CleanupBot II at 22:24, 13 August 2023

2023-08-13T22:24:58Z

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{{Infobox Airline
| airline = Elbee Airlines
| logo =
| logo_size =
| fleet_size = 3
| destinations =
| IATA = LBE
| ICAO = -
| callsign = -
| parent = Elbee Services
| company_slogan =
| founded = 1994<br>{{citation needed|date=April 2013}}
| commenced = 1995
| ceased = July 1, 1998<ref>{{cite news|title=Elbee Services Ltd.|url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/elbee-services-ltd/directorsreport/companyid-8947.cms|publisher=[[The Economic Times]] |date= September 2002 |access-date=16 September 2012}}</ref>
| headquarters = Mumbai, India
| key_people =
| hubs =
| secondary_hubs =
| focus_cities =
| frequent_flyer =
| lounge =
| alliance =
| website =
}}

'''Elbee Airlines''' was India's first all-cargo airline based in [[Mumbai]], [[India]].<ref name="F1">{{cite news|title=Indian Cargo Start-up|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1995/1995%20-%201290.html |publisher=[[Flight Global]] |date= 10 May 1995 |access-date=16 September 2012}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news|title=Elbee's dead, long live Elbee Express |url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2008-02-27/news/28436558_1_elbee-services-equity-investors-brand |publisher=[[The Economic Times]] |date= 27 February 2008 |access-date= 26 September 2012}}</ref> 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.<ref name="F1"/> 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.<ref name="F2">{{cite news|title=India's private malaise|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1996/1996%20-%201593.html |publisher=[[Flight Global]] |date= 26 June 1996 |access-date= 26 September 2012}}</ref> 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:<ref name="F3">{{cite news|title=World Airline directory|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1998/1998%20-%200852.html |publisher=[[Flight Global]] |date= 1 April 1998 |access-date= 26 September 2012}}</ref>
;{{flag|India}}
*[[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).<ref>{{cite web|title=Fleet Summary, Elbee Airlines |url=http://www.aerotransport.org/php/go.php?query=operator&where=100944&luck= |work=ATDB |access-date=26 September 2012}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! 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.<ref>{{cite web|title=Accident Summary |url=http://dgca.nic.in/accident/acc97.pdf |work=DGCA India |access-date=26 September 2012}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Airlines of India}}

[[Category:Airlines established in 1994]]
[[Category:Airlines disestablished in 1998]]
[[Category:Defunct airlines of India]]
[[Category:Indian companies established in 1994]]
[[Category:Indian companies disestablished in 1998]]
[[Category:Companies based in Mumbai]]
[[Category:1994 establishments in Maharashtra]]

Elbee Airlines - Revision history

CleanupBot II at 22:24, 13 August 2023