Denim Air
Encyclopedia
Denim Air B.V. is a charter airline based in Mijdrecht
, the Netherlands
. It provides ACMI wet lease
services to other airlines. Its main base is Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.
It is wholly owned by Panta Holdings and had 242 employees (at February 2010).
wholly acquired Denim Air. In October 2002 the management team of Denim Air bought back the shares in a management buy-out. In June 2003 it started operating domestic flights in Germany
from Augsburg
to Düsseldorf
and Berlin
. In 2005 scheduled operations ceased after the airline was acquired by Panta Holdings which used to own VLM Airlines
. It has since concentrated exclusively on providing ACMI services and in 2006 operations were moved to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.
Denim Air mainly targeted African, Asian and other willing markets, operating for United Nation High Commissioner for Refugees in Sudan
and Central Africa, for the Norwegian Army
in Afghanistan
, for Veba Oil in Libya
. The airline also operated aircraft for airlines, mainly African airline, Arik Air
and Spanish
airline, Air Nostrum
, they also operated one aircraft for African airline, Air Affaires Gabon
.
On 18 February 2010, Denim Air ceased operations after all wet-lease contracts had ended within weeks. Dutch legal company De Vos & Partners has been appointed as curator of wet-lease specialist Denim Air after it was declared bankrupt.
A successful restart of the company was initiated. The company is currently operating with three Fokker 50 aircraft, including two based at the hub of Italian Airport-Fenosu Oristano.
At 17 August 2011, the average age of the Denim Air fleet was 19.7 years (http://www.airfleets.net/ageflotte/Denim%20Air.htm).
Mijdrecht
Mijdrecht is a town in the municipality of De Ronde Venen, in the Netherlands.It is located west of the main A2 motorway, between Utrecht and Amsterdam.Its population is around 17,000. The football team Argon has its stadium here....
, the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. It provides ACMI wet lease
Wet lease
Aircraft leases are a number of types of leases used by airlines and other aircraft operators. Airlines lease aircraft from other airlines or leasing companies for two main reasons; to operate aircraft without the financial burden of buying them, and to provide temporary increase in capacity...
services to other airlines. Its main base is Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.
It is wholly owned by Panta Holdings and had 242 employees (at February 2010).
History
This airline was established in 1996 and started operations on 26 April 1996. In January 1999 the Spanish airline Air NostrumAir Nostrum
Air Nostrum, Líneas Aéreas del Mediterráneo, S.A., also known as Iberia Regional, is a regional airline based in Valencia, Spain. Air Nostrum is an independent carrier which operates as a franchisee of Iberia Airlines. Iberia Regional franchise is a regional partner of Iberia and an affiliate...
wholly acquired Denim Air. In October 2002 the management team of Denim Air bought back the shares in a management buy-out. In June 2003 it started operating domestic flights in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
from Augsburg
Augsburg
Augsburg is a city in the south-west of Bavaria, Germany. It is a university town and home of the Regierungsbezirk Schwaben and the Bezirk Schwaben. Augsburg is an urban district and home to the institutions of the Landkreis Augsburg. It is, as of 2008, the third-largest city in Bavaria with a...
to Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf is the capital city of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and centre of the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region.Düsseldorf is an important international business and financial centre and renowned for its fashion and trade fairs. Located centrally within the European Megalopolis, the...
and Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. In 2005 scheduled operations ceased after the airline was acquired by Panta Holdings which used to own VLM Airlines
VLM Airlines
VLM Airlines is a Belgian airline whose head office is in Airport Building B50 at Antwerp International Airport in Deurne, Antwerp...
. It has since concentrated exclusively on providing ACMI services and in 2006 operations were moved to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.
Denim Air mainly targeted African, Asian and other willing markets, operating for United Nation High Commissioner for Refugees in Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
and Central Africa, for the Norwegian Army
Norwegian Army
Norway achieved full independence in 1905, and in the first century of its short life has contributed to two major conflicts, the Cold War and the War on Terror. The Norwegian Army currently operates in the north of Norway and in Afghanistan as well as in Eastern Europe. The Army is the oldest of...
in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, for Veba Oil in Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
. The airline also operated aircraft for airlines, mainly African airline, Arik Air
Arik Air
Arik Air is a Nigerian airline operating a domestic, regional and international flight network. It is also the national carrier of Sierra Leone. It operates mainly from two hubs at Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja...
and Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
airline, Air Nostrum
Air Nostrum
Air Nostrum, Líneas Aéreas del Mediterráneo, S.A., also known as Iberia Regional, is a regional airline based in Valencia, Spain. Air Nostrum is an independent carrier which operates as a franchisee of Iberia Airlines. Iberia Regional franchise is a regional partner of Iberia and an affiliate...
, they also operated one aircraft for African airline, Air Affaires Gabon
Air Affaires Gabon
Nouvelle Air Affaires Gabon is an airline based in Libreville, Gabon. It operates corporate and freight charter services. Its main base is Libreville International Airport...
.
On 18 February 2010, Denim Air ceased operations after all wet-lease contracts had ended within weeks. Dutch legal company De Vos & Partners has been appointed as curator of wet-lease specialist Denim Air after it was declared bankrupt.
A successful restart of the company was initiated. The company is currently operating with three Fokker 50 aircraft, including two based at the hub of Italian Airport-Fenosu Oristano.
Services
Denim Air solely operated under wetlease (ACMI) contracts on behalf of Airlines, United Nations, NGO's, Armed Forces.Fleet
The Denim Air fleet included the following aircraft:| Aircraft | Total | Passengers (Economy) |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fokker 50 | 4 | 50 | |
| Fokker 100 | 1 | 100 | (PH-LNE) Operates from Slovakia |
| Total | 5 |
At 17 August 2011, the average age of the Denim Air fleet was 19.7 years (http://www.airfleets.net/ageflotte/Denim%20Air.htm).