This articleneeds additional citations forverification.(July 2011) |
Air Ceylonwas the formerflag carrierairline ofCeylon(nowSri Lanka). The airline discontinued flights to Europe in early 1978 and finally ceased all local services on 31 August 1979, when it was replaced byAir Lanka.Air Lanka was later rebranded toSriLankan Airlines.[2]
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| |||||||
| Founded | 1947 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ceased operations | 1979 | ||||||
| Hubs | Colombo–Ratmalana(1947-1967) Colombo–Bandaranaike(1967-1979) | ||||||
| Fleet size | 2 (1979) | ||||||
| Destinations | 24 | ||||||
| Headquarters | Colombo,Ceylon | ||||||
History
edit
Air Ceylon was established in 1947 as state-ownedflag carrierairline. In 1947, the government purchased three DC-3s, which were named after queens Sita Devi, Viharamaha Devi, and Sunethra Devi.
On 10 December 1947, with Captain Peter Fernando at the controls and a complement of 16 passengers,Sita Devitook off from Ratmalana runway soon after 8 am, inaugurating the Air Ceylon commercial flights, and headed for Palaly. After a brief stop there, the Dakota proceeded to Madras, returning to Colombo by the same route later that day.
Madras-Jaffna-TrichinopolyDouglas C-47 Skytrainservices toLondonwith twoDouglas DC-4sleased fromAustralian National Airways(ANA) commenced in summer 1949, after ANA acquired a 49% stake in Air Ceylon earlier that year.[3][4]Flights toSydneyin co-operation with ANA were started on 20 July 1950 viaSingaporeandDarwin.[5]
In 1949,Australian National Airways(ANA) owned a 49% stake in Sri Lanka's countrywide service. Air Ceylon discontinued all long-haul fights and gave up its partnership with ANA in September 1953 afterBOAChad introduced thede Havilland Cometbetween London and Colombo.[6][7]The 49 percent stake held by ANA was taken over byKLMin 1955. In 1960s KLM's shareholding reduced to 25%.[8]
Flights to London were commenced again on 21 February 1956 using aLockheed 749A Constellationleased from KLM.[9]The aircraft was replaced by aLockheed L-1049 Super Constellationin 1958, followed by a KLMLockheed L-188 Electrathat was leased until the partnership with KLM ended in November 1961.[10]A Comet from BOAC allowed the relaunch of flights to London in April 1962. The aircraft was replaced by a leasedVickers VC10in November 1965.[11]
From 1964, theHawker Siddeley HS 748became the aircraft mainly used on Air Ceylon's short-haul routes to Madras and Bombay, along with theAérospatiale N 262that was bought in 1967. WhenBandaranaike International Airportwas completed in 1967, Air Ceylon opened its hub there. AHawker Siddeley Tridentjet airliner was purchased in 1969, and it was operated on regional routes until it was withdrawn in August 1979.[12][13]
In 1972,Union de Transports Aériens(UTA) became Air Ceylon's partner, selling oneDouglas DC-8to the airline and giving technical support. UTA ended the partnership in September 1976, leaving Air Ceylon without a European aide.[14]In 1979, Air Ceylon was shut down by the Sri Lankan government due to bankruptcy, andAir Lankawas established as new national carrier.
During that period, Air Ceylon offered multiple-stopover flights, which were leaving Colombo on three routes - to Europe, to Australia, and a regional one to India. KLM was the important partner airline, serving as general sales agent for Air Ceylon.[15][16]
Due to more modern aircraft with a longer range, fewer stops were required on the long-distance routes, reducing travel time. Air Ceylon passengers could reach additional destinations (in Europe and towards Australia) with co-operativeBOACorQantasflights.[17]
The co-operation with BOAC and Qantas was reduced at that time, instead acodeshare-like agreement was signed withIndian Airlines.As a consequence, Air Ceylon relaunched services to Australia and expanded its European network.[18][19][20]
Terminated destinations
editFleet
editBefore ending operations in 1979, Air Ceylon had one Hawker Siddeley HS 748 and oneHawker Siddeley Trident.
Over the years, Air Ceylon operated these aircraft types:
| Aircraft | Introduced | Retired |
|---|---|---|
| Aérospatiale N 262 | 1967
|
1969
|
| Boeing 707 | ||
| Boeing 720 | 1976
|
1977
|
| Convair 990 Coronado | 1974
|
1975
|
| de Havilland Comet | 1962
|
1965
|
| Douglas DC-3 | 1947
|
1976
|
| Douglas DC-4 | 1949
|
1953
|
| Douglas DC-8 | 1972
|
1978
|
| Hawker Siddeley HS 748 | 1964
|
1979
|
| Hawker Siddeley Trident | 1969
|
1979
|
| Lockheed Constellation | 1956
|
1958
|
| Lockheed Super Constellation | 1958
|
1960
|
| Lockheed L-188 Electra | 1960
|
1961
|
| Sud Aviation Caravelle | ||
| Vickers VC10 | 1965/1977
|
1971/1978
|
Accidents and incidents
edit- On 21 December 1949, an Air CeylonDouglas C-47 Dakota(registeredVP-CAT) was damaged beyond repair in a crash landing atTiruchirapalli Airportfollowing a scheduled passenger flight fromJaffna.The 21 passengers and three crew members survived the accident.[21]
- On 7 September 1978, an Air Ceylon Hawker Siddeley HS 748 (registered 4R-ACJ) wasdestroyed by a on-board bomb and subsequent fire while parkedatRatmalana Airport.Two pilots had been carrying out predeparture checkups.[22]
References
edit- ^Klee, Ulrich; Bucher (1978).JP Airline-Fleets International(78 ed.). Switzerland: Editions JP.ISBN3857581123.
- ^Flight International, 26 July 1980
- ^Flight International, 23 June 1949
- ^Flight International, 3- February 1949
- ^Flight International, 25 January 1950
- ^Flight International, 17 April 1953
- ^Flight International, 19 June 1953
- ^Staniland, Martin (2003).Government Birds, Air Transport and the State in Western Europe.Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.ISBN0-7425-0124-8.
- ^Flight International, 16 March 1956
- ^Flight International, 14 September 1961
- ^Flight International, 3 June 1965
- ^Flight International, 29 May 1969
- ^Klee, Ulrich; Bucher (1979).JP Airline-Fleets International(79 ed.). Switzerland: Editions JP.
- ^Flight International, 26 June 1976
- ^Air Ceylon 1953 timetable at timetableimages.com
- ^Air Ceylon 1959 timetable at timetableimages.com
- ^Air Ceylon 1967 timetable at timetableimages.com
- ^Air Ceylon 1970 timetable at timetableimages.com
- ^Air Ceylon 1972 timetable at timetableimages.com
- ^Air Ceylon 1974 timetable at timetableimages.com
- ^Air Ceylon 1949 accident at the Aviation Safety Network
- ^Air Ceylon 1978 bomb incident at the Aviation Safety Network
