Sun Air (South Africa)

Last updated

Sun Air (South Africa)
Sun Air.jpg
Boeing 727-200 operated by Sun Air (South Africa)
Founded1994
Ceased operations1999
Fleet size10

Sun Air was a South African airline, originally owned by the Bantustan of Bophuthatswana, and later privatised. It ceased operations in 1999. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

The airline was revived in 2002 as a business-focused airline [4] operating two aircraft between Lanseria Airport and Cape Town, before being liquidated in 2004. [5] [6]

Company history

Originally called Bop Air, after Bophuthatswana, the airline rebranded as Sun Air following the end of apartheid in 1994 and the reincorporation of Bantustans into South Africa. Ownership of the airline transferred from the government of Bophuthatswana to the newly created North West Province which took over much of Bophuthatswana's former territory, prior to the airline's planned privatisation in 1997. [7]

The airline was called Mafikeng Air Service between 1978 and 1979, and Mmabatho Air Service till 1986. [7]

Destinations

Fleet

The airline operated, at various times, a fleet of 5 McDonnell Douglas MD83's, 4 Douglas DC9s, a 727-200, 1 HS-748 2 EMB 120s, 3 EMB 110s, 2 Piper Chieftains, a Beechcraft King Air and a Gulfstream G3 an Cessna Citation 550 in VIP and charter roles.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South African Airways</span> Flag carrier of South Africa

South African Airways (SAA) is the flag carrier of South Africa. Founded in 1934, the airline is headquartered in Airways Park at O. R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg and operates a hub-and-spoke network, serving ten destinations in Africa. The carrier joined Star Alliance in April 2006, making it the first African carrier to sign with one of the three major airline alliances.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">O. R. Tambo International Airport</span> Main airport serving Johannesburg, South Africa

O. R. Tambo International Airport is an international airport serving the twin cities of Johannesburg and the main capital of South Africa, Pretoria. It is situated in Kempton Park, Gauteng. It serves as the primary airport for domestic and international travel for South Africa and since 2020, it is Africa's second busiest airport, with a capacity to handle up to 28 million passengers annually. The airport serves as the hub for South African Airways. The airport handled over 21 million passengers in 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bophuthatswana</span> Former bantustan in South Africa (1977–94)

Bophuthatswana, officially the Republic of Bophuthatswana, was a Bantustan that was declared (nominally) independent by the apartheid regime of South Africa in 1977. However, like the other Bantustans of Ciskei, Transkei and Venda, its independence was not recognized by any country other than South Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cape Town International Airport</span> Airport in Cape Town, South Africa

Cape Town International Airport is the primary international airport serving the city of Cape Town, and is the second-busiest airport in South Africa and fifth-busiest in Africa. Located approximately 20 kilometres (12 mi) from the city center, the airport was opened in 1954 to replace Cape Town's previous airport, Wingfield Aerodrome. Cape Town International Airport is the only airport in the Cape Town metropolitan area that offers scheduled passenger services. The airport has domestic and international terminals, linked by a common central terminal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Air Namibia</span> Former flag carrier of Namibia

Air Namibia (Pty) Limited, which traded as Air Namibia, was the national airline of Namibia, headquartered in the country's capital, Windhoek. It operated scheduled domestic, regional, and international passenger and cargo services, having its international hub in Windhoek Hosea Kutako International Airport and a domestic hub at the smaller Windhoek Eros Airport. As of December 2013, the carrier was wholly owned by the Namibian government. Air Namibia was a member of both the International Air Transport Association and the African Airlines Association.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ghana Airways</span> Defunct national airline of Ghana, 1958–2004

Ghana Airways Limited was the flag carrier of Ghana, with its main base of operation and hub at Kotoka International Airport in Accra. The airline ceased operations in 2004, although plans were discussed to revive it in 2020 in partnership with Egyptair.

Air Tanzania Company Limited (ATCL) (Swahili: Kampuni ya Ndege ya Tanzania) is the flag carrier airline of Tanzania. It is based in Dar es Salaam, with its hub at Julius Nyerere International Airport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Air Djibouti</span> Flag carrier of Djibouti

Air Djibouti, also known as Red Sea Airlines, is the flag carrier of Djibouti. It first flew in 1963 and ceased all operations in 2002. In 2015, the airline was relaunched, first as a cargo airline and then, in 2016, with passenger services as well. It is headquartered in the capital, Djibouti.

Air Malawi Limited was the state-owned national airline of Malawi, based in Blantyre, which operated regional passenger services. Because of its financial situation, the airline was placed in voluntary liquidation, the Malawi Government announced in November 2012, and flights have been suspended since February 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Uganda Airlines (1976–2001)</span> Defunct Ugandan airline

Uganda Airlines was the flag carrier of Uganda. The airline was established in May 1976, and started operations in 1977. It was headquartered in Entebbe, Wakiso District, Uganda, and operated from its hub in Entebbe International Airport.

Comair Limited was an airline based in South Africa that operated scheduled services on domestic routes as a British Airways franchisee. It also operated as a low-cost carrier under its own kulula.com brand. Its main base was OR Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg, while focus cities were Cape Town, flying from Cape Town International Airport and Durban, King Shaka International Airport. Its headquarters were near OR Tambo in the Bonaero Park area of Kempton Park, Ekurhuleni, Gauteng.

Compagnie Nationale Air Guinée, in its latter years known as Air Guinee Express, was an airline based in Conakry, Guinea. Its main base was Conakry International Airport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1time</span> South African low-cost airline

1time Airline (Pty) Ltd commonly called 1time was a South African low-cost airline that operated between 2004 and 2012. Based in the Isando Industrial Park in Kempton Park, Ekurhuleni, Gauteng, 1time operated scheduled domestic and regional services. Its main base was OR Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg. The name of the company, "one time!", is a South African expression meaning "for real!".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amílcar Cabral International Airport</span> Airport in Sal, Cape Verde

Amílcar Cabral International Airport, also known as Sal International Airport, is the main international airport of Cape Verde. The airport is named after the revolutionary leader Amílcar Cabral. It is located two km west-southwest from Espargos on Sal Island. Sal is the main hub for the national airline, Cabo Verde Airlines; and serves as a base for carrier Cabo Verde Express. This airport was also one of NASA's locations for a facility to handle the Space Shuttle after reentering from orbit.

Airlink, is a regional airline based in Johannesburg, South Africa. Its main business is to provide services between smaller, under-served towns and larger hub airports. It has since expanded to offer flights on larger, mainline routes. The airline has a network of more than 60 routes to over 45 destinations in Southern Africa. In January 2021, it became the second-largest carrier within Africa by number of flights, and third-largest by number of seats.

South West African Airways (SWAA) was the first commercial air service in South West Africa. It operated from 1930 until 1935, when it was taken over by South African Airways.

Interlink Airlines Pty Ltd. was an airline based in Johannesburg, South Africa, operating scheduled and chartered flights out of OR Tambo International Airport. Its IATA code has since been reassigned to Batik Air.

Flitestar was a South African commercial airline that operated from 1991 to 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Velvet Sky (airline)</span> South African airline

Velvet Sky was a low cost airline based at the King Shaka International Airport near Durban, South Africa. The airline launched in March 2011. It ceased operations in February 2012 and was liquidated in May 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">FlySafair</span> South African budget airline

FlySafair is an international low-cost airline based in Johannesburg, South Africa. It is a subsidiary of Safair and flies to 15 destinations in Sub-Saharan Africa. The company slogan is For The Love Of Flying.

References

  1. "DOMESTIC MARKET DEREGULATION IN SOUTH AFRICA" (PDF). International Civil Aviation Organization.
  2. "Sun Air awaits word on revival - IOL Business Report".
  3. "Sun Air recovery hopes hit by SAA deal with Safair". 1 February 2000.
  4. "Sun Air rises again in business class". 19 February 2002.
  5. "SAA settles with SunAir liquidators - IOL News".
  6. Keyser, Antoinette (3 March 2004). "Sun Air goes belly up".
  7. 1 2 Ben R. Guttery (1998). Encyclopedia of African Airlines. Ben Guttery. pp. 194–. ISBN   978-0-7864-0495-7.