Archana Airways

Archana Airways
अर्चना एयरवैस
IATA ICAO Callsign
— ACY ARCHANA
Founded29 April 1991; 33 years ago (1991-04-29)
Commenced operations1993 (1993)
Ceased operations2000; 24 years ago (2000)
HubsDelhi
Fleet size20
Destinations5
HeadquartersNew Delhi

Archana Airways was a regional airline based in New Delhi, India. It operated domestic scheduled services with a fleet of turboprop aircraft from 1994 to 2000.

History

Archana Airways Limited was founded on 29 April 1991 and started its full service operation in 1993 with three brand new Czech built L-410 UVP-E9, 17 seater commuter aircraft. In 1994 the company was granted scheduled airlines status by the Government of India through Directorate General of Civil Aviation, New Delhi.

Seeing the quality of service provided by Archana Airways, in 1994, it was approached by MPAVN (now MPSIDC) to connect some sectors in the state of Madhya Pradesh and also subscribe equity of the company as co-promoter.

Archana was among the smallest of the 30 old aviation companies which had come into being by 1994. The airline quickly set up in-house facilities, for overhaul of aircraft and training programs for pilots, cabin attendants, traffic assistants and security staff.

Archana was operating its schedule flight to Kullu, Shimla, Jaipur, Udaipur and Jodhpur sector.

In the beginning of 1995, to connect more sectors, the company planned an expansion to acquire bigger capacity aircraft. The plan was to acquire two new DASH-8 Aircraft on deferred credit basis.

Two of the company's three L410 (17 Seater) aircraft met with accidents in Kanpur ('96) and Kullu ('96). The company acquired three new Let L-410 aircraft during 96–97. The promoters started feeling credit crunch and were unable to pay the instalments for the aircraft. The company incurred heavy losses due to low load factors and high cost of operation. In 2000, the airline went out of business.

Destinations

As of October 1994, Archana Airways served the following cities:[1]

India

Incidents and accidents

  • On 18 May 1996, an Archana Airways L-410UVP-E9D (VT-ETB) touched down late and overran the runway at Kanpur Airport, India, striking the boundary wall of the airport and coming to a halt. All 19 people on board survived.[2][3]
  • An Archana Airways Let L 410 crashed after taking off from Shimla while operating on the Delhi-Shimla-Bhunter-Delhi sector on the morning of 11 July 1996, killing all 9 persons aboard (including three flight crew members).[4][5] Airline negligence was blamed.[6]

Fleet

Archana Airways operated the Bombardier Dash 8 aircraft. It formerly operated Let L-410 aircraft.

Current status

Archana Airways Limited has been taken over by Ascent Pinnacle Capital Limited[7]

References

  1. ^ "Routes of success". India Today. 15 October 1994. Retrieved 27 August 2014.
  2. ^ "Civil Aviation Aircraft Accident Summary for the year 1996" (PDF). DGCA. Retrieved 10 August 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 January 2015.
  3. ^ Accident description for VT-ETB at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 30 May 2017.
  4. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 2 August 2007.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. ^ Information about Archana Airways at the Aviation Safety Network
  6. ^ Accident description for VT-ETC at the Aviation Safety Network
  7. ^ Ascent Pinnacle Capital Limited.
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