Helvetic Airways
| ||||
| Founded | 2003 (as Helvetic Airways AG) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hubs |
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| Fleet size | 7 | |||
| Destinations | 34 | |||
| Parent company | Helvetic Airways AG | |||
| Headquarters | Kloten, Switzerland | |||
| Key people |
Bruno Jans(CEO) Tobias Pogorevc(CFO) | |||
| Website | www.helvetic.com | |||
Helvetic Airways is an airline based at Zürich Airport in Kloten, Switzerland.[1] It operates flights to destinations in Europe and Northern Africa, mainly leisure markets, but also to business destinations.[2] The airline now also operates scheduled flights on behalf of Swiss International Air Lines using their fleet of 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.[3]
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 off of a Helvetic Airways Fokker 100 passenger plane loaded with passengers preparing for departure to Zurich, Switzerland. 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.[4][5][6]
Destinations
As of January 2014 Helevtic Airways serves the following destinations on its own behalf.[7] Not included are the routes served for Swiss International Air Lines on a long-term wetlease contract.
- Bordeaux - Bordeaux–Mérignac Airport (begins 8 May 2014)
- Calvi - Calvi – Sainte-Catherine Airport seasonal
- Larnaca - Larnaca International Airport charter
- Fuerteventura charter
- Gran Canaria charter
- Lanzarote charter
- Palma de Mallorca
- Tenerife charter
- Shannon - Shannon Airport seasonal
- Bern - Bern Airport base
- Zürich - Zürich Airport base
- Bristol - Bristol Airport
- Glasgow - Glasgow International Airport seasonal (begins 18 May 2014)
- Inverness - Inverness Airport
Fleet
The Helvetic Airways fleet includes the following aircraft (as of December 2013):[8]
| Aircraft | In Fleet | Orders | Seat | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fokker 100 | 6 | - | 100 | |
| Airbus A319 | 1 | - | 138 | |
| Total | 7 |
Helvetic Airways also used to operate McDonnell Douglas MD-83 which have since been phased out.
References
- ↑ "Imprint." Helvetic Airways. Retrieved on 6 November 2009. "Helvetic Airways AG P.O. Box 250 CH-8058 Zurich Airport"
- ↑ "Directory: World Airlines". Flight International. 3 April 2007. p. 90.
- ↑ http://www.bernerzeitung.ch/region/bern/2011-startet-Helvetic-auch-von-BernBelp-aus/story/14861225
- ↑ Higgins, Andrew (18 February 2013). "Brazen Jewel Robbery at Brussels Airport Nets $50 Million in Diamonds". New York Times. Retrieved 2013-02-20.
- ↑ Casert, Raf, , "Robbers Snatch $50 Million of Diamonds Off Plane in Belgium," Associated Press, February 19, 2013, 4:13 a.m.
- ↑ Smith, Vicky, "The Great Plane Robbery: Gang of Fake Police Officers Steal £32m of Diamonds in Airport Heist," Associated Press, February 19, 2013, 18:49
- ↑ http://www.helvetic.com/hdc/destinationoverview
- ↑ "Swiss Aircraft Register". FOCA. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
External links
Media related to Helvetic Airways at Wikimedia Commons
- Official site (English)
- Official site (German)