Alas Nacionales

Infobox Airline
airline = Alas Nacionales, S.A.

logo_size =
fleet_size = 4
destinations = 8
IATA =
ICAO = ALW
callsign = Alas Nacionales Dominicanas
parent =
company_slogan =
founded = 1990's
headquarters = Santo Domingo
key_people =
hubs = Las Américas International Airport
secondary_hubs =
focus_cities =
frequent_flyer = Yes
lounge = Yes
alliance =
website =

Alas Nacionales ("National Wings" in Spanish) was a Dominican Republic-based carrier that operated flights between Dominican Republic and Europe and United States. This airline had it hub in Las Americas International Airport of Santo Domingo, and had some operations to Europe from Puerto Plata. The airline served as a representative of Birgenair." [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_19960210/ai_n14030127 Crash plane may not have been serviced] ," "The Independent"] [" [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_19960209/ai_n14028010 Bonn grounds 757 as crash mystery grows] ." "The Independent".]

Destinations

Alas Nacionales had preferences until its destinations, they were operating more flights to Europe than USA.
*Las Americas International Airport
*Gregorio Luperon International Airport
*Frankfurt International Airport
*Tegel International Airport
*Gander Airport
*Gatwick International Airport
*Miami International Airport
*John F. Kennedy International Airport

Fleet

*2 Boeing 757-200 "Leased from Birgenair" [http://latam.msnusers.com/td3qducbck0okid219685aecu5/foro.msnw?action=get_message&mview=1&ID_Message=779 TC-GEN, Same aircraft crashed in POP]
*2 Boeing 767-200 [http://latam.msnusers.com/td3qducbck0okid219685aecu5/airsantodomingo.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=472 Own Aircraft of the Airline]

Incidents and accidents

On February 6, 1996 Birgenair Flight 301 (Operated by Alas Nacionales) was bound for Frankfurt, Germany but crashed shortly after take-off from Puerto Plata Airport in the Dominican Republic into Atlantic Ocean 26 kilometres off-shore. All 176 passengers and 13 crew members, among them 154 Germans and 10 Polish people, were killed. It was found that one of the air speed indicators of the Boeing 757-225 was not working properly, confusing the pilots about whether the plane's speed was too fast or too slow.

Massive negative publicity about Birgenair and other discount flight organizers in Germany following the disaster caused a sharp decline in reservations, and finally the company went into bankruptcy and closed later that same year, 1996 (Those two airlines).cite web | url=http://elcaribecdn.com.do/articulo_caribe.aspx?id=151125&guid=A043FA54894D4C72BBAC2211C23256BF&Seccion=3 | title = AWL 301 to FRA (Crashed)| author = Unknown| publisher = Periodico El Caribe | date = February 6 2008 | accessdate = 2008-02-06]

References