Air Charter International

Last updated
Air Charter International
Air charter logo.png
IATA ICAO Callsign
SFACFAIR CHARTER
Founded7 February 1966
Ceased operations24 October 1998
Hubs Paris-Orly Airport
Fleet size6
Parent company Air France (80%)
Air Inter (20%)
Headquarters Paris, France

Air Charter International was a French charter airline that operated from 1966 to 1998.

Contents

History

Air Charter International Caravelle III in 1971 Sud SE-210 III F-BJTI Air Chtr LHR 18.07.71 edited-3.jpg
Air Charter International Caravelle III in 1971
Air Charter International Boeing 727-200 in 1981 F-GCMV-Boeing727-1981.jpg
Air Charter International Boeing 727-200 in 1981

Early operations

Air Charter International Boeing 737-200 Air Charter Boeing 737-200 Haafke.jpg
Air Charter International Boeing 737-200

Air Charter was established on 7 February 1966 as a subsidiary of Air France under the name Societé aérienne française d'affrètements (SAFA). Flight operations began on 25 July 1966 with two Sud Caravelles and two Lockheed Super Constellations. These flew charter flights from Paris to the Mediterranean.

Later years

The airline changed its name on 8 December 1969 to Air Charter International (ACI). In 1971, ACI operated a fleet of seven Caravelles and carried about 420.000 passengers. The first two Boeing 727-200 were introduced in 1972. Transatlantic charter flights to the USA and Canada were offered from 1982 onwards with leased Boeing 747-200 aircraft operated by Air France. [1] Six Super Caravelles were leased from EAS Europe Airlines until 1992.

In 1984, the airline's name was shortened to Air Charter. As the business grew, the first wide-body aircraft was introduced in 1988, the Airbus A300B4. Two Boeing 737-200 from EAS Europe Aéro Service on 1988. By the mid-1990s, the 727s were replaced by the Airbus A320. With the merger of Air France and Air Inter in 1998, Air Charter had served its purpose and services were discontinued on 24 October 1998.

Fleet

A Boeing 737-500 in an Air Charter/EAS Europe Airlines hybrid livery at Dublin Airport in 1993 EAS Europe Airlines (F-GHXM), Dublin, February 1993 (02).jpg
A Boeing 737-500 in an Air Charter/EAS Europe Airlines hybrid livery at Dublin Airport in 1993

Air Charter operated the following aircraft: [2] [3]

Air Charter International fleet
AircraftTotalIntroducedRetiredNotes
Airbus A300B4 2198819981 leased from Air France
Airbus A310-300 219971998
Airbus A320-200 7199419982 leased from Air France
1 leased TransAer International Airlines
Boeing 727-200 11197219954 leased from Air France
Boeing 737-200 5198719951 leased from Euralair
2 leased from Inter Ciel Service
2 leased from EAS Europe Airlines
219961998
Boeing 737-300 119911991Leased from AWAS
Boeing 737-400 119911992
Boeing 737-500 119911992
119961997
Boeing 747-200 11982Un­knownOperated by Air France
Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation 21966Un­knownOperated by Air France
Dassault Mercure Un­knownUn­knownUn­knownOperated by Air Inter
Sud Aviation Caravelle 3 1119701989
Sud Aviation Caravelle 10B 419811991

Accidents and incidents

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References

  1. Leisure Airlines of Europe, K. Vomhof, 2001
  2. "Air Charter fleet". aerobernie.bplaced.net. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  3. "Air Charter Fleet Details and History". Planespotters.net. Retrieved April 30, 2022.