| |||||||
| Founded | 1994 [ citation needed] | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commenced operations | 1995 | ||||||
| Ceased operations | 1 July 1998 [1] | ||||||
| Fleet size | 3 | ||||||
| Parent company | Elbee Services | ||||||
| Headquarters | Mumbai, India | ||||||
Elbee Airlines was India's first all-cargo airline based in Mumbai, India. [2] Elbee Airlines was started as a wholly owned subsidiary of Elbee Services, one of India's largest express logistics company that itself closed down in 2002. [3] It operated domestic cargo services until July 1998. It became operational in June 1995 having acquired an air-taxi-operator's certificate from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation to operate four Fokkers on domestic routes. [2] The Airline planned a 57 million dollar fleet renewal in 1996, by bringing in three Boeing 727 and three McDonnell Douglas DC-10 freighters to add to its three Fokker F27s. [4] However, after its freighter Fokker 27 crashed in 1997, business never returned to normalcy and the airline ceased operations by July 1998.
Destinations
Elbee operated freight services to the following destinations: [5]
- Delhi - Indira Gandhi International Airport
- Bengaluru - Bengaluru International Airport
- Mumbai - Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport base
- Chennai - Chennai International Airport
Fleet
The fleet consisted of three Fokker 27 turboprop aircraft (in cargo configuration). [6]
| Registration | From | To |
|---|---|---|
| VT-SSA | Busy Bee | Crashed off the coast of Mumbai in 1997 |
| VT-SSB | Busy Bee | Stored at Chennai Airport. |
| VT-SSC | Busy Bee | Scrapped at Mumbai Airport in 2007 |
Accidents and incidents
VT-SSA, operating cargo flight on the Mumbai-Bangalore sector, crashed into the Arabian Sea off the Coast of Mumbai on 3 July 1997. The aircraft was destroyed on impact and both crew members died. Severe weather conditions encountered soon after take-off were said to be responsible for the accident. [7]
References
- ^ "Elbee Services Ltd". The Economic Times. September 2002. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
- ^ a b "Indian Cargo Start-up". Flight Global. 10 May 1995. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
- ^ "Elbee's dead, long live Elbee Express". The Economic Times. 27 February 2008. Retrieved 26 September 2012.
- ^ "India's private malaise". Flight Global. 26 June 1996. Retrieved 26 September 2012.
- ^ "World Airline directory". Flight Global. 1 April 1998. Retrieved 26 September 2012.
- ^ "Fleet Summary, Elbee Airlines". ATDB. Retrieved 26 September 2012.
- ^ "Accident Summary" (PDF). DGCA India. Retrieved 26 September 2012.
