- Not to be confused with Atlantic Airways, the national airline of the Faroe Islands.
Atlantic Airlines Limited was a British cargo airline based in Coventry, United Kingdom. It operated contract and ad-hoc cargo flights worldwide, especially within Europe and across the Atlantic. Most of their flights departed from East Midlands and Bournemouth. The airline specialised in the transport of dangerous goods and radioactive products and other specialist aerial work, including oil spill response, dispersant spraying and icing trials. The prime activity of the business is the supply and operating of aircraft to night-time freight integrators and consolidators and the operation of ad-hoc air charters on behalf of other airline, freight brokers and forwarders.
Atlantic Airlines did hold an EU Ops Air Operators Certificate with the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority and a Type A Operating Licence, permitting it to carry cargo and mail on aircraft.[1]
Atlantic Airlines was also a partner airline with Atlantic Flight Training which was also once part of the Atlantic group.
Atlantic Airlines merged with the sweedish airline "West Air Europe" in 2008 to establish the new airline "West Atlantic"
History
The airline was established in 1994. It was formed as part of the Air Atlantique Group of Companies to specialise in the supply of contract and ad hoc cargo services. Since July 2001 Atlantic Airlines has traded independently and continues to broaden its product range and capability through the marketing of its Air Operators Certificate (AOC) and Part 145 Maintenance capabilities. Atlantic also performs all of its own aircraft maintenance.
The company Atlantic Airlines Limited was established in March 2001 when the management performed a buy-in to the trading company. A full management buy-out was achieved on May 28 2004 when the same management purchased all the assets of the business including aircraft, spares, engines etc.
In January 2006, Atlantic acquired the first of an order for 5 BAe ATP freighter aircraft.
In February 2007, Atlantic Airlines signed an agreement with BAE Systems Regional Aircraft to long-term lease a further 6 BAe ATP freighters bringing the total orders to 11.[2] The company has currently converted 9 aircraft with the remaining two expected to be converted during 2010.
In October 2008, it was announced that the airline would merge with West Air Sweden to form a new airline called West Atlantic with its headquarters in Sweden.[3][4]
On 8 December 2009, Atlantic Airlines' biggest base, Coventry Airport, was closed due financial reasons causing Atlantic Airlines to cease all cargo flights to and from the airport.[5] Atlantic Airlines has moved all Coventry flights to Birmingham as a result.[6]
Destinations
Atlantic Airlines served the following destinations:
Terminated destinations
- England - Coventry
- Italy - Naples
- Switzerland - Basle
- Slovenia - Ljubljana
Fleet
The Atlantic Airlines fleet included the following aircraft (at June 2009):[7]
Atlantic Airlines holded a contract to provide the UK Maritime Coastguard Agency with a Lockheed L-188 Electra aircraft fitted with aerial spray equipment to combat oil pollution at sea.
On 25 July 2009, a BAe ATP, registration G-BTPH, was spotted at Bournemouth International Airport in the new color scheme of West Atlantic.
External links
References
