Английская Википедия:Air Ceylon

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Шаблон:Short description Шаблон:Refimprove Шаблон:Infobox Airline

Air Ceylon was the former flag carrier airline of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). The airline discontinued flights to Europe in early 1978 and finally ceased all local services on 31 August 1979, when it was replaced by Air Lanka. Air Lanka was later rebranded to SriLankan Airlines.[1]

History

Файл:Air Ceylon Douglas DC-8 at Zurich Airport in June 1977.jpg
An Air Ceylon Douglas DC-8 approaches Zurich Airport in 1977.
Файл:Air Ceylon Hawker Siddeley HS-121 Trident Green.jpg
An Air Ceylon Hawker Siddeley Trident at Subang Airport in 1978

Air Ceylon was established in 1947 as state-owned flag carrier airline. In 1947, the government purchased three DC-3s, which were named after queens Sita Devi, Viharamaha Devi, and Sunethra Devi.

On 10 December 1947, with Captain Peter Fernando at the controls and a complement of 16 passengers, Sita Devi took off from Ratmalana runway soon after 8 am, inaugurating the Air Ceylon commercial flights, and headed for Palaly. After a brief stop there, the Dakota proceeded to Madras, returning to Colombo by the same route later that day.

Madras-Jaffna-Trichinopoly Douglas C-47 Skytrain services to London with two Douglas DC-4s leased from Australian National Airways (ANA) commenced in summer 1949, after ANA acquired a 49% stake in Air Ceylon earlier that year.[2][3] Flights to Sydney in co-operation with ANA were started on 20 July 1950 via Singapore and Darwin.[4]

In 1949, Australian National Airways (ANA) owned a 49% stake in Sri Lanka's countrywide service. Air Ceylon discontinued all long-haul fights and gave up its partnership with ANA in September 1953 after BOAC had introduced the de Havilland Comet between London and Colombo.[5][6] The 49 percent stake held by ANA was taken over by KLM in 1955. In 1960s KLM's shareholding reduced to 25%.[7]

Flights to London were commenced again on 21 February 1956 using a Lockheed 749A Constellation leased from KLM.[8] The aircraft was replaced by a Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation in 1958, followed by a KLM Lockheed L-188 Electra that was leased until the partnership with KLM ended in November 1961.[9] A Comet from BOAC allowed the relaunch of flights to London in April 1962. The aircraft was replaced by a leased Vickers VC10 in November 1965.[10]

From 1964, the Hawker Siddeley HS 748 became the aircraft mainly used on Air Ceylon's short-haul routes to Madras and Bombay, along with the Aérospatiale N 262 that was bought in 1967. When Bandaranaike International Airport was completed in 1967, Air Ceylon opened its hub there. A Hawker Siddeley Trident jet airliner was purchased in 1969, and it was operated on regional routes until it was withdrawn in August 1979.[11][12]

In 1972, Union de Transports Aériens (UTA) became Air Ceylon's partner, selling one Douglas DC-8 to the airline and giving technical support. UTA ended the partnership in September 1976, leaving Air Ceylon without a European aide.[13] In 1979, Air Ceylon was shut down by the Sri Lankan government due to bankruptcy, and Air Lanka was established as new national carrier.

During that period, Air Ceylon offered multiple-stopover flights, which were leaving Colombo on three routes - to Europe, to Australia, and a regional one to India. KLM was the important partner airline, serving as general sales agent for Air Ceylon.[14][15]

Due to more modern aircraft with a longer range, fewer stops were required on the long-distance routes, reducing travel time. Air Ceylon passengers could reach additional destinations (in Europe and towards Australia) with co-operative BOAC or Qantas flights.[16]

The co-operation with BOAC and Qantas was reduced at that time, instead a codeshare-like agreement was signed with Indian Airlines. As a consequence, Air Ceylon relaunched services to Australia and expanded its European network.[17][18][19]

Terminated destinations

Country-city Airport code Airport name Notes Refs
IATA ICAO
Australia
Darwin DRW YPDN Darwin International Airport Terminated
Sydney SYD YSSY Sydney Airport Terminated
Bahrain
Bahrain BAH OBBI Bahrain International Airport Terminated
Egypt
Cairo CAI HECA Cairo International Airport Terminated
France
Paris CDG LFPG Charles de Gaulle Airport Terminated
India
Madras MAA VOMM Chennai International Airport Terminated
Bombay BOM VABB Sahar International Airport Terminated
Tiruchirappalli TRZ VOTR Tiruchirappalli International Airport Terminated
Indonesia
Jakarta CGK WIII Kemayoran Airport Terminated
Israel
Tel Aviv TLV LLBG Ben Gurion Airport Terminated
Italy
Rome FCO LIRF Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport Terminated
Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur KUL WMKK Subang International Airport Terminated
Maldives
Malé MLE VRMM Ibrahim Nasir International Airport Terminated
Netherlands
Amsterdam AMS EHAM Amsterdam Airport Schiphol Terminated
Pakistan
Karachi KHI OPKC Jinnah International Airport Terminated
Sri Lanka
Ampara ADP VCCG Ampara Airport Terminated
Batticaloa BTC VCCB Batticaloa Airport Terminated
Colombo CMB VCBI Bandaranaike International Airport Terminated
Colombo RML VCCC Ratmalana Airport Terminated
Jaffna JAF VCCJ Jaffna Airport Terminated
Trincomalee TRR VCCT China Bay Airport Terminated
Singapore
Singapore SIN WSSS Paya Lebar Airport Terminated
Thailand
Bangkok BKK VTBS Don Muang International Airport Terminated
United Kingdom
London LHR EGLL Heathrow Airport Terminated

Fleet

Before ending operations in 1979, Air Ceylon had one Hawker Siddeley HS 748 and one Hawker Siddeley Trident.

Over the years, Air Ceylon operated these aircraft types:

Aircraft Introduced Retired
Aérospatiale N 262 Шаблон:Center Шаблон:Center
Boeing 707
Boeing 720 Шаблон:Center Шаблон:Center
Convair 990 Coronado Шаблон:Center Шаблон:Center
de Havilland Comet Шаблон:Center Шаблон:Center
Douglas DC-3 Шаблон:Center Шаблон:Center
Douglas DC-4 Шаблон:Center Шаблон:Center
Douglas DC-8 Шаблон:Center Шаблон:Center
Hawker Siddeley HS 748 Шаблон:Center Шаблон:Center
Hawker Siddeley Trident Шаблон:Center Шаблон:Center
Lockheed Constellation Шаблон:Center Шаблон:Center
Lockheed Super Constellation Шаблон:Center Шаблон:Center
Lockheed L-188 Electra Шаблон:Center Шаблон:Center
Sud Aviation Caravelle
Vickers VC10 Шаблон:Center Шаблон:Center

Accidents and incidents

References

Шаблон:Reflist Шаблон:Commons category Шаблон:Portal

External links

Шаблон:Airlines of Sri Lanka