Air Djibouti
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| Founded | 1963 | ||||||
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| Commenced operations |
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| Ceased operations | 2002 | ||||||
| Hubs | Djibouti-Ambouli International Airport | ||||||
| Destinations | Mogadishu, Addis Ababa, Aden | ||||||
| Headquarters | Djibouti City | ||||||
| Key people |
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| Website | http://air-djibouti.com/ | ||||||
Air Djibouti, also known as Red Sea Airlines, is the flag carrier of Djibouti. It first flew in 1963 and ceased all operations 2002. In 2015 the airline was once again relaunched as a cargo airline and has plans to start passenger flights in the first quarter of 2016. It is headquartered in the capital, Djibouti City.[1][2]
History
Air Djibouti was established in April 1963. Scheduled operations commenced in April of the following year, with a fleet of Bristol 170, De Havilland Dragon Rapide and Beechcraft Model 18 aircraft.[3] In 1970, the airline was taken over by the Air France subsidiary Air Somali, which was founded in 1962. Both airlines merged in 1971.[4] The newly independent Republic of Djibouti participated in 1977 with a 62.5% share in the company. The state later acquired a 90% stake in the carrier when in early 1981 it bought additional shares of Air France.
Relaunch
Air Djibouti was set to relaunch service in late 2015 and 2016 with Chairman Aboubaker Omar Hadi and CEO Mario Fulgoni. The company is also supported by Cardiff Aviation, which Iron Maiden's Bruce Dickinson is chairman of.[5][6] In late 2015 Air Djibouti relaunched service with a Boeing 737 freighter. In 2016 the airline will start passenger service with Boeing 737s, a Boeing 757 and a Boeing 767; it plans to start operations to Paris, London, Dubai and Mumbai by November 2016. The government wishes to establish country as a regional logistics and commercial hub for trade in East Africa, and has chosen to relaunch the airline as part of this plan.[6][7]
Destinations
As of 26 November 2015 Air Djibouti served the following list of destinations.[8]
Fleet
In the 1960s, the airline operated Douglas DC-3s, a Beechcraft Model 18, and a Beechcraft Musketeer.[1] In the early 1970s, the fleet also included a Douglas DC-6; the two Beechcrafts had been replaced by a Bell JetRanger helicopter, and a Piper Cherokee Six.[9]
From 1998 onwards, the Air Djibouti fleet consisted of a single Airbus A310 aircraft.[10]
For the relaunch of Air Djibouti the airline ordered an Boeing 737 freighter and an additional two Boeing 737's, an ex Icelandair Boeing 757 and a Boeing 767.[7][11]
Accidents and incidents
- On 23 July 1969, an Air Djibouti Douglas C-47 (registered F-OCKT) ditched 9 nautical miles (17 km) off Djibouti after having collided with several cranes at an altitude of 300 feet (91 m). The aircraft was operating a domestic flight from Tadjoura Airport to Djibouti Airport. All four people on board survived.[12]
- On 17 October 1977, two gunmen entered an Air Djibouti de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter at Tadjoura Airport shortly before the aircraft's planned take-off, shooting the pilot and one passenger.[13]
Notes
- ^ a b "World Airline Survey", Flight International, 13 April 1967, p.554 (online archive version) retrieved 6 April 2011
- ^ Air Djibouti entry at airlineupdate.com
- ^ Encyclopedia of African Airlines, Ben R. Guttery , Jefferson 1998
- ^ "air france - boeing - 1984 - 0530 - Flight Archive". Retrieved 3 February 2016.
- ^ Reuters Editorial (2 September 2015). "Air Djibouti, back from bankruptcy, sets sights on air freight". Reuters. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
{{cite web}}:|author=has generic name (help) - ^ a b "Air Djibouti to commence cargo operations in late 2015". Retrieved 3 February 2016.
- ^ a b "Djibouti has relaunched its national airline, with backing from Iron Maiden's lead singer - Business Insider". Business Insider. 4 August 2015. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
- ^ "Air Djibouti". Retrieved 3 February 2016.
- ^ "World Airline Survey", Flight International, 22 March 1973, p.435 (online archive version) retrieved 6 April 2011
- ^ "Air Djibouti Fleet Details and History". Retrieved 3 February 2016.
- ^ "Air Djibouti Aims To Be Operating In First-Quarter 2016". Retrieved 3 February 2016.
- ^ "F-OCKT Accident Description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 14 February 2011.
- ^ Harro Ranter (17 October 1977). "ASN Aircraft accident de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter registration unknown Tadjoura Airport (TDJ)". Retrieved 3 February 2016.
References
External links
