Slovak Airlines

Infobox Airline
airline=Slovak Airlines

logo_size=180
IATA=6Q
ICAO=SLL
callsign=SLOV LINE
parent=Austrian Airlines
founded=1995
ceased operations=2007
key_people=Christiane Böhm-Mayer (chairman)
headquarters=Bratislava, Slovakia
hubs=M. R. Štefánik Airport Bratislava
focus_cities=
frequent_flyer=
lounge=
alliance=
fleet_size=3 (May 2006)
destinations=2 scheduled + 22 charter
website= http://www.slovakairlines.sk/

Slovenske Aerolinie (Slovak Airlines) was an airline based in Bratislava, Slovakia. It was the flag carrier of the Slovak Republic operating a scheduled service to Moscow, Brussels and international charter flights to Russia, Spain, Cyprus, Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria, Tunisia and Italy. The company also ran wet-lease operations. Its main base was M. R. Štefánik Airport, Bratislava.

The airline ceased operations in February 2007. [ [http://www.slovakspectator.sk/clanok-26470.html Slovak Airlines cancels all regular flights] ] [ [http://www.aua.com/sk/svk/austrian/news/Press+Archive/default.htm?artGuid=%7B8D792042-DF18-479A-B133-E1F534BF46CF%7D Press release from Austrian Airlines] ]

History

The airline was established on 24 June 1995 and started operations in May 1998. It was founded by Viliam Veteska and a group of private investors. In January 2005 Austrian Airlines acquired the majority stake (62%) in the company. Slovak Airlines ceased operations after Austrian Airlines repossessed two aircraft having withdrawn financial support in January 2007. The company filed for bankruptcy on 2 March 2007. [Flight International 10 April 2007]

Destinations

The airline flew scheduled services from Bratislava to Brussels (7 weekly, codeshare with Austrian, Fokker 100) and Moscow Sheremetyevo (4 weekly, codeshare Aeroflot, Fokker 100).

In 2006 the airline flew the following charter flights from Bratislava (with Boeing 737-300):

* Bulgaria: Burgas
* Cyprus: Larnaca
* Egypt: Hurghada, Sharm el Sheik
* Greece: Heraklion, Chania, Karpathos, Korfu, Kos, Rhodos, Thessaloniki
* Jordan: Aqaba
* Montenegro: Tivat
* Spain: Palma de Mallorca
* Tunisia: Monastir
* Turkey: Antalya, Dalaman

And from Košice (with Boeing 737-300):

* Bulgaria: Burgas
* Egypt: Hurghada
* Greece: Heraklion, Chania, Korfu, Kos, Rhodos, Thessaloniki
* Montenegro: Tivat
* Turkey: Antalya

The airline also flew for Italian travel agencies a weekly Brescia - Rhodos service with the Boeing 737 - 300 aircraft. The smaller 100-seat Fokker 100 was used on the following charter flights for Greek travel agencies: Bratislava - Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki - Chania, Chios, Kos, Rhodos, Samos, Santorini. In winter 2006/2007 OM-AAE was based in Tripoli (November - January) to operate flights for Libyan Arab Airlines.

Fleet

As of January 2007 the Slovak Airlines fleet includes:

*Boeing 737-300 reg. OM-AAD (Name: Košice) ex. N509DC, EC-EHJ. In 6Q fleet from 29 August 2002
*Boeing 737-300 reg. OM-AAE ex. OE-ILF (Lauda Air), leased. In 6Q Fleet from 25 May 2005
* Fokker 100 reg. OM-AAC (Name: Nitra), leased from Austrian Airlines, ex N1451N, HB-JVA (Helvetic). In fleet from 13 June 2005All the aircraft have new owners following the demise of Slovak Airlines.

Previously used aircraft:
* three Tupolev Tu-154M (OM-AAA (Púchov), OM-AAB (Gerlach) and OM-AAC (Detva)), leased from the Slovak government
* one Saab 340 B (OM-BAA) leased from Air Ostrava
* one Boeing 767-200 (OM-NSH), used to operate flight between the U.K. and India
* one Boeing 737-300 (OM-AAA), now as LN-KKR with Norwegian
* one Fokker 100 (OE-LVG), leased from Austrian for a short time between February 2005 and June 2005

External links

* [http://www.airfleets.net/flottecie/Slovak%20Airlines.htm Slovak Airlines Fleet]

References