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Helvetic Airways

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Helvetic Airways
IATA ICAO Call sign
2L[1] OAW HELVETIC
Founded2003
Hubs
Fleet size14
Destinations34
Parent companyHelvetic Airways AG
HeadquartersKloten, Switzerland
Key peopleBruno Jans, CEO
Tobias Pogorevc, CFO
Websitehelvetic.com

Helvetic Airways is a Swiss airline based at Zürich Airport.[2] It operates flights to destinations in Europe and Northern Africa, mainly leisure markets, but also to business destinations on its own behalf[3] as well as scheduled flights on behalf of Swiss International Air Lines using their fleet of Embraer 190s and Fokker 100s.

History

Helvetic Airways was established in the autumn of 2003 as a rebranding and extension of the existing airline Odette Airways to serve destinations in South-Eastern Europe. Switzerland's first budget carrier began operating in November with a Fokker 100 flying to 3 destinations. By 2004, the fleet had grown to 7 aircraft.

In December 2006, the carrier unveiled a new look for its aircraft. Since that time, all the Fokker 100s have livery in red-white-silver grey colours with the Swiss cross on the tailfin.

In October 2010, the Swiss news media announced a new base in Bern Airport.[4]

On 18 February 2013, in the 2013 Belgian diamond heist, eight men armed with automatic weapons and dressed in police uniforms seized 120 small parcels containing an estimated $50 million (£32,000,000) worth of diamonds from a Helvetic Airways Fokker 100 passenger plane loaded with passengers preparing for departure to Zurich. The men drove two vehicles through a hole they had cut in the airport's perimeter fence to Flight LX789, which had just been loaded with diamonds from a Brink's armoured van. The men were able to execute the operation within five minutes with no injuries and without firing a shot.[5][6][7]

In spring 2015, Helvetic Airways began to take over seven Embraer 190s which were freed by Niki changing their fleet.[8]

Destinations

Helvetic Airways Fokker 100 in former livery
Helvetic Airways Fokker 100 in current livery

As of January 2014 Helvetic Airways serves the following destinations on its own behalf.[9] Not included are the routes served for Swiss International Air Lines on a long-term wetlease contract.

France
Cyprus
Spain
Greece
Ireland
Italy
Kosovo
Macedonia
Switzerland
United Kingdom

Fleet

Helvetic Airways Airbus A319-100

The Helvetic Airways fleet includes the following aircraft as of December 2015:[11]

Helvetic Airways Fleet
Aircraft In Fleet Orders Seat Notes
Airbus A319-100 1 — 138
Fokker 100 6 — 100 to be phased out by 2017
Embraer 190[12] 7 — 112 taken over pre-owned from Niki[13]
Total 14 —

Helvetic Airways previously operated McDonnell Douglas MD-83 aircraft.

References

  1. ^ "IATA - Airline and Airport Code Search". iata.org. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
  2. ^ "Imprint." Helvetic Airways. Retrieved on 6 November 2009. "Helvetic Airways AG P.O. Box 250 CH-8058 Zurich Airport"
  3. ^ "Directory: World Airlines". Flight International. 3 April 2007. p. 90.
  4. ^ http://www.bernerzeitung.ch/region/bern/2011-startet-Helvetic-auch-von-BernBelp-aus/story/14861225
  5. ^ Higgins, Andrew (18 February 2013). "Brazen Jewel Robbery at Brussels Airport Nets $50 Million in Diamonds". New York Times. Retrieved 20 February 2013.
  6. ^ Casert, Raf, , "Robbers Snatch $50 Million of Diamonds Off Plane in Belgium," Associated Press, 19 February 2013, 4:13 a.m.
  7. ^ Smith, Vicky, "The Great Plane Robbery: Gang of Fake Police Officers Steal £32m of Diamonds in Airport Heist," Associated Press, 19 February 2013, 18:49
  8. ^ http://www.austrianaviation.net/news-regional/news-detail/datum/2015/04/15/a319-bekommen-niki-beklebung.html
  9. ^ http://www.helvetic.com/hdc/destinationoverview
  10. ^ http://www.helvetic.com/hdc/flightplan/ohd
  11. ^ ch-aviation.com - Helvetic Airways
  12. ^ http://www.zrh-spotter.ch/helvetic-airways-flotte.html
  13. ^ http://www.austrianaviation.net/news-regional/news-detail/datum/2015/04/15/a319-bekommen-niki-beklebung.html

Media related to Helvetic Airways at Wikimedia Commons

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