, leasing a Boeing 737.
In 1994, the airline started long haul flights by receiving its first Airbus A300
, and was joined by a second which was leased from EgyptAir
. A further six were added in the following years, but reduced to five after the accident of an Air Alfa Flight in Istanbul.
During 1996, Air Alfa carried one million passengers for the first time.
In December 1996, the airline was acquired from Kombassan Holidays, and the fleet was modernised with new Airbus A321-100
's, with a Airbus A300B4-203 and a Boeing 727-200 being retired.
In 2000, Air Alfa started to struggle and have financial difficulties, cutting back and reducing schedules until it's stop in 2001. The airline restarted in 2002 under the name 'Alpha Airlines', but this was quickly forgotten as it ceased operations and filed for bankruptcy on 17 November 2002.
(Registration TC-ALP) was set alight at Istanbul Airport. There were no fatalities as it was empty at the time. The aircraft was destroyed and Written-off.
Atatürk International Airport
Atatürk International Airport is the major international airport in Istanbul, Turkey. Opened in 1924 and located in Yeşilköy, on the European side of the city, it is west of the city centre. In 1980, the airport was renamed to Atatürk International Airport in honor of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the...
, Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. It also had an additional base at Antalya Airport
Antalya Airport
Antalya Airport is northeast of the city center of Antalya, Turkey. The airport is operated in Turkey's primary holiday destination located on the country's Mediterranean coast. The airport is big and modern, built to accommodate the millions of passengers who come to Turkey's Mediterranean...
. It also operated charter services to tour operators. Air Alfa ceased operations in December 2001 and had its licence revoked on 17 November 2002.
History
Air Alfa was launched in 1992 and started operating flights between Turkey and Western Europe. However, the airline was grounded for the rest of 1992 because it did not meet the rules of the Turkish Civil Aviation Authority. This was because it handled less than three aircraft, being Boeing 727-200Boeing 727
The Boeing 727 is a mid-size, narrow-body, three-engine, T-tailed commercial jet airliner, manufactured by Boeing. The Boeing 727 first flew in 1963, and for over a decade more were built per year than any other jet airliner. When production ended in 1984 a total of 1,832 aircraft had been produced...
s. The Airline restarted flights in 1993, leasing a Boeing 737.
In 1994, the airline started long haul flights by receiving its first Airbus A300
Airbus A300
The Airbus A300 is a short- to medium-range widebody jet airliner. Launched in 1972 as the world's first twin-engined widebody, it was the first product of Airbus Industrie, a consortium of European aerospace companies, wholly owned today by EADS...
, and was joined by a second which was leased from EgyptAir
EgyptAir
EgyptAir is the flag carrier airline of Egypt and a member of Star Alliance. The airline is based at Cairo International Airport, its main hub, operating scheduled passenger and freight services to more than 75 destinations in the Middle East, Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas...
. A further six were added in the following years, but reduced to five after the accident of an Air Alfa Flight in Istanbul.
During 1996, Air Alfa carried one million passengers for the first time.
In December 1996, the airline was acquired from Kombassan Holidays, and the fleet was modernised with new Airbus A321-100
Airbus A320 family
The Airbus A320 family is a family of short- to medium-range, narrow-body, commercial passenger jet airliners manufactured by Airbus Industrie.Airbus was originally a consortium of European aerospace companies, and is now fully owned by EADS. Airbus's name has been Airbus SAS since 2001...
's, with a Airbus A300B4-203 and a Boeing 727-200 being retired.
In 2000, Air Alfa started to struggle and have financial difficulties, cutting back and reducing schedules until it's stop in 2001. The airline restarted in 2002 under the name 'Alpha Airlines', but this was quickly forgotten as it ceased operations and filed for bankruptcy on 17 November 2002.
Fleet
Air Alfa operated the following aircraft during operations:| Aircraft | Number operated | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Airbus A300B4-103 Airbus A300 The Airbus A300 is a short- to medium-range widebody jet airliner. Launched in 1972 as the world's first twin-engined widebody, it was the first product of Airbus Industrie, a consortium of European aerospace companies, wholly owned today by EADS... |
||
| Airbus A300B4-203 Airbus A300 The Airbus A300 is a short- to medium-range widebody jet airliner. Launched in 1972 as the world's first twin-engined widebody, it was the first product of Airbus Industrie, a consortium of European aerospace companies, wholly owned today by EADS... |
1 leased from EgyptAir EgyptAir EgyptAir is the flag carrier airline of Egypt and a member of Star Alliance. The airline is based at Cairo International Airport, its main hub, operating scheduled passenger and freight services to more than 75 destinations in the Middle East, Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas... 1 set alight at Atatürk International Airport Atatürk International Airport Atatürk International Airport is the major international airport in Istanbul, Turkey. Opened in 1924 and located in Yeşilköy, on the European side of the city, it is west of the city centre. In 1980, the airport was renamed to Atatürk International Airport in honor of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the... |
|
| Airbus A300B4-622R Airbus A300 The Airbus A300 is a short- to medium-range widebody jet airliner. Launched in 1972 as the world's first twin-engined widebody, it was the first product of Airbus Industrie, a consortium of European aerospace companies, wholly owned today by EADS... |
||
| Airbus A320-200 Airbus A320 family The Airbus A320 family is a family of short- to medium-range, narrow-body, commercial passenger jet airliners manufactured by Airbus Industrie.Airbus was originally a consortium of European aerospace companies, and is now fully owned by EADS. Airbus's name has been Airbus SAS since 2001... |
1 leased from TransAer International Airlines | |
| Airbus A321-100 Airbus A320 family The Airbus A320 family is a family of short- to medium-range, narrow-body, commercial passenger jet airliners manufactured by Airbus Industrie.Airbus was originally a consortium of European aerospace companies, and is now fully owned by EADS. Airbus's name has been Airbus SAS since 2001... |
||
| Boeing 727-200 Boeing 727 The Boeing 727 is a mid-size, narrow-body, three-engine, T-tailed commercial jet airliner, manufactured by Boeing. The Boeing 727 first flew in 1963, and for over a decade more were built per year than any other jet airliner. When production ended in 1984 a total of 1,832 aircraft had been produced... |
||
| Boeing 737-300 Boeing 737 Classic The Boeing 737 Classic is the name given to the -300/-400/-500 series of the Boeing 737 following the introduction of the -600/-700/-800/-900 series. They are short- to medium- range, narrow-body jet airliners produced by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. The Classic series was introduced as the 'new... |
||
| Boeing 737-400 Boeing 737 Classic The Boeing 737 Classic is the name given to the -300/-400/-500 series of the Boeing 737 following the introduction of the -600/-700/-800/-900 series. They are short- to medium- range, narrow-body jet airliners produced by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. The Classic series was introduced as the 'new... |
Leased from Pegasus Airlines Pegasus Airlines Pegasus Airlines is a low-cost airline headquartered in the Halkalı area of Küçükçekmece, Istanbul, Turkey. Formerly a charter airline in partnership with Aer Lingus, Pegasus is now completely controlled by Esas Holding.- History :... |
|
| Boeing 757-200 Boeing 757 The Boeing 757 is a mid-size, narrow-body twin-engine jet airliner manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Passenger versions of the twinjet have a capacity of 186 to 289 persons and a maximum range of , depending on variant and cabin configuration... |
Leased from Turkmenistan Airlines Turkmenistan Airlines Turkmenistan Airlines is the flag carrier of Turkmenistan, headquartered in Ashgabat. The airline connects its home base of Ashgabat with destinations in Russia, Europe and Asia... |
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Accidents and Incidents
On 17 May 1996, an Air Alfa Airbus A300B4-203Airbus A300
The Airbus A300 is a short- to medium-range widebody jet airliner. Launched in 1972 as the world's first twin-engined widebody, it was the first product of Airbus Industrie, a consortium of European aerospace companies, wholly owned today by EADS...
(Registration TC-ALP) was set alight at Istanbul Airport. There were no fatalities as it was empty at the time. The aircraft was destroyed and Written-off.