Montana Austria
Encyclopedia
Montana Austria was an airline based in Vienna
, Austria
and existed between 1975 and 1981. The company's name was chosen to reflect the montaneous landscape in Austria.
aircraft. A third Boeing 707 aircraft was acquired in 1977.
In the beginning, Montana Austria faced bureaucratic difficulties since the then-national monopoly airline Austrian Airlines
tried to obstruct any competition. Finally in November 1976, the airline was granted to serve the Vienna
-Baghdad
-Bangkok route. Additional routes to other destinations, such as New York
, were introduced later.
Montana Austria operated only long-haul routes which were not served by Austrian Airlines in the 1970s and thus were considered as a niche in the airline business of Austria back then.
Since the number of passengers started to decrease in the late 1970s and early 1980s due to an economic crisis, Montana Austria switched its activities from passenger services to cargo transportation. The only passenger service to remain was the one to New York.
One of the company's cargo aircraft was loaded with illegal weapons in Houston, Texas
and was impounded by US authorities. After the main investor Carl Press of the German freight forwarding company deugro withdrew his financial support Montana Austria went into receivership and ceased operations. Eventually the Austrian government revoked the airline's operating license. Montana Austria ceased operations in July 1981.
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
and existed between 1975 and 1981. The company's name was chosen to reflect the montaneous landscape in Austria.
Company history
Montana Austria was founded in 1975 by Captain Hans Stöckl and started using two Boeing 707Boeing 707
The Boeing 707 is a four-engine narrow-body commercial passenger jet airliner developed by Boeing in the early 1950s. Its name is most commonly pronounced as "Seven Oh Seven". The first airline to operate the 707 was Pan American World Airways, inaugurating the type's first commercial flight on...
aircraft. A third Boeing 707 aircraft was acquired in 1977.
In the beginning, Montana Austria faced bureaucratic difficulties since the then-national monopoly airline Austrian Airlines
Austrian Airlines
Austrian Airlines is the flag carrier airline of Austria, headquartered in Office Park 2 on the grounds of Vienna International Airport in Schwechat, Wien-Umgebung and a subsidiary of Deutsche Lufthansa AG. Together with regional subsidiary Tyrolean Airways and charter arm Lauda Air, it operates...
tried to obstruct any competition. Finally in November 1976, the airline was granted to serve the Vienna
Vienna International Airport
Vienna International Airport , located in Schwechat and southeast of central Vienna, is the busiest and biggest airport in Austria. It is often referred to as Schwechat, the name of the county it is in. The airport is capable of handling wide-body aircraft such as the Boeing 747 and Airbus A340...
-Baghdad
Baghdad International Airport
Baghdad International Airport, originally Saddam International Airport, , BIAP is Iraq's largest airport, located in a suburb about west of downtown Baghdad in the Baghdad Governorate...
-Bangkok route. Additional routes to other destinations, such as New York
John F. Kennedy International Airport
John F. Kennedy International Airport is an international airport located in the borough of Queens in New York City, about southeast of Lower Manhattan. It is the busiest international air passenger gateway to the United States, handling more international traffic than any other airport in North...
, were introduced later.
Montana Austria operated only long-haul routes which were not served by Austrian Airlines in the 1970s and thus were considered as a niche in the airline business of Austria back then.
Since the number of passengers started to decrease in the late 1970s and early 1980s due to an economic crisis, Montana Austria switched its activities from passenger services to cargo transportation. The only passenger service to remain was the one to New York.
One of the company's cargo aircraft was loaded with illegal weapons in Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
and was impounded by US authorities. After the main investor Carl Press of the German freight forwarding company deugro withdrew his financial support Montana Austria went into receivership and ceased operations. Eventually the Austrian government revoked the airline's operating license. Montana Austria ceased operations in July 1981.
Fleet details
- 2 - Boeing 707-138B (increased range passenger version acquired from QantasQantasQantas Airways Limited is the flag carrier of Australia. The name was originally "QANTAS", an initialism for "Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services". Nicknamed "The Flying Kangaroo", the airline is based in Sydney, with its main hub at Sydney Airport...
) - 1 - Boeing 707-396C (cargo aircraft)