Ajet

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Alpha Jet

IATA ZU	ICAO AJY	Callsign AYJET
Founded		1998 (as Helios Airways)
Hubs		Larnaca International Airport
Fleet size		3
Destinations		14
Parent company		Libra Holidays Group
Headquarters		Larnaca International Airport, Cyprus
Key people		Bryan Field (Managing Director)
Website: http://www.ajet.com

αjet Aviation Ltd was a low-cost airline operating scheduled and charter flights between Cyprus and many European destinations. Its main base was Larnaca International Airport. Flights ceased on 6 November 2006 because the Company's aircraft were detained and its bank accounts frozen by the Cypriot Government.

1 History
2 Incidents and accidents
3 Destinations
4 Fleet
5 External links

[edit] History

The airline was established as "Helios Airways" on 23 September 1998 and was the first independent privately owned airline in Cyprus. On 15 May 2000, it operated its first charter flight to London Gatwick. It was formed by the owners of TEA (Cyprus), a Cypriot offshore air operator specialising in Boeing 737 wet-leases worldwide. Originally, it offered charter services and added scheduled services on 5 April 2001. Helios was acquired in 2004 by Libra Holidays Group of Limassol, Cyprus.

On 14 March 2006 it was announced that Helios Airways would be rebranded as αjet and will withdraw from scheduled operations. ^{[citation needed]}

Responding to rumors, on 30 October 2006 αjet announced that it was to cease operations over the period of the following 90 days. In light of this, the Cyprus Government demanded that back taxes be paid immediately. Also, private suppliers demanded that they be paid in cash for any further goods and services provided to the company.

On 31 October 2006 the airline announced that it was ceasing operations immediately.

ON 11 November 2006 the Company website announced that The Government of the Republic of Cyprus had "illegally detained αjet’s aircraft and frozen the Company’s bank accounts", which was in "direct contravention to the successful appeal lodged by αjet in the District Court, causing substantial financial damage to the Company". As a result αjet announces that all flights that were scheduled to be operated by other Carriers to all destinations, will no longer be operating as of Monday, 6 November 2006 and that passengers will therefore have to make their own arrangements.

[edit] Incidents and accidents

December 20, 2004: Helios Boeing 737-300 registered as 5B-DBY suffered a loss of cabin pressure en route from Warsaw. Three passengers were rushed to hospital when the plane landed in Larnaca, Cyprus.
14 August 2005: Helios Flight 522, the same Boeing 737-300, crashed en route from Larnaca to Athens, killing all 121 aboard. Loss of cabin pressure because the regulating valve was left open on manual is suspected to be the cause.