Altair Airlines: Difference between revisions
| Line 34: | Line 34: | ||
The airline was established in 1967 as a [[commuter airline]] operating small turboprop aircraft. In 1967, Altair's main shareholder was Tristram Colket and it had 587 employees.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1982/1982%20-%200861.html |title=World airline directory: Altair |accessdate=2009-03-08 |work=[[Flight International]] |publisher=[[Reed Business Information Ltd]] |date=1982-04-03 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5f6xOjaE6?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.flightglobal.com%2Fpdfarchive%2Fview%2F1982%2F1982%2520-%25200861.html |archivedate=2009-03-08 |deadurl=no |df= }}</ref> In May 1970, Altair Airlines was reported by the [[United States government role in civil aviation#Civil Aeronautics Board|Civil Aeronautics Board]] to have the highest [[Overbooking|bumping]] rate.<ref>{{cite news |title=Altair Airlines Has Highest Bumping Rate |url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/courant/access/987102572.html?dids=987102572:987102572&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&date=Aug+13%2C+1979&author=&pub=The+Hartford+Courant&desc=Altair+Airlines+Has+Highest+Bumping+Rate&pqatl=google |work=[[The Hartford Courant]] |publisher=[[Tribune Company]] |date=1979-08-13 |accessdate=8 March 2009 }}</ref> By the late 1970s, Altair had added [[Nord 262]] turboprops to its fleet in addition to [[Beechcraft 99]] commuter turboprops.<ref>http://www.departedflights.com, Nov. 15, 1979 Official Airline Guide (OAG), Philadelphia flight schedules for Altair Airlines</ref> |
The airline was established in 1967 as a [[commuter airline]] operating small turboprop aircraft. In 1967, Altair's main shareholder was Tristram Colket and it had 587 employees.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1982/1982%20-%200861.html |title=World airline directory: Altair |accessdate=2009-03-08 |work=[[Flight International]] |publisher=[[Reed Business Information Ltd]] |date=1982-04-03 |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5f6xOjaE6?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.flightglobal.com%2Fpdfarchive%2Fview%2F1982%2F1982%2520-%25200861.html |archivedate=2009-03-08 |deadurl=no |df= }}</ref> In May 1970, Altair Airlines was reported by the [[United States government role in civil aviation#Civil Aeronautics Board|Civil Aeronautics Board]] to have the highest [[Overbooking|bumping]] rate.<ref>{{cite news |title=Altair Airlines Has Highest Bumping Rate |url=http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/courant/access/987102572.html?dids=987102572:987102572&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&date=Aug+13%2C+1979&author=&pub=The+Hartford+Courant&desc=Altair+Airlines+Has+Highest+Bumping+Rate&pqatl=google |work=[[The Hartford Courant]] |publisher=[[Tribune Company]] |date=1979-08-13 |accessdate=8 March 2009 }}</ref> By the late 1970s, Altair had added [[Nord 262]] turboprops to its fleet in addition to [[Beechcraft 99]] commuter turboprops.<ref>http://www.departedflights.com, Nov. 15, 1979 Official Airline Guide (OAG), Philadelphia flight schedules for Altair Airlines</ref> |
||
Altair attempted to attain sustained profitability by retiring its turboprop aircraft and expanding its scheduled passenger services to new destinations along the U.S. east coast in tandem with the introduction of a small fleet of [[DC-9]] and [[F28]] jets; however, income was never able to outpace the debts incurred. In November 1982, Altair owed more than one million dollars in [[jet fuel]] costs to [[Gulf Oil Corporation]] who, after a protracted period of negotiating, demanded immediate payment. Altair had little choice but to seek legal protection. In 1982, Altair filed for [[bankruptcy]] due to its many debts.<ref>{{cite news |title=Altair Suspends Its Flights – Phila. Airline Files for Bankruptcy |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=PI&s_site=philly&p_multi=PI&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB294670218400C&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |work=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]] |publisher=[[Philadelphia Media Holdings LLC]] |date=1982-11-10 |accessdate=8 March 2009 }}</ref> Its last president was Henry P. Hill. Many of Altair's dedicated employees found employment at other airlines with facilities at [[Philadelphia International Airport]]. |
Altair attempted to attain sustained profitability by retiring its turboprop aircraft and expanding its scheduled passenger services to new destinations along the U.S. east coast in tandem with the introduction of a small fleet of [[DC-9]] and [[F28]] jets; however, income was never able to outpace the debts incurred. In November 1982, Altair owed more than one million dollars in [[jet fuel]] costs to [[Gulf Oil Corporation]] who, after a protracted period of negotiating, demanded immediate payment. Altair had little choice but to seek legal protection. In 1982, Altair filed for [[bankruptcy]] due to its many debts.<ref>{{cite news |title=Altair Suspends Its Flights – Phila. Airline Files for Bankruptcy |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=PI&s_site=philly&p_multi=PI&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB294670218400C&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |work=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]] |publisher=[[Philadelphia Media Holdings LLC]] |date=1982-11-10 |accessdate=8 March 2009 }}</ref> Its last president was Henry P. Hill. Many of Altair's dedicated employees found employment at other airlines with facilities at [[Philadelphia International Airport]] (PHL). |
||
==Fleet== |
==Fleet== |
||
Revision as of 16:39, 6 June 2017
 | |||||||
| |||||||
| Founded | 1967 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ceased operations | 1982 | ||||||
| Fleet size | 9 (in 1982) | ||||||
| Headquarters | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States | ||||||
| Key people | Henry P. Hill | ||||||
Altair Airlines was an airline based in Philadelphia. It was in service from 1967 to 1982.
History
The airline was established in 1967 as a commuter airline operating small turboprop aircraft. In 1967, Altair's main shareholder was Tristram Colket and it had 587 employees.[1] In May 1970, Altair Airlines was reported by the Civil Aeronautics Board to have the highest bumping rate.[2] By the late 1970s, Altair had added Nord 262 turboprops to its fleet in addition to Beechcraft 99 commuter turboprops.[3]
Altair attempted to attain sustained profitability by retiring its turboprop aircraft and expanding its scheduled passenger services to new destinations along the U.S. east coast in tandem with the introduction of a small fleet of DC-9 and F28 jets; however, income was never able to outpace the debts incurred. In November 1982, Altair owed more than one million dollars in jet fuel costs to Gulf Oil Corporation who, after a protracted period of negotiating, demanded immediate payment. Altair had little choice but to seek legal protection. In 1982, Altair filed for bankruptcy due to its many debts.[4] Its last president was Henry P. Hill. Many of Altair's dedicated employees found employment at other airlines with facilities at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL).
Fleet
When it ceased operations in November 1982, Altair Airlines was an all-jet air carrier operating a fleet of six Fokker F28 Fellowship series 4000 and three McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30 jetliners. The airline called their jet aircraft "Starjets".[5] Altair previously operated Beechcraft 99 and Nord 262 turboprop aircraft prior to introducing jet service and expanding its routes.[6]
Destinations in 1969
According to its July 1, 1969 system timetable, Altair was operating scheduled passenger service with small Beechcraft 99 turboprop commuter aircraft with flights serving the following destinations primarily in the northeast U.S.[7]
- Albany, NY (ALB)
- Allentown, PA/Bethlehem, PA/Easton, PA (ABE)
- Baltimore, MD (BWI)
- Harrisburg, PA (MDT)
- Philadelphia, PA (PHL) - Hub & airline headquarters
- Reading, PA (RDG)
- Richmond, VA (RIC)
- Washington, DC National Airport (DCA)
- White Plains, NY (HPN)
- Wilkes-Barre, PA/Scranton, PA (AVP)
- Wilmington, DE (ILG)
Destinations in 1982
According to its June 15, 1982 route map, Altair was serving the following destinations in the eastern U.S. with all flights being operated with with either Fokker F28 Fellowship or McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30 jets.[8]
- Buffalo, NY (BUF)
- Charleston, SC (CHS)
- Greensboro, NC (GSO)
- Hartford, CT (BDL)
- Jacksonville, FL (JAX)
- Norfolk, VA (ORF)
- Philadelphia, PA (PHL) - Hub & airline headquarters
- Providence, RI (PVD)
- Raleigh/Durham, NC (RDU)
- Rochester, NY (ROC)
- Sarasota, FL (SRQ)
- Savannah, GA (SAV)
- Tampa, FL (TPA)
- Washington, DC National Airport (DCA)
References
- ^ "World airline directory: Altair". Flight International. Reed Business Information Ltd. 1982-04-03. Archived from the original on 2009-03-08. Retrieved 2009-03-08.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Altair Airlines Has Highest Bumping Rate". The Hartford Courant. Tribune Company. 1979-08-13. Retrieved 8 March 2009.
- ^ http://www.departedflights.com, Nov. 15, 1979 Official Airline Guide (OAG), Philadelphia flight schedules for Altair Airlines
- ^ "Altair Suspends Its Flights – Phila. Airline Files for Bankruptcy". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia Media Holdings LLC. 1982-11-10. Retrieved 8 March 2009.
- ^ http://www.departedflights.com, June 15, 1982 Altair Airlines system timetable
- ^ http://www.airliners.net, photos of Altair Airlines aircraft
- ^ http://www.timetableimages.com, July 1, 1969 Altair Airlines system timetable
- ^ http://www.departedflights.com, June 15, 1982 Altair Airlines route map