Atlantic Airways

:"Not to be confused with Atlantic Airlines, a British airline."Infobox_Airline
airline=Atlantic Airways
logo=RCLogo.pnglogo_size=300
fleet_size=10
destinations=10
IATA=RC
ICAO=FLI
callsign=FAROELINE
parent=
founded=1987
headquarters= flagicon|Faroe Islands Sørvágur, Faroe Islands
key_people=
hubs=Vágar Airport
frequent_flyer= EuroBonus
lounge=
alliance=
website= http://www.atlantic.fo

Atlantic Airways (OMX|ICE50681|FO-AIR) is the national airline of the Faroe Islands, operating domestic helicopter services and international passenger services as well as search and rescue responsibilities from its base at Vágar Airport, on the Faroese island of Vágar.Flight International 27 March 2007]

History

Regular air links to the Faroes had been in operation since 1963, between the islands and Denmark. Although the airport at Vágar had been constructed by the British Army during World War II, air traffic to the islands was practically non-existent between the departure of the British and the start of services to Copenhagen. Calls for the creation of a Faroese airline company began in the early 1980s. Passenger numbers were steadily increasing and Danish carrier Maersk Air enjoyed the monopoly as the sole airline to serve the Faroe Islands. As a result, Atlantic Airways was established in 1987, initially between the Faroese Government (51%) and Danish airline Cimber Air (49%), though the Faroese government would assume full ownership in 1989. Flights commenced between Vágar and Copenhagen on 28 March 1988 using a British Aerospace BAe 146. A hangar was built at Vágar by the Faroese government in order to secure Atlantic Airways' home base in the Faroes, ensuring maintenance facilities were available on the islands.

The aim of the new airline company, which many predicted would have a short life, was to build up a Faroese aviation industry on a commercial basis and to ensure the Faroe Islands a good, up-to-date air connection with the outside world. Furthermore, the company aimed to improve the existing level of service. Flight crews and management were Faroese.

Though load factors were high and the new service was popular, Atlantic Airways had a turbulent beginning economically. The Faroe Islands suffered a severe economic depression in the early 1990s, and at its nadir in 1992, the Faroese government delivered 75 m DKK in aid to the ailing carrier. Atlantic Airways would not break into profit until 1995.

Flights were launched to Reykjavík in 1995 in co-operation with Air Iceland, and also to Narsarsuaq in Greenland in the summer months, in co-operation with Air Iceland. The latter half of the 1990s saw Billund in Denmark and Aberdeen in the UK added to Atlantic Airways' flight schedule.

The growing list of destinations and passenger numbers, together with the stabilisation of the airline's finances, saw a second BAe 146 added to the fleet in 2000. This new aircraft meant services to London (Stansted) in the UK and the Norwegian capital Oslo added to the network. Growth in tourism on the islands has also enabled flights to Aalborg, Stavanger, Stord and Edinburgh. However, for the 2006 season services to Stord have been discontinued, and Edinburgh replaced by the Shetland Islands. Atlantic Airways also entered the UK domestic market in 2006, becoming the only carrier to offer a direct service between Shetland and London, which it does on a twice weekly basis.

Atlantic Airways also operates a comprehensive domestic service by helicopter, in many instances a vital connection to many of the islands, which otherwise can only be reached by sea. The helicopter has proved a vital tool on the islands since the 1960s, when helicopters from Danish coast guard vessels patrolling the Faroes undertook a variety of tasks, including ferrying equipment and supplies between the islands. The government hired a helicopter in 1978 for these tasks, but in the 1980s a commercial public helicopter service was launched linking each of the islands using two Bell Helicopter Textron aircraft.

Initially, the helicopter service was a standalone company, SL Helicopters, but the decision to concentrate Faroese aviation into one firm led the helicopter department becoming part of Atlantic Airways in 1994. The helicopters provide a round trip 'hopper' service to each of the islands, which is also ideal for tourists looking for aerial views. At all time, the company is required to have at least one helicopter, operational and ready for search and rescue duties.

Over the last 5 years, Atlantic Airways has produced profits of between 8 and 13 million DKK. The company has increased its turnover greatly from approximately 120 million in 1998 to around 520 million DKK in 2006. Atlantic Airways employs 177 people (at January 2007).

Atlantic Airways was listed at the Iceland Stock Exchange December 10th. 2007The Faroese government has decided on a privatisation process and has sold off 33% of the company in the first bidding round. First day of trading was December 10th. 2007The government is planning to sell off 33% more in 2008 [ [http://www.atlantic.fo/Default.asp?action=visdokument&FilID=218&window=popup Announcement start of sales] , issued November 14th. 2007] [ [http://www.atlantic.fo/Default.asp?action=visdokument&FilID=240&window=popup 33% of Atlantic Airways sold] , stock exchange announcement issued November 28th. 2007] [ [http://www.atlantic.fo/Default.asp?sida=3097 Atlantic Airways investor relations website] ]

Special guests on Atlantic Airways

In October 2007, Atlantic Airways picked up former United States President Bill Clinton at Keflavík Airport and flew him to Faroe Islands, where Mr. Clinton and Mr. Hans Blix were speakers at an event organised by Faroe Islands Industry. After the event, Atlantic Airways flew Mr. Clinton to Copenhagen.cn|date=February 2008

Route Network

International

In Summer 2008, Atlantic Airways will operate scheduled passenger flights between Vágar Airport and the following destinations. [ [http://www.atlantic.fo/Default.asp?action=visdokument&FilID=239&window=popup www.atlantic.fo Timetable summer 2008] ] . [ [http://www.atlantic.fo/Default.asp?action=visdokument&FilID=205&window=popup www.atlantic.fo Timetable winther 2007/2008] ]

Atlantic has also placed an order for 1 Airbus A319 with 1 option. [ [http://www.airbus.com/en/presscentre/pressreleases/pressreleases_items/08_01_30_a319_atlantic_airways.html Atlantic Airways becomes new customer for Airbus A319] Airbus Press Centre, 30 January 2008] Atlantic Airways sold and leased back one of the Avro RJ85 on the 6. of october 2008. By 6. of october Atlantic Airways is leasing 3 aircrafts and owes 4.. [ [http://www.atlantic.fo/Default.aspx?pageid=5308 Atlantic Airways has arranged a sale and lease-back on one RJ 85 aircraft , 6 October 2008]

Incidents and Accidents

"See main article: "Atlantic Airways Flight 670"

* At 7:35 local time on October 10, 2006 a BAe 146-200A (registration OY-CRG, C/n / msn: E2075) skidded off the runway at Stord Airport, Norway. Of the twelve passengers and four crew members onboard at the time, four were found dead while twelve managed to escape the wreckage with various injuries. The aircraft had been chartered by Aker Kværner in order to fly personnel from Stavanger (Sola Airport) to Molde (Molde Airport) via Stord. The aircraft appears to have been unable to stop on the runway when its spoilers failed to extract during landing. The aircraft crossed the threshold and continued down a slope before coming to rest and catching fire. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6036321.stm Norway runway blaze kills three] , BBC News, October 10, 2006.] [ [http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20061010-0 Accident description of OY-CRG] , Aviation Safety Network Database, October 10, 2006.] [ [http://www.aibn.no/default.asp?FILE=items/2494/172/OY-CRG%20foreløpig%20rapport.pdf Preliminary accident report in norwegian] , issued October 25th. 2007]

* On March 24, 2008 a BAe 146 lost one nose wheel just before takeoff from Copenhagen Airport. The plane landed in Faroe Islands without problems; the pilots had not noticed any irregularities. [ [http://politiken.dk/indland/article486493.ece Newspaper article] (Danish), from politiken.dk]

* 198X at Vagar Airport. a BAe 146-200A (registration OY-CRG, C/n / msn: E2075) could not stop on runway and turned in to safety strip. No injuries, but some damage on body and engines.

External links

* [http://www.atlantic.fo Atlantic Airways]

References