Phoenix Airways

Phoenix Airways
IATA code :	(without)
ICAO code :	HP
Call sign :	PHOENIX
Founding:	1970
Operation stopped:	1974
Seat:	Basel , Switzerland
Turnstile :	Zurich-Kloten Airport
Home airport :	Basel-Mulhouse Airport
Fleet size:	2
Aims:	Mediterranean area , Thailand , Togo
Phoenix Airways ceased operations in 1974. The information in italics refer to the last status before the end of operation.

Phoenix Airways (shortened to Phoenix in its brand identity ) was a Swiss charter airline that ceased operations in 1974.

history

The Phoenix Airways AG was on 13 October 1970 by private investors in Basel founded with a capital of two million Swiss francs. Originally the company was to be named Helvetic Air . This was rejected by the Basel commercial register because it was not a state company . The company took over a brand new BAC 111-500 on April 1, 1971 and received its Air Operator Certificate on April 17, 1971 . The machine was briefly rented to West German airlines before it was used on vacation flights ( IT charter ) to the Mediterranean from Basel and Zurich . In addition, the company carried out occasional services ( ad hoc charter ) to other European regions, including Scandinavia .

In spring 1972 , Phoenix Airways acquired a used Boeing 707-131 from Israel Aircraft Industries ( IAI ) to take on long-haul flights . Because the plane was also supposed to transport fruit and vegetables from Israel in the winter months with little demand , it was retrofitted with a freight door. The delivery of the converted machine was delayed until November 4, 1972. As a result, the company rented an identical aircraft from IAI from March 29 to October 31, 1972 as a replacement .

Phoenix Airways flew IT charter services from Zurich to Bangkok ( Thailand ) and Lomé ( Togo ) with its Boeing 707-131F from spring 1973 . During the 1973 summer season, the machine was only used at times. In addition, the aircraft had to be transferred to Basel for maintenance between the operations, which mainly originated from Zurich, which resulted in additional costs. The financial situation of the already economically troubled company deteriorated increasingly from autumn 1973, because the kerosene prices rose considerably as a result of the effects of the first oil crisis . After the BAC 1-11 was seized in the spring of 1974 due to open maintenance invoices, the Swiss authorities withdrew Phoenix Airways' operating license on March 18, 1974. The bankruptcy proceedings opened the following month.

fleet

• BAC 111-529FR (code: HB-ITL )
• Boeing 707-131 and 707-131F (registration number: N732TW and HB-IEG )

See also

• Former Airlines List (Europe)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b c d} World Air News, Phoenix Airways ( Memento of the original from October 29, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
2. ^ ^{A b} Leisure Airlines of Europe, K. Vomhof, 2001
3. ↑ wings-aviation.ch, Phoenix Airways ( Memento of the original from October 29, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
4. ↑ JP aircraft-markings, issues 72 and 73