Elbee Airlines was India's first all-cargo airline based in Mumbai, India.[1] 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.[2] 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.[1] 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.[3] 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:[4]
- 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).[5]
| 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.[6]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Indian Cargo Start-up(10 May 1995). Retrieved 16 September 2012.
- ↑ Elbee's dead, long live Elbee Express(27 February 2008). Retrieved 26 September 2012.
- ↑ India's private malaise(26 June 1996). Retrieved 26 September 2012.
- ↑ World Airline directory(1 April 1998). Retrieved 26 September 2012.
- ↑ Fleet Summary, Elbee Airlines. Retrieved 26 September 2012.
- ↑ Accident Summary. Retrieved 26 September 2012.