Altair Airlines was an airline based in Philadelphia. It was in service from 1967 to 1982. According to its June 15, 1982 system timetable, the Altair name was taken from the first magnitude star "Altairius" brightest in the constellation "Aquila" (Eagle) from which the airline's Blue Eagle symbol was derived.[1]
The airline was established in 1967 as a commuter airline operating small piston twin aircraft. In 1967, Altair's main shareholder was Tristram Colket and it had 587 employees.[2] In May 1970, Altair Airlines was reported by the Civil Aeronautics Board to have the highest bumping rate.[3] By the late 1970s, Altair had introduced Nord 262 turboprops to its fleet in addition to Beechcraft 99 commuter turboprops.[4]
Altair attempted to attain sustained profitability by retiring its turboprop aircraft and expanding its scheduled passenger services to new destinations along the U.S. east coast in tandem with the introduction of a small fleet of Fokker F28 Fellowship and McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30 twin jets; however, income was never able to outpace the debts incurred. In November 1982, Altair owed more than one million dollars in jet fuel costs to Gulf Oil Corporation who, after a protracted period of negotiating, demanded immediate payment. Altair had little choice but to seek legal protection. In 1982, Altair filed for bankruptcy due to its many debts.[5] Its last president was Henry P. Hill. Many of Altair's dedicated employees found employment at other airlines with facilities at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL).
Fleet
When it ceased operations in November 1982, Altair Airlines was an all-jet air carrier operating a fleet of six Fokker F28 Fellowship series 4000 and three McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30 jetliners. The airline called their jet aircraft "Starjets".[1] Altair previously operated Beechcraft 99 and Nord 262 commuter turboprop aircraft prior to introducing jet service and expanding its routes.[6]
Destinations in 1969
According to its July 1, 1969 system timetable, Altair was operating scheduled passenger service with small Beechcraft 99 turboprop commuter aircraft with flights serving the following destinations primarily in the northeast U.S.[7]
According to its June 15, 1982 system timetable, Altair was serving the following destinations in the eastern U.S. with all flights being operated with either Fokker F28 Fellowship or McDonnell Douglas DC-9-30 jets.[1]
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Altair Airlines was an airline based in Philadelphia It was in service from 1967 to 1982 According to its June 15 1982 system timetable the Altair name was taken from the first magnitude star Altairius brightest in the constellation Aquila Eagle from which the airline s Blue Eagle symbol was derived 1 Altair AirlinesIATA ICAO CallsignAK ALT ALTAIRFounded1967Ceased operations1982Fleet size9 in 1982 HeadquartersPhiladelphia Pennsylvania United StatesKey peopleHenry P Hill Contents 1 History 2 Fleet 3 Destinations in 1969 4 Destinations in 1982 5 See also 6 ReferencesHistory EditThe airline was established in 1967 as a commuter airline operating small piston twin aircraft In 1967 Altair s main shareholder was Tristram Colket and it had 587 employees 2 In May 1970 Altair Airlines was reported by the Civil Aeronautics Board to have the highest bumping rate 3 By the late 1970s Altair had introduced Nord 262 turboprops to its fleet in addition to Beechcraft 99 commuter turboprops 4 Altair attempted to attain sustained profitability by retiring its turboprop aircraft and expanding its scheduled passenger services to new destinations along the U S east coast in tandem with the introduction of a small fleet of Fokker F28 Fellowship and McDonnell Douglas DC 9 30 twin jets however income was never able to outpace the debts incurred In November 1982 Altair owed more than one million dollars in jet fuel costs to Gulf Oil Corporation who after a protracted period of negotiating demanded immediate payment Altair had little choice but to seek legal protection In 1982 Altair filed for bankruptcy due to its many debts 5 Its last president was Henry P Hill Many of Altair s dedicated employees found employment at other airlines with facilities at Philadelphia International Airport PHL Fleet EditWhen it ceased operations in November 1982 Altair Airlines was an all jet air carrier operating a fleet of six Fokker F28 Fellowship series 4000 and three McDonnell Douglas DC 9 30 jetliners The airline called their jet aircraft Starjets 1 Altair previously operated Beechcraft 99 and Nord 262 commuter turboprop aircraft prior to introducing jet service and expanding its routes 6 Destinations in 1969 EditAccording to its July 1 1969 system timetable Altair was operating scheduled passenger service with small Beechcraft 99 turboprop commuter aircraft with flights serving the following destinations primarily in the northeast U S 7 Albany New York ALB Allentown Pennsylvania Bethlehem Pennsylvania Easton Pennsylvania ABE Baltimore Maryland BWI Harrisburg Pennsylvania MDT Philadelphia Pennsylvania PHL Hub amp airline headquarters Reading Pennsylvania RDG Richmond Virginia RIC Washington D C National Airport DCA White Plains New York HPN Wilkes Barre Pennsylvania Scranton Pennsylvania AVP Wilmington Delaware ILG By 1976 Bridgeport Connecticut BDR Hartford Connecticut BDL and Islip New York ISP had been added to the Altair route system and by 1980 Binghamton New York BGM Charlotte North Carolina CLT Elmira New York ILM New Bern Morehead City North Carolina EWN New York Newark Airport EWR and Raleigh Durham North Carolina RDU had been added as well 8 Destinations in 1982 EditAccording to its June 15 1982 system timetable Altair was serving the following destinations in the eastern U S with all flights being operated with either Fokker F28 Fellowship or McDonnell Douglas DC 9 30 jets 1 Buffalo New York BUF Charleston South Carolina CHS Greensboro North Carolina GSO Hartford Connecticut BDL Jacksonville Florida JAX Norfolk Virginia ORF Philadelphia Pennsylvania PHL Hub amp airline headquarters Providence Rhode Island PVD Raleigh Durham North Carolina RDU Rochester New York ROC Sarasota Florida SRQ Savannah Georgia SAV Tampa Florida TPA Washington D C National Airport DCA See also EditList of defunct airlines of the United StatesReferences Edit a b c http www departedflights com June 15 1982 Altair Airlines system timetable World airline directory Altair Flight International Reed Business Information Ltd 1982 04 03 Archived from the original on 2012 10 12 Retrieved 2009 03 08 Altair Airlines Has Highest Bumping Rate The Hartford Courant Tribune Company 1979 08 13 Retrieved 8 March 2009 http www departedflights com Nov 15 1979 Official Airline Guide OAG Philadelphia flight schedules for Altair Airlines Altair Suspends Its Flights Phila Airline Files for Bankruptcy The Philadelphia Inquirer Philadelphia Media Holdings LLC 1982 11 10 Retrieved 8 March 2009 http www airliners net photos of Altair Airlines aircraft http www timetableimages com July 1 1969 Altair Airlines system timetable http www timetableimages com April 25 1976 amp Feb 1 1980 Altair Airlines system timetables Portals United States Companies Aviation Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Altair Airlines amp oldid 1114909827, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
