Sterling Airlines A/S was a low-cost airline with its head office at Copenhagen Airport South in Dragør, Dragør Municipality, Denmark.[1] It was created in September 2005 through the merger of two Danish airlines — Sterling European Airlines and Maersk Air — which had been acquired by the Icelandic investment group Fons Eignarhaldsfélag a few months before for MDKK 500. Fons was owned by Icelandic business tycoon Palmi Haraldsson. One month after the merger, Sterling Airlines was sold to the FL Group for an amount of MDKK 1500. In December 2006, Sterling was sold again, this time to Nordic Travel Holding. On 6 January 2006, Hannes Þór Smárason, CEO of the FL Group, stated that a merger of EasyJet and Sterling was a possibility.
On 29 October 2008, Sterling filed for bankruptcy and ceased operations.[2] On 4 December 2008, Cimber Air announced that it had purchased Sterling and intended to restore the airline as a separate company, with a gradual expansion throughout Europe. The purchase included Sterling's name, website and landing slots, but not aircraft. Former Sterling employees were not guaranteed jobs in the resurrected company, although Cimber believed many of them would be offered jobs.[3]
1962: Eilif Krogager, founder of Danish travel agency Tjæreborg (based at Tjæreborg village near Esbjerg in Denmark), today part of MyTravel Group), started the charter airlineSterling Airways with two Douglas DC-6B bought from Swissair, to better service his own package tours from Scandinavia to the Mediterranean.
2000: Sterling started with regular air services to Málaga and Alicante, to compensate for the diminishing charter travel business.
2001: More routes were added; it was also decided that Sterling should leave the charter industry and become a fully fledged low-fare airline.
2002: Sterling opened 21 new routes, primarily between Scandinavia and Southern Europe, but also routes from Copenhagen to Oslo and Stockholm.
2003: Sterling expanded its fleet from six to eight aircraft and opened 11 more routes between Scandinavia and Southern Europe. Passenger numbers reached a record high of 1.3 million, a 40% increase on 2002.
2004: The fleet grew to 12 aircraft.
March 2005: Fred. Olsen sold Sterling to the Icelandic investment company Fons Eignarhaldsfélag, owners of the small Iceland Express airline, and the managing director of Iceland Express, Almar Örn Hilmarsson, was promoted to new managing director for Sterling.
June 2005: The Fons Eignarhaldsfélag bought Maersk Air from the A.P. Moller-Maersk Group and announced that they wanted to merge the two airlines under Sterling Airlines A/S.
September 2005: The merger was approved by the authorities and Sterling Airlines A/S was the only operational company - the fourth largest low-cost carrier in Europe—and only a month later Fons Eignarhaldsfélag sold the company to the FL Group.
August 2006: Sterling adopted a buy-on-board program that allows pre-ordering and onboard purchases of duty-free merchandise and meals.
December 2006: FL Group sold Sterling to Northern Travel Holding, a holding company owned by the three Icelandic private equity companies FL Group, Fons Eignarhaldsfélag and Sons.
April 2007: Essential Aircraft Maintenance Services (EAMS) has been established by LD Equity 2 based on the acquisition of Sterling's aircraft maintenance department. LD Equity 2 has, together with a new management team, acquired Sterling's aircraft maintenance activities and has established Essential Aircraft Maintenance Services A/S.
29 October 2008: Sterling declared bankruptcy due to the rising fuel prices in the first half of 2008 and the Icelandic financial crisis in October that hit its major investor. The entire fleet was grounded with immediate effect.[2][6]
15 March 1974, Sterling Airways Flight 901, another Sud Aviation Caravelle, suffered a landing gear failure at Mehrabad International Airport, Tehran, Iran. As the aircraft was taxiing, the right main landing gear failed, causing the right wing to hit the ground and catch fire. 15 passengers were killed in the accident.
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Sterling Airlines A S was a low cost airline with its head office at Copenhagen Airport South in Dragor Dragor Municipality Denmark 1 It was created in September 2005 through the merger of two Danish airlines Sterling European Airlines and Maersk Air which had been acquired by the Icelandic investment group Fons Eignarhaldsfelag a few months before for MDKK 500 Fons was owned by Icelandic business tycoon Palmi Haraldsson One month after the merger Sterling Airlines was sold to the FL Group for an amount of MDKK 1500 In December 2006 Sterling was sold again this time to Nordic Travel Holding On 6 January 2006 Hannes THor Smarason CEO of the FL Group stated that a merger of EasyJet and Sterling was a possibility Sterling Airlines A SIATA ICAO CallsignNB SNB STERLINGFounded1962 1962 as Sterling Airways Merged with Maersk Air in 2005Ceased operations29 October 2008 2008 10 29 HubsCopenhagen AirportFocus citiesBillund Airport Goteborg Landvetter Airport Malmo Airport Oslo Airport Gardermoen Stockholm Arlanda AirportParent companyNorthern Travel HoldingHeadquartersCopenhagen AirportDragor Dragor Municipality DenmarkKey peopleReza Taleghani CEO Sterling Airways Douglas DC 6B at Copenhagen Kastrup Airport in 1968 Sud Aviation Caravelle in 1981 Sterling Aerospatiale Corvette operated on charter services at Brussels Airport in July 1985 Boeing 737 700 in 2006 At the end of 2005 Sterling Airlines had 1 600 staff and 29 aircraft making it almost twice as large as Icelandair The company flew to some 40 European destinations with Copenhagen Airport Oslo Airport Gardermoen and Stockholm Arlanda Airport as primary hubs On 29 October 2008 Sterling filed for bankruptcy and ceased operations 2 On 4 December 2008 Cimber Air announced that it had purchased Sterling and intended to restore the airline as a separate company with a gradual expansion throughout Europe The purchase included Sterling s name website and landing slots but not aircraft Former Sterling employees were not guaranteed jobs in the resurrected company although Cimber believed many of them would be offered jobs 3 Contents 1 History 2 Destinations 3 Fleet 4 Incidents and accidents 5 References 6 External linksHistory EditThis section needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed January 2021 Learn how and when to remove this template message 1962 Eilif Krogager founder of Danish travel agency Tjaereborg based at Tjaereborg village near Esbjerg in Denmark today part of MyTravel Group started the charter airline Sterling Airways with two Douglas DC 6B bought from Swissair to better service his own package tours from Scandinavia to the Mediterranean 1963 Further DC 6Bs were acquired 1965 Sterling received its first Caravelle 1968 The company was bought out of the Tjaereborg Group and started servicing other travel agents as well 14 March 1972 Sterling Airways Flight 296 crashed near the Dubai airport killing all 112 persons on board The 106 passengers were returning to Denmark following a holiday in Sri Lanka 4 1977 Acquired the airline Copenhagen Air Services 5 1987 The company celebrated its 25th anniversary with 19 aircraft and almost 1 300 staff 1993 Sterling Airways went bankrupt 1994 The estate after Sterling Airways re created the company as Sterling European Airlines with three aircraft and 182 staff 1996 Sterling was bought by the Norwegian shipping company Fred Olsen 2000 Sterling started with regular air services to Malaga and Alicante to compensate for the diminishing charter travel business 2001 More routes were added it was also decided that Sterling should leave the charter industry and become a fully fledged low fare airline 2002 Sterling opened 21 new routes primarily between Scandinavia and Southern Europe but also routes from Copenhagen to Oslo and Stockholm 2003 Sterling expanded its fleet from six to eight aircraft and opened 11 more routes between Scandinavia and Southern Europe Passenger numbers reached a record high of 1 3 million a 40 increase on 2002 2004 The fleet grew to 12 aircraft March 2005 Fred Olsen sold Sterling to the Icelandic investment company Fons Eignarhaldsfelag owners of the small Iceland Express airline and the managing director of Iceland Express Almar Orn Hilmarsson was promoted to new managing director for Sterling June 2005 The Fons Eignarhaldsfelag bought Maersk Air from the A P Moller Maersk Group and announced that they wanted to merge the two airlines under Sterling Airlines A S September 2005 The merger was approved by the authorities and Sterling Airlines A S was the only operational company the fourth largest low cost carrier in Europe and only a month later Fons Eignarhaldsfelag sold the company to the FL Group August 2006 Sterling adopted a buy on board program that allows pre ordering and onboard purchases of duty free merchandise and meals December 2006 FL Group sold Sterling to Northern Travel Holding a holding company owned by the three Icelandic private equity companies FL Group Fons Eignarhaldsfelag and Sons April 2007 Essential Aircraft Maintenance Services EAMS has been established by LD Equity 2 based on the acquisition of Sterling s aircraft maintenance department LD Equity 2 has together with a new management team acquired Sterling s aircraft maintenance activities and has established Essential Aircraft Maintenance Services A S 29 October 2008 Sterling declared bankruptcy due to the rising fuel prices in the first half of 2008 and the Icelandic financial crisis in October that hit its major investor The entire fleet was grounded with immediate effect 2 6 Destinations EditThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed January 2021 Learn how and when to remove this template message Boeing 737 800 At the time of Sterling s collapse the airline served these destinations Austria Salzburg Belgium Brussels Bulgaria Burgas and Varna Croatia Split Czech Republic Prague Denmark Aalborg Billund and Copenhagen Finland Helsinki France Biarritz Paris Montpellier and Nice Germany Berlin Greece Athens and Chania Hungary Budapest Italy Bologna Florence Milan Naples Rome Venice Norway Oslo Gardermoen and Bergen Poland Krakow Portugal Faro and Funchal Spain Alicante Barcelona Las Palmas Malaga Palma de Mallorca and Tenerife Sri Lanka Colombo Sweden Gothenburg Malmo and Stockholm Switzerland Geneva United Kingdom Edinburgh London Gatwick and East Midlands United Arab Emirates Dubai Fleet Edit Several of Sterling Airlines Boeing 737s at Belgrade Airport Historically Sterling Airways operated several Sud Aviation Caravelle IIIs and seven Super Caravelles During the time between late 1970s and the 1993 bankruptcy Sterling also operated three Boeing 727s two Douglas DC 8 63s stretched Super DC 8 and one Super DC 8 62CF as well as an Aerospatiale Corvette citation needed As of 29 October 2008 the fleet has been grounded due to Sterling Airlines declaring bankruptcy Several Boeing jetliners are stored at Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport five 737 700 and two 737 800 and also at the nearby Batajnica Airport four 737 700 in Belgrade Serbia One Boeing 757 200 was later acquired by Donald Trump and used as Trump Force One citation needed The Sterling Airlines fleet included the following aircraft as of October 2008 7 Sterling Airlines Fleet Aircraft Total Passengers Routes NotesBoeing 737 500 4 126 EuropeBoeing 737 700 15 148 EuropeBoeing 737 800 7 189 EuropeMcDonnell Douglas MD 83 1 165 Europe operated by FlyExcellentTotal 27Incidents and accidents EditOn March 14 1972 Sterling Airways Flight 296 a Sud Aviation Caravelle crashed into a mountain ridge on approach to Dubai near Kalba United Arab Emirates The accident killed all 112 passengers and crew on board making it the deadliest air disaster in the history of the United Arab Emirates 15 March 1974 Sterling Airways Flight 901 another Sud Aviation Caravelle suffered a landing gear failure at Mehrabad International Airport Tehran Iran As the aircraft was taxiing the right main landing gear failed causing the right wing to hit the ground and catch fire 15 passengers were killed in the accident 3 September 1979 Sterling Airways Flight 4133 an Aerospatiale Corvette Registration OY SBS crashed into the sea 1 km south of Nice Cote d Azur Airport France The aircraft took off from Coventry Airport for Nice The accident killed all 10 passengers and crew 8 References Edit Contact Sterling Airlines Retrieved on 13 February 2011 Head office Sterling Airlines A S Copenhagen Airport South 2791 Dragoer Denmark a b dr dk nyheder Danmarks Radio Archived from the original on 2008 12 01 Retrieved 2008 10 29 Sterling gjenoppstar e24 no December 4 2008 in Norwegian 112 Die as Danish Jetliner Crashes on Arab Island Pacific Stars and Stripes March 17 1972 p1 Copenhagen Air Services Airline History Retrieved 15 October 2021 in English Which Airline Which Airline Archived from the original on 2012 02 18 Retrieved 2008 10 29 Sog pa tekniske data Danish Civil Aviation Administration Retrieved 2008 05 24 permanent dead link Accident description at the Aviation Safety NetworkExternal links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sterling Airlines Sterling Airlines Archive Sterling Airlines Archive in Danish Portals Aviation Companies Denmark Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sterling Airlines amp oldid 1124396656 History, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
