Khalifa Airways

Khalifa Airways

IATA K6 ICAO KZW Callsign KHALIFA AIR
Founded	June 1999 (1999-06)
Commenced operations	August 1999 (1999-08)
Ceased operations	2003
Hubs	Houari Boumedienne Airport
Focus cities	Oran Es Senia Airport
Frequent-flyer program	Khalifa Miles
Airport lounge	Khalifa Airways Algiers Lounge
Subsidiaries	Antinea Airlines (100%)[1]
Fleet size	59
Destinations	72
Parent company	Groupe Khalifa (100%)[1]
Headquarters	Algiers, Algeria
Key people	Abdelmoumene Rafik Khalifa
Website	khalifaairways-dz.com

Khalifa Airways (Arabic: الخطوط الجوية الخليفة‎) was a passenger and cargo airline based in Algiers, Algeria which was founded in June 1999 by Rafik Khalifa and ceased flying in 2003.

History

The airline was founded in June 1999 (1999-06) and started operations two months later.^[1]

Khalifa Airways had stopped most flying by mid-March 2003 after it failed to meet lease payments. In the Arab press that month it was reported that the airline was only operating "a dozen aircraft at the most," out of the 30 it previously had in its fleet. Lufthansa and Pegasus Airways (4 Boeing 737s) reclaimed their leased aircraft, and aircraft on order were cancelled. The Bank of Algeria had appointed an administrator to manage the affairs of Khalifa Bank (also owned by Abdelmoumene Rafik Khalifa), thus denying funds to the airline to meet lease and insurance payments. By April 2003, the 8 remaining aircraft were grounded as insurance contracts expired. The airline was liquidated by a French court on 10 July 2003 after it failed to make a 5 million Euro payment to creditors.^[2]

Khalifa Airways is also known for having been the sponsor of the Olympique de Marseille from 2001 to 2003.

On March 22, 2007, the International Herald Tribune reported that the company's founder had been convicted in absentia and sentenced to life in prison for his involvement in the 2003 failure of Khalifa Bank and associated companies, including Khalifa Airways.^[3]

Services

Khalifa Airways Airbus A319

Khalifa Airways Airbus A340-300

Khalifa Airways served the following destinations throughout its history:^[1]

• Algeria
  • Algiers
  • Adrar
  • Annaba
  • Batna
  • Bejar
  • Bejaia
  • Constantine
  • El Oued
  • Ghardaia
  • Jijel
  • Hassi Messaoud
  • Tamanrasset
  • Tbessa
  • Tiaret
  • Tindouf
  • Tlemcen
• France
  • Lyon
  • Marseille
  • Toulouse
• Spain
  • Alicante
  • Barcelona
  • Palma de Mallorca

Fleet

In 2002 the airline fleet was as follows:

See also

• List of airlines of Algeria
• Transport in Algeria

References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "World airline directory – Khalifa Airways". Flight International: 91. 27 March 2001 – 2 April 2001. Archived from the original on 16 January 2013. Retrieved 16 January 2013.  Check date values in: |date= (help)
2. ↑ "Khalifa is wound up in French court". Flightglobal. Flight International. 22 July 2003. Archived from the original on 16 January 2013. Retrieved 16 January 2013. 
3. ↑ http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/03/22/africa/AF-GEN-Algeria-Bank-Trial.php[]

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