Trans European Airways
Encyclopedia
Trans European Airways is a now defunct airline
that had its head office in Building 117 on the grounds of Melsbroek Airport in Zaventem
, Belgium
.
and Eastern Airlines.
In the early 1970s they became the first airline to order an Airbus and subsequently operated the only Airbus A300B1 variant in service - distinguished by its shorter fuselage and lack of slats - until 1990. The aircraft, registered OO-TEF, was named Aline after Gutelman's wife.
The airline expanded, operating a second Airbus A300 for a while and started to acquire Boeing 737-200 aircraft. It later acquired Belgian tour operator SunSnacks which it had helped to form in 1976 and create a subsidiary, TEAMCO (Trans European Airways Maintenance Company) to handle maintenance of both its own aircraft and also offer these services to other operators, both civil and military.
The company was involved in the Operation Moses
in 1984-1985.
The airline started to expand rapidly during the late 1980s, forming subsidiaries in the United Kingdom (TEA-UK), France (TEA-FRANCE), Italy (TEA-ITALY) and Switzerland (TEA-BASEL) but global economic downturn in the early nineties, partly as a result of the Gulf War caused it to go out of business on September 27, 1991. Its failure gave rise to European Airlines and Eurobelgian Airlines. The management of the UK subsidiary, who had previously managed Orion Airways
went on to form Excalibur Airways
. TEA Switzerland continued successfully until being purchased by easyJet
in 1997. Georges Gutelman later went on to found CityBird
which also failed in the aviation slump following 9/11.
Airline
An airline provides air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines lease or own their aircraft with which to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for mutual benefit...
that had its head office in Building 117 on the grounds of Melsbroek Airport in Zaventem
Zaventem
Zaventem is a municipality in the province of Flemish Brabant, in Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium. The municipality comprises the towns of Nossegem, Sint-Stevens-Woluwe, Sterrebeek and Zaventem proper. On January 1, 2006 Zaventem had a total population of 28,651...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
.
History
TEA (ICAO Code: TEA; IATA Code: HE; Call Sign: Belgair) was founded by Georges Gutelman in 1971 who had previously operated a company known as TIFA. The airline initially acquired a fleet of Boeing 707 and Boeing 720 aircraft from sources such as TWATwa
The Twa are any of several hunting peoples of Africa who live interdependently with agricultural Bantu populations, and generally hold a socially subordinate position: They provide the farming population with game in exchange for agricultural products....
and Eastern Airlines.
In the early 1970s they became the first airline to order an Airbus and subsequently operated the only Airbus A300B1 variant in service - distinguished by its shorter fuselage and lack of slats - until 1990. The aircraft, registered OO-TEF, was named Aline after Gutelman's wife.
The airline expanded, operating a second Airbus A300 for a while and started to acquire Boeing 737-200 aircraft. It later acquired Belgian tour operator SunSnacks which it had helped to form in 1976 and create a subsidiary, TEAMCO (Trans European Airways Maintenance Company) to handle maintenance of both its own aircraft and also offer these services to other operators, both civil and military.
The company was involved in the Operation Moses
Operation Moses
Operation Moses refers to the covert evacuation of Ethiopian Jews from Sudan during a famine in 1984...
in 1984-1985.
The airline started to expand rapidly during the late 1980s, forming subsidiaries in the United Kingdom (TEA-UK), France (TEA-FRANCE), Italy (TEA-ITALY) and Switzerland (TEA-BASEL) but global economic downturn in the early nineties, partly as a result of the Gulf War caused it to go out of business on September 27, 1991. Its failure gave rise to European Airlines and Eurobelgian Airlines. The management of the UK subsidiary, who had previously managed Orion Airways
Orion Airways
Orion Airways was an airline based in the United Kingdom with its head office on the grounds of East Midlands Airport in Castle Donington, North West Leicestershire. It was created as the charter airline of Horizon Travel and went on to successfully develop scheduled services...
went on to form Excalibur Airways
Excalibur Airways
Excalibur Airways was a charter airline based in England. It had its head office on the grounds of East Midlands International Airport in Castle Donington, North West Leicestershire.- Code data :*IATA Code: EXC*ICAO Code: EX...
. TEA Switzerland continued successfully until being purchased by easyJet
EasyJet
EasyJet Airline Company Limited is a British airline headquartered at London Luton Airport. It carries more passengers than any other United Kingdom-based airline, operating domestic and international scheduled services on 500 routes between 118 European, North African, and West Asian airports...
in 1997. Georges Gutelman later went on to found CityBird
CityBird
CityBird was an airline founded in 1996 and based in Building 117D, Melsbroek Airport in Zaventem. Founded in 1996, the airline filed for bankruptcy in October 2001. Thomas Cook toyed with the idea of buying them out of bankruptcy, but later pulled out....
which also failed in the aviation slump following 9/11.
Historical Fleet Information
- 1 - Boeing 720-025Boeing 707The 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...
ex Eastern Airlines - 1 - Boeing 720-051(B)Boeing 707The 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...
- 3 - Boeing 707-131Boeing 707The 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...
es TWA - 1 - Boeing 707-048Boeing 707The 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...
ex Air Lingus - 1 - Airbus A300B1Airbus A300The 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...
from manufacturer - 1 - Airbus A300B4-2CAirbus A300The 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...
from manufacturer - 1 - Airbus A300B4-103Airbus A300The 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...
ex Eastern Airlines - 5 - Boeing 737-2M8Boeing 737The Boeing 737 is a short- to medium-range, twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner. Originally developed as a shorter, lower-cost twin-engine airliner derived from Boeing's 707 and 727, the 737 has developed into a family of nine passenger models with a capacity of 85 to 215 passengers...
from manufacturer - 2 - Boeing 737-229Boeing 737The Boeing 737 is a short- to medium-range, twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner. Originally developed as a shorter, lower-cost twin-engine airliner derived from Boeing's 707 and 727, the 737 has developed into a family of nine passenger models with a capacity of 85 to 215 passengers...
ex Sabena - 1 - Boeing 737-2Q9Boeing 737The Boeing 737 is a short- to medium-range, twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner. Originally developed as a shorter, lower-cost twin-engine airliner derived from Boeing's 707 and 727, the 737 has developed into a family of nine passenger models with a capacity of 85 to 215 passengers...
ex Nordair - 1 - Boeing 737-2S3Boeing 737The Boeing 737 is a short- to medium-range, twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner. Originally developed as a shorter, lower-cost twin-engine airliner derived from Boeing's 707 and 727, the 737 has developed into a family of nine passenger models with a capacity of 85 to 215 passengers...
ex Air Europe - 1 - Boeing 737-2P6Boeing 737The Boeing 737 is a short- to medium-range, twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner. Originally developed as a shorter, lower-cost twin-engine airliner derived from Boeing's 707 and 727, the 737 has developed into a family of nine passenger models with a capacity of 85 to 215 passengers...
ex Gulf Air - 1 - Boeing 737-219Boeing 737The Boeing 737 is a short- to medium-range, twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner. Originally developed as a shorter, lower-cost twin-engine airliner derived from Boeing's 707 and 727, the 737 has developed into a family of nine passenger models with a capacity of 85 to 215 passengers...
ex Air New Zealand - 13 - Boeing 737-3M8Boeing 737The Boeing 737 is a short- to medium-range, twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner. Originally developed as a shorter, lower-cost twin-engine airliner derived from Boeing's 707 and 727, the 737 has developed into a family of nine passenger models with a capacity of 85 to 215 passengers...
from manufacturer - 1 - Boeing 737-3B3Boeing 737The Boeing 737 is a short- to medium-range, twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner. Originally developed as a shorter, lower-cost twin-engine airliner derived from Boeing's 707 and 727, the 737 has developed into a family of nine passenger models with a capacity of 85 to 215 passengers...
ex Aeromaritime