Astraeus (airline)

Infobox_Airline
airline=Astraeus
logo=Astraeus-airlines.gif
logo_size=user
IATA=5W
ICAO=AEU
callsign=FLYSTAR
founded=2002
hubs=London Gatwick Airport
fleet_size=9
destinations = Variable
headquarters=Crawley, United Kingdom
key_people=Mario Fulgoni, Steve Clarke, Shaun Monnery, Phil Rushton, Rob Bishton, Darren Brewer
focus_cities=
lounge=
alliance=
parent=
website= http://www.flystar.com/

Astraeus is a British airline based in Crawley, England. As of May 2008 Astraeus changed its business model and ceased full time charter and schedule service flying to concentrate on sub lease activities, providing aircraft and crews to other airlines, on both an ACMI basis as well as dry leasing. Its main base is London Gatwick Airport. It is named after the Greek Titan of DuskFact|date=July 2008. The company holds a United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority Type A Operating Licence, it is permitted to carry passengers, cargo and mail on aircraft with 20 or more seats [ [http://www.caa.co.uk/default.aspx?categoryid=183&pagetype=90&pageid=340 CAA] ] .

History

The airline was named Astraeus Limited on 21 March 2002 and started operations on 6 April 2002. It was founded by staff of the former British World Airlines and the Aberdeen Asset Management international investment groupcite news | title=Directory: World Airlines | work= Flight International | pages= 78-79 | date= 2007-03-27] . The use of Boeing 737-700 aircraft for extended range operations led to the launch in December 2004 of trans-Atlantic charters between London Gatwick and Deer Lake in Newfoundland, Canada. In 2004 Astraeus opened up routes from London to Aqaba (Jordan), Tel Aviv (Israel) and Simferopol (Ukraine), with flights to the new Mediterranean resort area of El Alamein (Egypt) commencing in 2005. The Astraeus fleet was further enhanced by the addition of a number of Boeing 757 aircraft.

Plans were announced for the acquisition of a 51% share in Astraeus in September 2006 by FlyMe, but the Swedish airline later pulled out of the acquisition. On 30 October 2006, Icelandic investment company Fons Eignarhaldsfelag, acquired a 51% majority holding in Astraeuscite news | title=Directory: World Airlines | work= Flight International | pages= 78-79 | date= 2007-03-27] . The remaining 49% share was held equally between Astraeus management and Aberdeen Asset Management, which supported the airline launch in 2002. The move helped the Icelandic group support their Iceland Express subsidiary using aircraft from the Astraeus fleet. In October 2007, Fons Eignarhaldsfelag took 100% ownership.

The summer of 2008 saw Astraeus redefine its purpose and become an aircraft provision and leasing business rather than an operating airline. As such it ceased to be an airline operating passenger routes. It operated as a commercial airline for a little over six years.

Destinations

Astraeus has flights to an unset number of various destinations in Africa, Asia, Europe and North America.

Fleet

The Astraeus fleet consists of the following aircraft (at September 2008): [ [http://www.caa.co.uk/application.aspx?catid=60&pagetype=65&appid=1&mode=summary&owner=astraeus UK CAA - Aircraft Register] ]

In September 2008, the Astraeus fleet average age was 13.1 years. [ [http://www.airfleets.net/ageflotte/?file=calcop&opp=Astraeus Astraeus Fleet Age] ]

Notable employee

Bruce Dickinson, lead singer of British heavy metal band Iron Maiden is an Astraeus Captain [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7613743.stm Stranded Britons returning to UK] ] flying the Boeing 757 aircraft.

On October 31 2007, Iron Maiden announced that they had commissioned an Astraeus 757 as transport for their 'Somewhere Back in Time' tour in 2008. The aircraft was converted into a combi configuration, repainted with a special Iron Maiden livery and was used in this scheme until 28th of May 2008 for commercial flights as well as use by Iron Maiden. [http://www.ironmaiden.com/index.php?categoryid=8&p2_articleid=682; last accessed November 16, 2007.]

External links

* [http://www.flystar.com Astraeus]
* [http://www.ch-aviation.ch/aircraft.php?search=set&airline=5W&al_op=1 Astraeus Fleet]
* [http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?airlinesearch=Astraeus&distinct_entry=true Photos of Astraeus aircraft]

References