Within the next year or so, 4, yes 4 new airlines are planned, 2 of them from the UK.
Firstly, the new airline out of the 4 which will be launched first is…
AIR ST MAARTEN
Air St Marrten will start up operations on April 20th of this year. Flights will be made using a 747-200.
The first flight on the 20th is being consiered as a test/promotional flight, because the founded is offering a deal, for a two weeks holiday in St Marrten, begining on the 20th up until May 4th. Included in this a trip to the St Marrten carnival and hotel accomodation all for 599 euros. More than 70 people have already booked!
Considering what the demand for this flight will be the founder, Terrence Rey, will then decide to weather or not continue to do weekly flights that will begin in May, that will be done on a Sunday.
Flights are from AMS direct to SXM, also Pittsburg is to be added to the route too.
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Next on the list is, LionAir.
LionAir is a new Cargo airline to be based at Prestwick in Scotland, and they are to use a single Tristar. The Tristar is N260FA, which is the past was used by Fine Air(now Arrow Air).
The airline has not yet set a day for its launch, but plans to do so in the first quater of this year.
Proposed colour scheme for the LionAir tristar…
The airline hopes to have 4 tristars in their fleet by the begining of 2004, All of which will have come form Arrow Air. By the end of this year, LionAir hopes to have employed at least 78 staff.
Not only will lionair be using their aicraft to cargo runs, but they also plan to lease aircraft out to other airlines.
http://www.flylionair.com/new_page_1.htm
For more on this airline go to their very detailed informationed website… http://www.flylionair.com/
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Next is KissAir.
Theres not really alot to say on this one as the website is very basic on info. KissAir is to be based at LHR, doing daliy flights to Bologna, Nice and Turin.
Take a look at the site… very basic, http://www.kissair.com
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Lastly, is a new Low cost (the word you all love soooo much :p) airline that is due to start up operations out in New Zealand, called Jump Airlines.
It has not yet been decided as where in NZ the airline is to be stationed.
The airline has selected the Boeing 737-800 with the wingtips, to be the aircraft that they will use for operations.
Artist impression. I would just like to say here, that this is not my impression, its from the web site. lol. :p
The airline hopes to lauched officially next year, but a date has not yet been given as to when. They also hope to add regional flights in 2005.
For more here the site address… http://www.jumpairlines.com
By: Saab 2000 - 4th April 2003 at 10:05
A330Crazy,
Websites can be deceiving. If you search on Yahoo or other search engines for LionAir, you will discover some information regarding this airline. As Ren Frew said, there are many reports about the airline like its proposed Shorts Belfast operations. If you look at some of the other airlines the person in question has been involved with (Caledonian Wings for example); you will see an emerging pattern. While I am only basing my opinion on information over the Internet, I do not see this airline taking to the skies.
By: greekdude1 - 4th April 2003 at 04:56
I’m sure Air St. Maarten’s will expand the number of destinations, given time. However, if you only have 1 aircraft, there’s only so much you can do. The fact that they started with an existing route operated by another carrier is good, because there’s already a market for it. They’ll compete with KLM on the AMS route, and I’m sure they’ll beat KLM’s price to attract more customers. As far as them servicing Pittsburg? USAirways does PHL-SXM so maybe they are quasi-competing on that run.
By: EGNM - 4th April 2003 at 00:22
hiya – the Lionair looks a good set-up – the Kiss has been around since about 1999 – i dont think its got a real chance at present!
By: A330Crazy - 3rd April 2003 at 21:40
Saab I agree with you totally. Another Mama Air.
But I think that the LionAir one is real. Its all been though out well and the website has been done so professionally. We’ll just have to wait and see what materialises in the next few months.
By: T5 - 3rd April 2003 at 21:37
I think the Air Saint Maarten sounds quite promising, but they need to expand the number of departure airports available. Perhaps Gatwick or Heathrow – St Maarten looks wonderful, I’m sure many would be interested in a holiday there.
By: Saab 2000 - 3rd April 2003 at 20:27
Kiss Air is an old one, been around for ages. Seems like another MAMA in my eyes….
By: Ren Frew - 3rd April 2003 at 17:25
There have been a number of stories in the Scottish papers exposing Lionair as a con outfit run by a man with a dubious background and a record for conning investors into setting up “new” airlines with him.
He was supposedly buying the Shorts Belfast (ex Heavylift) currently residing at Prestwick. I don’t think this airline will takeoff at all to be honest.
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April 3, 2003 at 4:35 pm
