Archana Airways

Archana Airways
अर्चना एयरवैस

IATA N/A ICAO ACY Callsign ARCHANA
Founded	1993
Hubs	Delhi
Fleet size	2
Destinations	5
Headquarters	New Delhi

Archana Airways (Hindi: अर्चना एयरवैस) is a defunct airline based in India. It operated domestic scheduled services. Archana Airways CEO Uday Kiran Nag started the airline in 1993 as a private airline.

History

Archana Airways Limited came into existence on 29 April 1991 and started its full service operation in 1993 with three brand new Czech built L-410 UVP-E9, 17 seater commuter aircraft. In 1994 the company was granted scheduled airlines status by Government of India through Director General of Civil Aviation, New Delhi.

Seeing its potential and quality of service, timely connectivity provided by Archana Airways, in 1994, it was approached by MPAVN (now MPSIDC) to connect some sectors in State of Madhya Pradesh and also subscribe equity of the company as co-promoter.

Archana was among the smallest of the 30 old aviation companies which had come into being by 1994. Its growth was based on very sound planning and management principles. Unlike others in the filed of aviation, Archana Airways lost no time in setting up in-house facilities, for overhaul of aircraft and training programs for pilots, cabin attendants, traffic assistants and security staff.

It was the only private airline in year 1994 to achieve the above mentioned success in such short span of time. Archana was operating its schedule flight to Kullu, Shimla, Jaipur, Udaipur and Jodhpur sector. The only airline in India having specialized services for hills. Hundred of passengers traveled through Archana Airways to see city of palaces: Jaipur City of lakes and gardens: Udaipur.

In the beginning of 1995 to connect more sectors, company planned an expansion to acquire bigger capacity aircraft. The plan was to acquire two new DASH-8 Aircraft on deferred credit basis.

Archana Airways was pioneer airline to provide timely scheduled and specialized air services for the sectors at hills. All progress could be credited to the sound planning, high quality service provided and managed principles. The company was having three L410 (17 Seater) aircraft out of which two aircraft met with an accidents in Kanpur ('96) and Kullu ('96). The company acquired three new L410 aircraft during 96-97. The promoters started feeling credit crunch and were unable to pay the instalments of the aircraft. The company incurred heavy losses due to low load factors and high cost of operation. The aircraft were returned to the manufacturers in 2000 against settlement of their dues.

Destinations Covered

Delhi Kanpur Shimla Kullu Bhuntar Bhopal Raipur

Incidents and Accidents

• An Archana Airways flight crashed after taking off from Shimla while operating on the Delhi-Shimla-Bhunter-Delhi sector on the morning of 11 July 1996, killing all 9 persons aboard (including three flight crew members).

Fleet

Archana Airways operated the Bombardier Dash 8 aircraft. It formerly operated Let L-410 aircraft.

External links

• Info regarding Archana Airways