AIR NIAGARA: United States (1982-1985). Originally established on paper by hotelier John Prozeralik in 1977, Air Niagara is physically constituted at Niagara, New York, in the spring of 1982 and receives government authorization in August to commence passenger services. A Boeing 727-25 is leased from Eastern Air Lines and, crewed by former Braniff International Airways pilots and flight attendants, is employed to launch charter flights. Seven-times-per-day scheduled, $98 roundtrips commence on December 15 from Niagara Falls to Newark (EWR).
Competition on the Newark route from PEOPLExpress (flying from Buffalo) is severe during the holiday season, forcing Air Niagara to reduce its roundtrip fares to $58 and cut its frequencies to twice daily.
The load-factor on its scheduled services having fallen to just 10% by January 31, 1983, regularly posted flights are dropped in favor of a return to charter operations while additional capitalization is sought. In addition to a few subservice charters, the Boeing performs cargo flights to St. Petersburg, Florida, and also offers tour group flights to Atlantic City. Scheduled services are briefly resumed in the spring, but all services are suspended in late June. The trijet is repossessed by Eastern Air Lines.
In early 1984, the dormant company changes ownership. Plans are made to restart services over a route from Rochester to San Juan via Buffalo and Orlando. In preparation, financially troubled PRINAIR (Puerto Rico International Airlines) is purchased in the spring of 1985. The start-up does not occur as the government finds the carrier unfit to operate and takes back its operating certificate.
AIR NIAGARA EXPRESS, INC.: Canada (1978-1998). Air Niagara Express, Ltd. is formed on July 21, 1978 to offer scheduled passenger and cargo regional services from the company’s base at Mississauga, Ontario. Within a decade, President/CEO Arie Tall’s fleet is made up of 3 Cessna Citation Is, 1 Citation II and Citation III, 1 Convair CV-580, and 1 Swearingen Merlin IV.
While on a ferry flight from Toronto to Hamilton on February 11, 1988, the Merlin IV with two crew suddenly plunges into Lake Ontario; there are no survivors.
The Citation III and 2 Citation Is are removed in 1990 and replaced by a second CV-580. The executive jets are removed in 1991-1992. Airline employment in 1993-1994 stands at 14 and the fleet comprises 1 CV-580 (with 1 taken out of service), the Merlin IV, and 1 Piper PA-31 Navajo Chieftain.
Although the Piper is withdrawn, operations continue apace in 19951996. J. Pierre Gosselin is chairman/CEO in 1997, with Peter Dmythe as president. They oversee a workforce of 15 and operate a fleet comprising 2 CV-580s and 2 Merlin IVs. Preparations are made for the introduction of the company’s first jetliner, a Fokker F.28-1000 that is purchased from Horizon Air (Horizon Air Industries) in the fall.
Overextended, the company shuts down in mid-1998.
AIR NIGER, S. A.: Niger (1966-1986). With assistance from UTA French Airlines (Union de Transporte Aerienne, S. A.), Air Niger, S. A. is formed in 1966 to succeed an earlier air taxi and charter operator, Aero Niger (Societe Aero-Niger, S. A.). Shareholding is divided between the government (50.5%), Sodetraf (22.25%), and Air Afrique, S. A. (22.25%).
Scheduled passenger and cargo flights previously provided within the country by Air France, as well as air taxi flights offered by Aero Niger, are taken over and provided from Niamey to Agadem, Arlit, Maradi, Tahoua, and Zinder plus the international destinations of Sebha, Libya, and Tamanrasset, Algeria. Douglas DC-4, DC-3, and DC-6 services are maintained throughout the remainder of the decade and during the early 1970s.
Enplanements in 1974 total 8,730. The fleet of 1 each DC-6, DC-4, and DC-3 hauls 3% more souls in 1975, a total of 9,385. Cargo rises 3.5% to 291,000 FTKs and plans are made to expand freight services to Europe.
The workforce totals 56 in 1976. En route from Tahoua on June 10, 1977, a DC-3 with 2 crew and 19 passengers loses its No. 1 engine. The flight crew carries out an emergency belly landing near Founkoueye and no serious injuries are reported. With both engines torn off, the plane is declared a write-off.
In 1978, Director General Abdoul Wahidi’s company employs 58 workers. Services are continued in 1979-1980, during which years the government stake becomes almost total (94.5%).
The fleet is revised in 1981 and equipped with 2 Hawker Siddeley HS 748-2As and, in 1982, a new twice-weekly frequency is opened to Lome, Togo.
Operations continue apace in 1983-1984, but, in May 1985, the company ceases operations for financial reasons. Limited operations are resumed in July 1986, but cannot be maintained, causing the company to be liquidated.
World History
