Air Martinique
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| Founded | 1974 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ceased operations | July 2000 | ||||||
| Hubs | Martinique Aimé Césaire International Airport | ||||||
| Destinations | 10 (1997) | ||||||
| Headquarters | Fort-de-France, Martinique | ||||||
Air Martinique was an airline based in the island of Martinique in the Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean. Its head office was on the grounds of Fort-de-France Airport, now Martinique Aimé Césaire International Airport, in Le Lamentin.[1][2]
History
[edit]Air Martinique was founded in 1974 as Compagnie Antillaise d'Affretments Aériens-CAAA. The official operating name from the early 1980s was Societé Nouvelle Air Martinique (S.N.A.M.).
In 1982, Air Martinique was operating regional service in the Caribbean with small Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander and de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft with scheduled passenger service from Barbados, Dominica, Fort-de-France, Mustique, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent (Antilles) and Union Island.[3] The airline had previously operated Sud Aviation Caravelle jet service in the Caribbean region in 1980.
In 1993, Air Martinique was operating wide body McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 transatlantic service between Fort-de-France and Pointe-a-Pitre in the French Caribbean and Paris Orly Airport.[4] By 1995, the air carrier was continuing to operate regional services in the Caribbean (using the two letter "PN" IATA airline code at this time which had replaced the two letter "NN" airline code formerly used by Air Martinique) with flights to its headquarters base at the Fort-de-France airport on Martinique from Pointe-a-Pitre, Saint Lucia, Saint Maarten, Saint Vincent and Union Island operated with ATR 42 and Dornier 228 turboprop aircraft.[5] In 1998, Air Martinique was operating Boeing 737-200 jet service to Miami.[6]
In July 2000, Air Martinique was merged with Air Guadeloupe, Air St Barthélémy and Air St Martin to form Air Caraïbes.[7]
Destinations served in 1997
[edit]
- Fort-de-France, Martinique - Martinique Aimé Césaire International Airport Hub
- Dominica, Dominica - Canefield Airport
- Canouan Island, St. Vincent and the Grenadines - Canouan Airport
- Port-au-Prince, Haiti - Toussaint Louverture International Airport
- Pointe A Pitre, Guadeloupe - Pointe-à-Pitre International Airport
- Grand Case, Saint Martin - L'Espérance Airport
- Castries, Saint Lucia - George F. L. Charles Airport
- St Vincent, St. Vincent and The Grenadines - E.T. Joshua Airport
- Saint Maarten, Netherlands Antilles - Princess Juliana International Airport
- Union Island, St. Vincent and the Grenadines - Union Island Airport
Fleet
[edit]
Air Martinique operated the following aircraft types at various times during its existence:[8][9]
| Aircraft | Total | Introduced | Retired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATR 42-300 | 4 | 1987 | 1999 | |
| ATR 42-500 | 1 | 1998 | 2000 | Leased from Air Guadeloupe |
| Beechcraft Model 99 | 1 | 1983 | 1988 | |
| Boeing 737-200 | 1 | 1998 | 2000 | Operated by Air Guadeloupe[6] |
| Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander | 4 | 1974 | 1986 | |
| Britten-Norman Trislander | 1 | 1975 | 1982 | |
| de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter | 3 | 1981 | 1989 | |
| Douglas C-47 Skytrain | 2 | 1974 | 1983 | |
| Dornier 228 | 3 | 1988 | 1999 | |
| Fokker F27 Friendship | 2 | 1980 | 1981 | |
| Fairchild Hiller FH-227 | 1 | 1993 | 1993 | |
| McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 | 1 | 1992 | 1993 | Leased from Equator Leasing |
| Sud Aviation Caravelle | 2 | 1980 | 1981 |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "World Airline Directory." Flight International. 31 March 1984. [1].
- ^ "World Airline Directory." Flight International. 17–23 March 1999. 43. "Aéroport du Lamentin, Fort de France, 97232, Martinique"
- ^ "Timetable valid from 1st July 1982". timetableimages.com. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
- ^ Oct. 1, 1993 OAG Desktop Flight Guide Worldwide Edition, Paris flight schedules
- ^ April 2, 1995 OAG Desktop Flight Guide North American Edition, Fort de France flight schedules
- ^ a b https://www.airliners.net, photos of Air Martinique Boeing 737-200 aircraft at Miami International Airport
- ^ North American Airlines Handbook published by Airways International Inc 1997
- ^ "Air Martinique". Aerobernie.bplaced.net. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
- ^ "Air Martinique Fleet Details and History". Planespotters.net. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
