Sterling Airlines
Encyclopedia
Sterling Airlines A/S was a low-cost airline with its head office at Copenhagen Airport South
in Dragør
, Dragør Municipality, Denmark
. It was created in September 2005 through the merger of two Danish airlines — Sterling European Airlines and Maersk Air
— which had been bought by the Icelandic investment group Fons Eignarhaldsfélag a few months before. One month after the merger, Sterling Airlines was sold to the FL Group
. In December 2006, Sterling was sold again, this time to Nordic Travel Holding. On 6 January 2006, Hannes 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. 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.
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.
Sterling Airlines traces its history back to 1962, when Eilif Krogager
, founder of Danish travel agency Tjæreborg
(today part of MyTravel Group
), started the charter airline Sterling Airways with two Douglas DC-6
B bought from Swissair
, in order to better service his own package tours from Scandinavia to the Mediterranean. Further DC-6Bs were acquired in 1963. In 1965 Sterling received its first Caravelle
, and in 1968 the company was bought out of the Tjæreborg Group and started servicing other travel agents as well.
Sterling Airways Flight 296
crashed near the Dubai
airport on March 14, 1972
, killing all 112 persons on board. The 106 passengers were returning to Denmark
following a holiday in Sri Lanka
. Air Disaster Database
In 1987, the company celebrated its 25th anniversary with 19 aircraft and almost 1,300 staff, but a few years later, in 1993, Sterling Airways went bankrupt. In 1994, the estate after Sterling Airways re-created the company as Sterling European Airlines, with three aircraft and 182 staff.
In 1996, Sterling was bought by the Norwegian
shipping company Fred. Olsen
.
In 2000, Sterling started with regular air services to Málaga
and Alicante
, to compensate for the diminishing charter travel business. More routes were added in 2001, when it was also decided that Sterling should leave the charter industry and become a fully fledged low-fare airline. During 2002, Sterling opened 21 new routes, primarily between Scandinavia and Southern Europe, but also routes from Copenhagen
to Oslo
and Stockholm
.
In 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. In 2004, the fleet grew to 12 aircraft.
In 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. In 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. In 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. In 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.
In August 2006, Sterling adopted a buy-on-board program that allows pre-ordering and onboard purchases of duty free merchandise and meals.
In 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.
On 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.
At the time of Sterling's collapse the airline served the following destinations: Austria (Salzburg), Belgium (Brussels), Bulgaria (Burgas and Varna), Croatia (Split), the Czech Republic (Prague), Denmark (Aalborg, Billund, and Copenhagen), 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 (Kraków), Portugal (Faro and Funchal), Spain (Alicante, Barcelona, Las Palmas, Málaga, Palma de Mallorca and Tenerife), Sri Lanka (Colombo), Sweden (Gothenburg, Malmö and Stockholm), Switzerland (Geneva), the United Kingdom (Edinburgh, London, and Nottingham), United Arabic Emirates (Dubai)."
As of 29 October 2008 the fleet has been grounded, due to Sterling declaring bankruptcy. Several airplanes are stored at Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport
(5 737-700 and 2 737-800) and the nearby Batajnica Airport (4 737-700) in Belgrade
, Serbia
.
The Sterling Airlines fleet included the following aircraft (as of October 2008):
Copenhagen Airport
Copenhagen Airport is the main international airport serving Copenhagen, Denmark and the Oresund Region. It is located on the island of Amager, south of Copenhagen city centre, and west of Malmö city centre on the other side of the Oresund Bridge. The airport lies mainly in the municipality...
in Dragør
Dragør
Dragør Kommune is a municipality in Copenhagen County on the southern coast of the island of Amager just east of Zealand in eastern Denmark. The municipality covers an area of 18 km², and has a total population of 13,411...
, Dragør Municipality, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
. It was created in September 2005 through the merger of two Danish airlines — Sterling European Airlines and Maersk Air
Maersk Air
Maersk Air was a Danish low-fare airline, based in Dragør, Dragør Municipality; Maersk was part of the A.P. Moller-Maersk Group. It operated from 1969 to 2005, when it was bought by Icelandic investment group Fons Eignarhaldsfélag and subsequently merged with their other Danish acquisition the same...
— which had been bought by the Icelandic investment group Fons Eignarhaldsfélag a few months before. One month after the merger, Sterling Airlines was sold to the FL Group
FL GROUP
Stodir is an international investment company, headquartered in Reykjavík, Iceland with offices in London.The company was founded on July 20, 1973, under the name Flugleiðir. It was formed as a holding company for Loftleiðir and Flugfélag Íslands....
. In December 2006, Sterling was sold again, this time to Nordic Travel Holding. On 6 January 2006, Hannes Smárason
Hannes Smárason
Hannes Smárason is an Icelandic businessman and former CEO of the FL Group.-Career:He worked for McKinsey in Boston upon graduating from MIT from 1992 to 1996 as a Management Consultant before being hired by deCODE genetics as deputy CEO....
, CEO of the FL Group, stated that a merger of EasyJet
EasyJet
EasyJet Airline Company Limited is a British airline headquartered at London Luton Airport. It carries more passengers than any other United Kingdom-based airline, operating domestic and international scheduled services on 500 routes between 118 European, North African, and West Asian airports...
and Sterling was a possibility.
On 29 October 2008, Sterling filed for bankruptcy and ceased operations. 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.
At the end of 2005, Sterling Airlines had 1,600 staff and 29 aircraft, making it almost twice as large as Icelandair
Icelandair
Icelandair ehf is the flag carrier airline of Iceland, based on the grounds of Reykjavík Airport in Reykjavík. It is part of the Icelandair Group and currently operates scheduled services to 31 cities in 13 countries on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean out of its hub at Keflavík International Airport...
. The company flew to some 40 European destinations, with Copenhagen Airport
Copenhagen Airport
Copenhagen Airport is the main international airport serving Copenhagen, Denmark and the Oresund Region. It is located on the island of Amager, south of Copenhagen city centre, and west of Malmö city centre on the other side of the Oresund Bridge. The airport lies mainly in the municipality...
, Oslo Airport, Gardermoen
Oslo Airport, Gardermoen
Oslo Airport, Gardermoen is the principal airport serving Oslo, Norway. It acts as the main domestic hub and international airport for Norway, and the second-busiest airport in the Nordic countries. A hub for Scandinavian Airlines and Norwegian Air Shuttle, and a focus city for Widerøe, it is...
and Stockholm-Arlanda Airport
Stockholm-Arlanda Airport
Stockholm Arlanda Airport , is an international airport located in the Sigtuna Municipality of Sweden, near the town of Märsta, north of Stockholm and nearly , by road, south-east of Uppsala....
as primary hubs.
History
- For the history of Maersk Air, see Maersk AirMaersk AirMaersk Air was a Danish low-fare airline, based in Dragør, Dragør Municipality; Maersk was part of the A.P. Moller-Maersk Group. It operated from 1969 to 2005, when it was bought by Icelandic investment group Fons Eignarhaldsfélag and subsequently merged with their other Danish acquisition the same...
.
Sterling Airlines traces its history back to 1962, when Eilif Krogager
Eilif Krogager
Eilif Krogager was a Danish pastor and entrepreneur, who founded Nordisk Bustrafik in 1951.During the Second World War he was active in the Danish resistance movement....
, founder of Danish travel agency Tjæreborg
Tjæreborg
Tjæreborg may refer to:*Tjæreborg, Denmark, a village on the west coast of Denmark, about 9 km east of Esbjerg*A former travel agency based at Tjæreborg: see Sterling Airlines#History...
(today part of MyTravel Group
MyTravel Group PLC
This article contains historical information about My Travel until its merger with Thomas Cook AG - for the new company see - Thomas Cook GroupMyTravel Group PLC was a package holiday company based in the United Kingdom...
), started the charter airline Sterling Airways with two Douglas DC-6
Douglas DC-6
The Douglas DC-6 is a piston-powered airliner and transport aircraft built by the Douglas Aircraft Company from 1946 to 1958. Originally intended as a military transport near the end of World War II, it was reworked after the war to compete with the Lockheed Constellation in the long-range...
B bought from Swissair
Swissair
Swissair AG was the former national airline of Switzerland.It was formed from a merger between Balair and Ad Astra Aero , in 1931...
, in order to better service his own package tours from Scandinavia to the Mediterranean. Further DC-6Bs were acquired in 1963. In 1965 Sterling received its first Caravelle
Sud Aviation Caravelle
The Sud Aviation SE 210 Caravelle was the first short/medium-range jet airliner produced by the French Sud Aviation firm starting in 1955 . The Caravelle was one of the more successful European first generation jetliners, selling throughout Europe and even penetrating the United States market, with...
, and in 1968 the company was bought out of the Tjæreborg Group and started servicing other travel agents as well.
Sterling Airways Flight 296
Sterling Airways Flight 296
On 14 March 1972 Sterling Airways Flight 296 crashed near Kalba in the United Arab Emirates on a flight from Colombo to Copenhagen in Denmark with a stop over in Dubai. The Sud Aviation Caravelle was registration OY-STL. 112 passengers and crew died in the crash which was attributed to pilot error...
crashed near the Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
airport on March 14, 1972
March 1972
January – February – March – April – May – June – July – August – September – October – November-DecemberThe following events occurred in March, 1972.-March 1, 1972 :...
, killing all 112 persons on board. The 106 passengers were returning to Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
following a holiday in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
. Air Disaster Database
In 1987, the company celebrated its 25th anniversary with 19 aircraft and almost 1,300 staff, but a few years later, in 1993, Sterling Airways went bankrupt. In 1994, the estate after Sterling Airways re-created the company as Sterling European Airlines, with three aircraft and 182 staff.
In 1996, Sterling was bought by the Norwegian
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
shipping company Fred. Olsen
Fred. Olsen & Co.
Fred. Olsen & Co. is a large shipping company based in Oslo, Norway. The company was founded by Petter Olsen in 1848. Today it is the holding company that controls the Olsen family's interest through Bonheur and Ganger Rolf.-History:...
.
In 2000, Sterling started with regular air services to Málaga
Málaga
Málaga is a city and a municipality in the Autonomous Community of Andalusia, Spain. With a population of 568,507 in 2010, it is the second most populous city of Andalusia and the sixth largest in Spain. This is the southernmost large city in Europe...
and Alicante
Alicante
Alicante or Alacant is a city in Spain, the capital of the province of Alicante and of the comarca of Alacantí, in the south of the Valencian Community. It is also a historic Mediterranean port. The population of the city of Alicante proper was 334,418, estimated , ranking as the second-largest...
, to compensate for the diminishing charter travel business. More routes were added in 2001, when it was also decided that Sterling should leave the charter industry and become a fully fledged low-fare airline. During 2002, Sterling opened 21 new routes, primarily between Scandinavia and Southern Europe, but also routes from Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
to Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
and Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
.
In 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. In 2004, the fleet grew to 12 aircraft.
In March 2005, Fred. Olsen sold Sterling to the Icelandic investment company Fons Eignarhaldsfélag, owners of the small Iceland Express
Iceland Express
Iceland Express is a low-fare airline headquartered in Reykjavík, Iceland. It operates services to 17 destinations in Europe and North America using leased aircraft...
airline, and the managing director of Iceland Express, Almar Örn Hilmarsson, was promoted to new managing director for Sterling. In June 2005, the Fons Eignarhaldsfélag bought Maersk Air
Maersk Air
Maersk Air was a Danish low-fare airline, based in Dragør, Dragør Municipality; Maersk was part of the A.P. Moller-Maersk Group. It operated from 1969 to 2005, when it was bought by Icelandic investment group Fons Eignarhaldsfélag and subsequently merged with their other Danish acquisition the same...
from the A.P. Moller-Maersk Group
A.P. Moller-Maersk Group
A.P. Moller – Maersk Group , also known as Maersk , is a Danish business conglomerate. A.P. Moller – Maersk Group has activities in a variety of business sectors, primarily within the transportation and energy sectors. It is the largest container ship operator and supply vessel operator in the...
and announced that they wanted to merge the two airlines under Sterling Airlines A/S. In 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. In 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.
In August 2006, Sterling adopted a buy-on-board program that allows pre-ordering and onboard purchases of duty free merchandise and meals.
In 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.
On 29 October 2008 Sterling declared bankruptcy
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
due to the rising fuel prices in the first half of 2008 and the Icelandic financial crisis in October that hit its major investor
Investor
An investor is a party that makes an investment into one or more categories of assets --- equity, debt securities, real estate, currency, commodity, derivatives such as put and call options, etc...
. The entire fleet was grounded with immediate effect.
Destinations
Fleet
Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport
Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport is Serbia's busiest airport, also known as Surčin , after a nearby Belgrade district.Named after Nikola Tesla, the airport is situated west, of central Belgrade, in the Municipality of Surčin, surrounded by Syrmia's fertile lowlands...
(5 737-700 and 2 737-800) and the nearby Batajnica Airport (4 737-700) in Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
, Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
.
The Sterling Airlines fleet included the following aircraft (as of October 2008):
| Aircraft | Total | Passengers |
Routes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boeing 737-500 Boeing 737 Classic The Boeing 737 Classic is the name given to the -300/-400/-500 series of the Boeing 737 following the introduction of the -600/-700/-800/-900 series. They are short- to medium- range, narrow-body jet airliners produced by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. The Classic series was introduced as the 'new... |
4 | 126 | Europe | |
| Boeing 737-700 Boeing 737 Next Generation The Boeing 737 Next Generation, commonly abbreviated as Boeing 737NG, is the name given to the -600/-700/-800/-900 series of the Boeing 737 after the introduction of the -300/-400/-500 Classic series. They are short- to medium-range, narrow-body jet airliners... |
15 | 148 | Europe | |
| Boeing 737-800 Boeing 737 Next Generation The Boeing 737 Next Generation, commonly abbreviated as Boeing 737NG, is the name given to the -600/-700/-800/-900 series of the Boeing 737 after the introduction of the -300/-400/-500 Classic series. They are short- to medium-range, narrow-body jet airliners... |
7 | 189 | Europe | |
| McDonnell Douglas MD-83 | 1 | Europe | operated by FlyExcellent | |
| Total | 27 |
Incidents and accidents
- 3 September 1979, Sterling Airways Flight 4133 an Aérospatiale CorvetteAérospatiale Corvette|-See also:-References:...
(RegistrationAircraft registrationAn aircraft registration is a unique alphanumeric string that identifies a civil aircraft, in similar fashion to a licence plate on an automobile...
: OY-SBS) crashed into the sea 1 km south of Nice Côte d'Azur Airport, FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. The aircraft took off from Coventry AirportCoventry AirportCoventry Airport is located south southeast of Coventry city centre, in the village of Baginton, Warwickshire, England, and about outside Coventry boundaries...
for Nice. The accident killed all 10 passengers and crew.
- Sterling Airways Flight 296Sterling Airways Flight 296On 14 March 1972 Sterling Airways Flight 296 crashed near Kalba in the United Arab Emirates on a flight from Colombo to Copenhagen in Denmark with a stop over in Dubai. The Sud Aviation Caravelle was registration OY-STL. 112 passengers and crew died in the crash which was attributed to pilot error...
- 20 July 2008, - A Sterling Airlines Boeing 737-800Boeing 737 Next GenerationThe Boeing 737 Next Generation, commonly abbreviated as Boeing 737NG, is the name given to the -600/-700/-800/-900 series of the Boeing 737 after the introduction of the -300/-400/-500 Classic series. They are short- to medium-range, narrow-body jet airliners...
(Registration OY-SEB) arrived at Malaga Airport from Copenhagen and suddenly tail-tipped when it arrived at the gate. This was due to a problem with the airbridge that it was attached to. There were no fatalities or injuries, and there did not seem to be any damage to the aircraft.
External links
- Sterling Airlines (Archive)
- Sterling Airlines (Archive)
- Cimber Sterling official website