Sonair
Encyclopedia
SonAir Airline Services, S.A. (Portuguese
SonAir - Serviço Aéreo, S.A.), known as SonAir, is a subsidiary of Sonangol Group
, the National Petroleum Company of Angola.
Its core business is helicopter transportation services to the oil industry operating in Angola, by ferrying people from and to onshore and offshore facilities, and beyond that they also provide worldwide air services for other businesses and single entities. Occasionally the company provides charter services within Africa.
Domestically they also provide air transportation to several business groups - private and government, outside the oil business.
The company is also the first to provide direct transportation of passengers and cargo between Angola
and the United States
. The airline provides thrice-weekly services from Houston
to Luanda
on a Boeing 747-400
(10 First Class, 143 Business Class and 36 Economy Class seats), operated on an Outsourced ACMI basis by Atlas Air
.
On order:
Offshore helicopters:
Portuguese language
Portuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
SonAir - Serviço Aéreo, S.A.), known as SonAir, is a subsidiary of Sonangol Group
Sonangol Group
Group Sonangol is a parastatal that oversees petroleum and natural gas production in Angola. Sonangol actually had become a fundraising machine of government. The group consists of Sonangol EP and its many subsidiaries...
, the National Petroleum Company of Angola.
Its core business is helicopter transportation services to the oil industry operating in Angola, by ferrying people from and to onshore and offshore facilities, and beyond that they also provide worldwide air services for other businesses and single entities. Occasionally the company provides charter services within Africa.
Domestically they also provide air transportation to several business groups - private and government, outside the oil business.
The company is also the first to provide direct transportation of passengers and cargo between Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The airline provides thrice-weekly services from Houston
George Bush Intercontinental Airport
George Bush Intercontinental Airport, is a Class B international airport in Houston, Texas, serving the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area, the sixth-largest metropolitan area in the United States. Located north of Downtown Houston between Interstate 45 and U.S. Highway 59...
to Luanda
Luanda
Luanda, formerly named São Paulo da Assunção de Loanda, is the capital and largest city of Angola. Located on Angola's coast with the Atlantic Ocean, Luanda is both Angola's chief seaport and its administrative center. It has a population of at least 5 million...
on a Boeing 747-400
Boeing 747-400
The Boeing 747-400 is a major development and the best-selling model of the Boeing 747 family of jet airliners. While retaining the four-engine wide-body layout of its predecessors, the 747-400 embodies numerous technological and structural changes to produce a more efficient airframe...
(10 First Class, 143 Business Class and 36 Economy Class seats), operated on an Outsourced ACMI basis by Atlas Air
Atlas Air
Atlas Air, Inc. is an American cargo airline based in Purchase, Harrison, New York. It operates scheduled freight flights on a wet lease basis for some of the world's leading airlines, flying to 101 cities in 46 countries. Its crew bases include: Miami International Airport, New York's John F...
.
Domestic
- BenguelaBenguelaBenguela is a city in western Angola, south of Luanda, and capital of Benguela Province. It lies on a bay of the same name, in 12° 33’ S., 13° 25’ E...
(Benguela AirportBenguela AirportBenguela Airport is an airport serving Benguela, the capital city of the Benguela Province in Angola. It is also known as Gen. V. Deslandes Airport.-Facilities:...
) - CabindaCabinda (city)Cabinda or Tchiowa, as it is called by the Cabindans, is a city that is located in the Cabinda Province, an exclave of Angola. Angolan sovereignty over Cabinda is disputed by the Republic of Cabinda...
(Cabinda AirportCabinda AirportCabinda Airport is an airport serving Cabinda, a city in the Cabinda province, an exclave of Angola.- Facilities :The airport resides at an elevation of above mean sea level. It has one runway designated 01/19 with an asphalt surface measuring ....
) - CatumbelaCatumbelaCatumbela is a city and a municipality of the Benguela province in Angola.- Transport :Catumbela is served by a station on the national railway network as well as an airstrip....
(Catumbela AirportCatumbela AirportCatumbela Airport is an airport in Catumbela, a city in the Benguela province in Angola.-Airlines and destinations:...
) - LuandaLuandaLuanda, formerly named São Paulo da Assunção de Loanda, is the capital and largest city of Angola. Located on Angola's coast with the Atlantic Ocean, Luanda is both Angola's chief seaport and its administrative center. It has a population of at least 5 million...
(Quatro de Fevereiro AirportQuatro de Fevereiro AirportQuatro de Fevereiro International Airport is located in Luanda, a city in the Luanda Province and the capital of Angola. Quatro de Fevereiro is Portuguese for February 4th, a national holiday in Angola marking the start of the armed struggle against the Portuguese colonial regime on 4 February...
) Hub - LubangoLubangoLubango is the capital city of the Angolan province of Huíla. Its last known population was 100,757. Until 1975, the city's official name was Sá da Bandeira.-Portuguese rule:...
(Lubango AirportLubango AirportLubango Mukanka Airport is an airport serving Lubango, the capital city of the Huíla Province in Angola.-Facilities:The airport resides at an elevation of above mean sea level. It has one runway designated 10/28 with an asphalt surface measuring ....
) - SoyoSoyoSoyo is a city located in the province of Zaire in Angola. Soyo recently became the largest oil-producing region in the country, with an estimate of .-Early history:...
(Soyo AirportSoyo Airport-Airlines and destinations:...
)
International
- Houston (George Bush Intercontinental AirportGeorge Bush Intercontinental AirportGeorge Bush Intercontinental Airport, is a Class B international airport in Houston, Texas, serving the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area, the sixth-largest metropolitan area in the United States. Located north of Downtown Houston between Interstate 45 and U.S. Highway 59...
) (flights operated by Atlas AirAtlas AirAtlas Air, Inc. is an American cargo airline based in Purchase, Harrison, New York. It operates scheduled freight flights on a wet lease basis for some of the world's leading airlines, flying to 101 cities in 46 countries. Its crew bases include: Miami International Airport, New York's John F...
)
Fleet
As of July 2011 the Sonair fleet includes:- 01 Airbus A319CJAirbus A320 familyThe 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...
- 03 Boeing 737-700Boeing 737 Next GenerationThe Boeing 737 Next Generation, commonly abbreviated as Boeing 737NG, is the name given to the -600/-700/-800/-900 series of the Boeing 737 after the introduction of the -300/-400/-500 Classic series. They are short- to medium-range, narrow-body jet airliners...
- 02 Boeing 747-400Boeing 747-400The Boeing 747-400 is a major development and the best-selling model of the Boeing 747 family of jet airliners. While retaining the four-engine wide-body layout of its predecessors, the 747-400 embodies numerous technological and structural changes to produce a more efficient airframe...
(Operated by Atlas Air) - 01 de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter Series 300De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin OtterThe DHC-6 Twin Otter is a Canadian 19-passenger STOL utility aircraft developed by de Havilland Canada and currently produced by Viking Air. The aircraft's fixed tricycle undercarriage, STOL abilities and high rate of climb have made it a successful cargo, regional passenger airliner and MEDEVAC...
- 02 Fokker 50
On order:
- 02 Airbus A340-500Airbus A340The Airbus A340 is a long-range four-engine wide-body commercial passenger jet airliner. Developed by Airbus Industrie,A consortium of European aerospace companies, Airbus is now fully owned by EADS and since 2001 has been known as Airbus SAS. a consortium of European aerospace companies, which is...
(Operated by Hi Fly)
Offshore helicopters:
- 5 Eurocopter Dauphin AS 365N3Eurocopter DauphinThe Eurocopter SA 365/AS365 Dauphin 2 is a medium-weight multipurpose twin-engine helicopter manufactured by Eurocopter .-Design and development:...
- 8 Eurocopter AS332 Super Puma
- 9 Sikorsky S-76C+ and S-76C++Sikorsky S-76The Sikorsky S-76 is an American medium-size commercial utility helicopter. The S-76 is powered by two turboshaft engines, which drive both the main and tail rotors, each with four blades...
- 10 Eurocopter EC225
See also
- GazpromaviaGazpromaviaGazpromavia is an airline based in Moscow, Russia. It operates passenger and cargo charters, mainly in support of the oil and gas industry. It also operates regular domestic flights from Moscow and international charter passenger and cargo services.-History:The airline was established in March...
, an airline based in Moscow, Russia that operates passenger and cargo charters, mainly in support of the oil and gas industry.