A new Portuguese airline, Air Madeira, will start operations later this year with a Lockheed L-1011 TriStar 500 on transatlantic charter flights. The airline is also planning to set up a short-haul network.
Air Madeira is based in Lisbon and backed by the Portuguese travel group Pestana Hotels. Several of the airline's senior management previously worked for Air Atlantis, the now-defunct charter division of TAP Air Portugal.
A TAP TriStar 500 has recently been purchased by Air Madeira, in a deal arranged by Fortis Aviation. The aircraft will be introduced between Canada and Portugal in November. Other North and Central American destinations are planned.
"We are also planning to set up a short-haul network to feed our resorts in the Algarve and Madeira, and are seeking two Boeing 737-200/-300-type aircraft for the routes," says Joaquim Coelho, Air Madeira's commercial director. He adds that the smaller aircraft could be added as early as this November if a deal is concluded, and that the airline has an option to purchase a second TAP TriStar.
Source: Flight International
