East African Airways

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East African Airways
IATA
EC		 ICAO
JND		 Callsign
EastAf
Founded January 1, 1946 (1946-01-01)
Commenced operations 1946 (1946)
Ceased operations 1977 (1977)
Hubs
Secondary hubs
Subsidiaries
Destinations
Company slogan
  • Fly among friends (1964)[1]
  • The safari airline (1976)
Headquarters Sadler House, Nairobi, Kenya

East African Airways Corporation, more commonly known as East African Airways, was an airline jointly run by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. It was set up on 1 January 1946, starting operations the same year. The airline was headquartered in the Sadler House in Nairobi, Kenya.[2] The corporation was dissolved in 1977 amid deteriorated relations among the three countries.

Contents

[edit] History

An East African Airways logo wearing the slogan of the company, “Fly among friends”, used throughout the 1960s.
An East African Airways Douglas C-47 at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in 1975.

The East African Airways Corporation (EAA) was set up on 1 January 1946 by four East African governments, namely Kenya, Tanganyka, Uganda and Zanzibar, all of which were under the rule of the British Empire at the time the airline was created.[3]

In early 1957, services to the United Kingdom were launched on a once-weekly basis, at first operated by BOAC on EAA's behalf, and then in EAA's own right with ex-BOAC Argonauts.[4][5] This tourist-class service had low load factors when it was started, as it competed with same-fare BOAC Britannias and Viscounts.[6] Also in early 1957, the Nairobi–Aden route was started; in mid-September the same year the route was extended farther east, from Aden to Bombay via Karachi, and Argonauts were also deployed on it.[7][8][9]

Following the opening of Embakasi Airport on 9 March 1958, EAA started transferring all their operations from Wilson Aerodrome to the new airport; upon moving their DC-3 operations in July the same year, all scheduled services operated from Embakasi, becoming their hub since.[10]:281[11]

In 1960, two Comets ordered by the corporation in 1958 were put into service on the London–Rome–Khartoum–Entebbe–Nairobi, London–Rome–Khartoum–Nairobi–Dar-es-Salaam, and Nairobi–Aden–Karachi–Bombay routes.[12][13][14] The same year, EAA reactivated Seychelles-Kilimanjaro Air Transport, a 1952-founded airline otherwise known as SKAT that had previously ceased operations, as a wholly owned subsidiary that flew some routes for EAA.[15] SKAT was later re-christened Simbair Ltd when it was decided that EAA would no longer operate charter services; the renaming effectively took place in May 1971 (1971-05) and became an EAA's wholly owned subsidiary that took over SKAT and EAA passenger and cargo charter operations.[16][17]

As in the early 1960s the airline was running short of capacity and the fleet was growing old, three Fokker F27s were ordered as a replacement for the DC-3s and the Argonauts.[18] The airline had not yet taken delivery of the third of these aircraft, when in late 1962 a fourth was ordered.[19] In May 1965 (1965-05), an order for three VC-10s worth GB£11 million was placed.[20] Likewise, another VC-10 was ordered in 1969.[21]

Management assistance from Aer Lingus was contracted in mid-1976 amid deteriorating relations between the three countries that ran the airline.[22] Financial difficulties deepened when both Tanzania and Uganda struggled to pay their outstanding debts for the operations of the airline, or directly missed them.[23][24][25] EAA operations came to a total halt in January 1977 (1977-01).[26][27] The airline had incurred in a debt of US$120,000,000 ($460,230,643 in 2012) when it went into liquidation in February 1977 (1977-02), with the Kenyan government being one of the major creditors.[23]

Both Kenya and Uganda had established their own national airlines before the folding of the corporation: Kenya Airways and Uganda Airlines were formed in 1977 and 1976, respectively.[26] Tanzania followed in April 1977 (1977-04), forming Air Tanzania.[28]

[edit] Destinations

Main article: East African Airways destinations

[edit] Fleet

An East African Airways Fokker F27-200 at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in 1976.

Owned or leased, the airline operated the following equipment all through its history:[29]

[edit] Accidents and incidents

According to Aviation Safety Network, the airline experienced 7 events throughout its history; two of them led to fatalities, with a death toll of 63.[30] All occurrences shown below carried with the hull-loss of the aircraft involved.

Date Location Aircraft Tail number Fatalities Description Refs
01955-05-18 18 May 1955 TanzaniaMount Kilimanjaro Douglas C-47B VP-KKH &1000000000000002000000020/20 Crashed in one of the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, while en route an international Dar-es-Salaam-Nairobi scheduled passenger service as Flight 104. [31]
01962-04-11 11 April 1962 KenyaNairobi Argonaut VP-KNY &100000000000000000000000/3 Struck the ground and caught fire at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, during a training flight. [32]
01963-08-29 29 August 1963 BotswanaFrancistown Douglas C-47B VP-KJT Unknown Destroyed by fire at Francistown Airport. [33]
01972-04-18 18 April 1972 EthiopiaAddis Ababa VC-10-1154 5X-UVA &1000000000000004300000043/107 Overran the runway at Bole International Airport following an aborted takeoff, broke up, and caught fire. The aircraft was due to operate the Addis Ababa–Rome leg of an international scheduled passenger service as Flight 720. [34]
01973-07-05 5 July 1973 TanzaniaMbeya Douglas C-47B 5H-AAK &100000000000000000000000 Ground-looped at Mbeya Airport during the landing roll. [35]
01975-08-27 27 August 1975 TanzaniaMtwara Douglas C-47B 5Y-AAF &100000000000000000000000/19 Skidded off the runway on landing at Mtwara Airport. [36]

[edit] See also

Portal icon Aviation portal
Portal icon Kenya portal
Portal icon Tanzania portal
Portal icon Uganda portal


[edit] References

  1. ^ "East African Airways Timetable (Effective 1 July 1964) — International Route Map – EAA and associates". Airline timetable images. http://www.timetableimages.com/ttimages/complete/ec64/ec64-23.jpg. Retrieved 28 January 2012. 
  2. ^ "World airline directory – East African Airways Corporation (EAA)" (PDF). Flight International: 923. 10 April 1976. http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1976/1976%20-%200615.html. Retrieved 28 January 2012. 
  3. ^ "East African Airways – A Thriving Young Commonwealth Airline" (PDF). Flight: 20 – 21. 7 January 1955. http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1955/1955%20-%200020.html. Retrieved 28 January 2012. 
  4. ^ "Long-haul economics" (PDF). Flight: 619. 2 May 1958. http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1958/1958%20-%200603.html. Retrieved 28 January 2012. "Last year saw E.A.A.C. start services between East Africa and the U.K. using three Argonauts purchased at reasonable terms from B.O.A.C." 
  5. ^ "Brevities" (PDF). Flight: 360. 22 March 1957. http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1957/1957%20-%200358.html. Retrieved 27 January 2012. "For the first time, East African Airways are to run services to the United Kingdom. Starting on April 2, they will be operated by B.O.A.C. until E.A.A. receive their three ex-B.O.A.C. Argonauts." 
  6. ^ "E.A.A.C.'s London service" (PDF). Flight: 813. 21 November 1958. http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1958/1958-1-%20-%200807.html. Retrieved 2012-1-. 
  7. ^ "Brevities" (PDF). Flight: 525. 27 September 1957. http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1957/1957%20-%201435.html. Retrieved 27 January 2012. "East African Airways have inaugurated a new Canadair Argonaut service to Karachi and Bombay via Aden." 
  8. ^ "Brevities" (PDF). Flight: 249. 23 August 1957. http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1957/1957%20-%201161.html. Retrieved 27 January 2012. "East African Airways are to start new Canadair Services to Aden, Karachi and Bombay on September 15." 
  9. ^ "Civil aviation..." (PDF). Flight: 194. 8 February 1957. http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1957/1957%20-%200192.html. Retrieved 27 January 2012. "East African Airways will start weekly services from Nairobi to Aden on February 13." 
  10. ^ John Stroud (22 August 1958). "Air Transport in the Commonwealth – East Africa" (PDF). Flight: 208 – 282. http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1958/1958-1-%20-%200277.html. Retrieved 28 January 2012. 
  11. ^ "Brevities" (PDF). Flight: 93. 18 July 1958. http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1958/1958-1-%20-%200091.html. Retrieved 28 January 2012. "East African Airways have vacated Wilson Aerodrome and are now based entirely at Nairobi Airport (Embakasi)." 
  12. ^ "Brevities" (PDF). Flight: 199. 5 August 1960. http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1960/1960%20-%201265.html. Retrieved 28 January 2012. "East African Airways Comet services between London and Nairobi are now scheduled to start on September 17 and to Dar-es-Salaam on September 22. The twice-weekly Nairobi services will be routed via Rome, Khartoum and Entebbe, and the weekly service to Dar-es-Salaam via Rome, Khartoum and Nairobi." 
  13. ^ "Brevities" (PDF). Flight: 883. 24 June 1960. http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1960/1960%20-%200875.html. Retrieved 28 January 2012. "August 18 is the date announced by East African Airways for the introduction of their Comet 4s, the first of their order for two being due for delivery soon." 
  14. ^ "Civil aviation – Comet 4s for E.A.A.C." (PDF). Flight: 389. 5 September 1958. http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1958/1958-1-%20-%200385.html. Retrieved 28 January 2012. 
  15. ^ "World airline survey – Seychelles-Kilimanjaro Air Transport Ltd" (PDF). Flight International: 591. 10 April 1969. http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1969/1969%20-%201844.html. Retrieved 13 January 2012. 
  16. ^ "Sensor" (PDF). Flight International: 911. 24 June 1971. http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1971/1971%20-%201024.html. Retrieved 13 January 2012. "East African Airways Corporation is to go flat out for charters as a matter of top commercial policy. The airline's subsidiary SKAT is being renamed Simbair." 
  17. ^ "World airline directory – Simbair Ltd" (PDF). Flight International: 981. 9 April 1977. http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1977/1977%20-%201037.html. Retrieved 13 January 2012. 
  18. ^ "Friendshps for EAAC and DTA" (PDF). Flight International: 362. 7 September 1961. http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1961/1961%20-%201260.html. Retrieved 2012-1-. 
  19. ^ "EAAC Friendship Repeat-order" (PDF). Flight International: 775. 15 November 1962. http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1962/1962%20-%202676.html. Retrieved 13 January 2012. "East African Airways, who have taken delivery of two of their three Fokker Friendships, have placed a contract for a fourth." 
  20. ^ "EAA VC10 Contract Signed" (PDF). Flight International: 799. 20 May 1965. http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1965/1965%20-%201433.html. Retrieved 13 January 2012. "On May 10 East African Airways signed its £llm contract to buy three Super VClOs." 
  21. ^ "Last VC10 Order?" (PDF). Flight International: 998. 19 June 1969. http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1969/1969%20-%201091.html. Retrieved 13 January 2012. "East African Airways has converted its option on a Super VC10 to a firm order, delivery of which is planned for next February." 
  22. ^ "Aer Lingus sells management" (PDF). Flight International: 1481. 5 June 1976. http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1976/1976%20-%200943.html. Retrieved 2012-1-. 
  23. ^ a b "East African Airways debts total $120 million" (PDF). Flight International: 1713. 10 December 1977. http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1977/1977%20-%203710.html. Retrieved 13 January 2012. 
  24. ^ "EAA still grounded" (PDF). Flight International: 509. 5 March 1977. http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1977/1977%20-%200545.html. Retrieved 13 January 2012. 
  25. ^ "East African Airways survives" (PDF). Flight International: 1821. 25 December 1976. http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1976/1976%20-%203044.html. Retrieved 13 January 2012. 
  26. ^ a b "East African Airways Corporation (EAA)" (PDF). Flight International: 949. 9 April 1977. http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1977/1977%20-%201005.html. Retrieved 13 January 2012. 
  27. ^ "East African suspends flights" (PDF). Flight International: 267. 5 February 1977. http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1977/1977%20-%200287.html. Retrieved 13 January 2012. 
  28. ^ "Air transport" (PDF). Flight International: 1173. 30 April 1977. http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1977/1977%20-%201241.html. "Tanzania has taken the first steps towards setting up a new airline to be known as Air Tanzania. The country has been without an airline since East African Airways collapsed." 
  29. ^ "SubFleets for: East African Airways". AeroTransport Data Bank. 7 January 2012. http://www.aerotransport.org/php/go.php?query=operator&qstring=East+African+Airways&where=52647&luck=. Retrieved 7 January 2012. 
  30. ^ "Accident record for East African Airways". Aviation Safety Network. http://aviation-safety.net/database/operator/airline.php?var=6305. Retrieved 30 January 2012. 
  31. ^ Accident description for VP-KKH at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 28 January 2012.
  32. ^ Accident description for VP-KNY at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 28 January 2012.
  33. ^ Accident description for VP-KJT at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 30 January 2012.
  34. ^ Accident description for 5X-UVA at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 30 January 2012.
  35. ^ Accident description for 5H-AAK at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 30 January 2012.
  36. ^ Accident description for 5Y-AAF at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 28 January 2012.
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