12 - December

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  • Thursday, December 01, 1927

    Cruzeiro (Servicos Aereos Cruzeiro do Sul) was officially founded as Sindicato Condor (>Gol)

    Brazil

    Friday, December 01, 1933

    INA (Indian National Airways) commenced the first daily service in India, between Calcutta and Dacca (....Air India)

    India

    Monday, December 01, 1941

    Air Cargo, Inc. (formed by United, American, TWA and Eastern) began operations

    USA

    Friday, December 01, 1961

    Thomson Airways was formed as Euravia

    United Kingdom

    Thursday, December 01, 1966

    China Airlines first international service between Taipei and Saigon start

    Taiwan

    Tuesday, December 01, 1970

    British Overseas Air Charter Limited was formed

    United Kingdom

    Friday, December 01, 1978

    Suidwes Lugdiens merged into Namib Air

    Namibia

    Tuesday, December 01, 1981

    BPA became Air Queensland

    Australia

    Tuesday, December 01, 1987

    Emerald Airways, was established & start operations the same year as Janes Aviation

    United Kingdom

    Thursday, December 01, 1988

    Asiana began operations as Seoul Air International

    South Korea

    Saturday, December 01, 1990

    Silver Airways, formed in Oct1988, restarted operations as Gulfstream International Airlines

    USA

    Sunday, December 01, 1991

    Estonian Air was established & restarted operations

    Estonia

    Sunday, December 01, 1991

    Colgan Air operations restarted

    USA

    Friday, December 01, 2000

    FlyNordic, established in 1996 as Reguljair, had AOC revoked but relaunched as Flynordic.com

    Sweden

    Saturday, December 01, 2001

    Final TWA flight (>>American Airlines)

    USA

    Saturday, December 01, 2001

    Afriqiyah Airways  commenced scheduled services

    Libya

    Sunday, December 01, 2002

    Swedline Express, formed as Varmlandsflyg in 1993 was renamed

    Sweden

    Sunday, December 01, 2002

    RwandAir was founded & began operations as Rwandair Express

    Rwanda

    Thursday, December 01, 2005

    magicBlue, formed in 2004, went bankrupt

    Netherlands

    Thursday, December 01, 2005

    Interjet started operations

    Mexico

    Thursday, December 01, 2005

    Awair changed its name to Indonesia AirAsia

    Indonesia

    Monday, December 01, 2008

    Siem Reap Airways International ceased operations

    Cambodia

    Monday, December 01, 2008

    Primaris Airlines ceased operations

    USA

    Monday, December 01, 2008

    European Aviation Air Charter, began in 1989 as European Aviation, ceased operations

    United Kingdom

    Tuesday, December 01, 2009

    Nordavia was renamed from Aeroflot-Nord

    Russia

    Thursday, December 01, 2011

    CSO City Fly, subsidiary of Magdeburg/Cochstedt airport, launched Magdeburg/Cochstedt-Munich service

    Germany

    Saturday, December 01, 2012

    Chhattisgarh Air Link restarted operations

    India

    Monday, December 01, 2014

    Skywings Asia Airlines, ceased operations on 30Nov2014, rebrands as Sky Angkor Airlines

    Cambodia

    Monday, December 01, 2014

    Pobeda completed its first commercial flight on the route Moscow – Volgograd

    Russia

    Monday, December 01, 2014

    Bassaka Air commenced scheduled operations with a service from Phnom Penh to Macau International

    Cambodia

    Tuesday, December 01, 2015

    Ying'an Airlines suspended operations

    China

    Thursday, December 01, 2016

    LaMia suspended operations after the Bolivian civil aviation authority (Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil - DGAC) suspended its Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) following a fatal accident

    Bolivia
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  • Saturday, December 02, 1939

    New York’s La Guardia Airport opens for service

    USA

    Sunday, December 02, 1945

    First flight of the Bristol Type 170 Freighter, British twin-engine freighter and airliner, best known as an air ferry to carry cars

    United Kingdom

    Monday, December 02, 1946

    Southwest Airways having been formed in 1941, begin scheduled passenger services (...>Delta)

    USA

    Thursday, December 02, 1982

    AeroCaribbean, established in 1982 as Empresa Aero, started operations (>>Cubana)

    Cuba

    Friday, December 02, 1983

    Great Barrier Airlines started operations (>Barrier Air)

    New Zealand

    Tuesday, December 02, 1986

    PWA Corporation announced its intention to purchase Canadian Pacific Airlines for $300 million, effective 01Feb1987

    Canada

    Monday, December 02, 2002

    East African Airlines, originally incorporated as Africa Air in Mar2002, restarted operations

    Uganda

    Tuesday, December 02, 2008

    Vision Air International started operations

    Pakistan

    Tuesday, December 02, 2008

    Fly Europa ceased operations

    United Kingdom

    Wednesday, December 02, 2009

    South African Express was rebranded as SA Express

    South Africa

    Friday, December 02, 2011

    Hunnu Air commenced services as Mongolian Airlines

    Mongolia

    Monday, December 02, 2013

    Evergreen International Airlines ceased operations

    USA

    Tuesday, December 02, 2014

    9 Air inaugurated services

    China
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  • Saturday, December 03, 1983

    Aircalin, formed in 1983, started operations

    New Caledonia

    Tuesday, December 03, 1985

    ATR-42 entered service with Air Littoral

    France

    Friday, December 03, 1993

    Sahara Indian Airlines restarted operations (>Air Sahara 2000 >JetKonnect)

    India

    Wednesday, December 03, 1997

    Deccan Charters started operations as Deccan Aviation

    India

    Friday, December 03, 1999

    Constellation International Airlines ceased operations due to financial troubles on 03Dec1999

    Belgium

    Monday, December 03, 2001

    TransBrasil, formed in 1955 as Sadia SA Transportes Aereos, ceased operations

    Brazil

    Wednesday, December 03, 2003

    One-Two-GO start operations (>>Orient Thai Airlines)

    Thailand

    Wednesday, December 03, 2008

    Flightline ceased operations

    United Kingdom

    Thursday, December 03, 2009

    Unity Air International was incorporated

    Pakistan

    Saturday, December 03, 2011

    AIRES Colombia started operating as LAN Colombia under the unified LAN livery

    Colombia

    Wednesday, December 03, 2014

    ViaAir began scheduled operations with flights from Beckley to Charlotte

    USA
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  • Tuesday, December 04, 1962

    TAME's augural flight (>Transportes Aereos Mercantiles >Ecuatorianos >TAME)

    Ecuador

    Wednesday, December 04, 1974

    Kibris Turk Rava Yollari (Cyprus Turkish Airlines) was formed

    Northern Cyprus

    Wednesday, December 04, 1991

    Pan Am was finally dissolved after 63 years of operation

    USA

    Wednesday, December 04, 1991

    Pan Am Express was purchased by Trans World Airlines for $28 million and renamed Trans World Express

    USA

    Tuesday, December 04, 2001

    Flight West Airlines, established by Sir Dennis Buchanan in May1987, was placed into Voluntary Administration (+>Alliance Airlines)

    Australia

    Wednesday, December 04, 2002

    Bulgaria Air operations start

    Bulgaria

    Monday, December 04, 2006

    The Civil Aviation Safety Authority cancelled the AOC, at the request of Transair. All operations ceased as from that date

    Australia

    Friday, December 04, 2009

    Servicios Aéreos Río Baker, a passenger charter airline based at Antofagasta Cerro Moreno International (ANF). had its AOC granted

    Chile

    Sunday, December 04, 2011

    Bhutan Airlines, then known as Tashi Air, was launched

    Bhutan

    Wednesday, December 04, 2013

    Thai Lion Air, founded in 2013, had its inaugural flight

    Thailand
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  • Friday, December 05, 1919

    SCADTA (Sociedad Colombo-Allemán De Transporto Aéreo)(Colombian-German Air Transport Corporation) was founded (>Avianca)

    Colombia

    Monday, December 05, 1921

    The first regular air services in Australia commenced, with West Australian Airways (>>Ansett).

    Australia

    Friday, December 05, 1930

    Fokker F.XII first flight

    Netherlands

    Sunday, December 05, 1993

    Rajair commenced operations

    India

    Tuesday, December 05, 2000

    Reeve Aleutian Airways ceased operations

    USA

    Wednesday, December 05, 2001

    Emery Worldwide was liquidated

    USA

    Sunday, December 05, 2004

    Air Polonia, founded in 2001, ceased operations

    Poland

    Monday, December 05, 2005

    The last Southern Winds flight operated

    Argentina

    Tuesday, December 05, 2006

    Lufthansa became the first airline to order the B.747-8 with an order for 20 planes and options for an additional 20 planes

    Germany

    Wednesday, December 05, 2007

    Lynx Aviation received its operating certificate from the FAA

    USA

    Monday, December 05, 2011

    Fly Hellas having commenced operations on 01Feb2010 as Viking Hellas Aviation, ceased operations

    Greece

    Thursday, December 05, 2013

    Air Go Airlines operations start with Cairo Int'l to Beirut

    Egypt

    Friday, December 05, 2014

    Thai VietJetAir began operations

    Thailand

    Friday, December 05, 2014

     Maltafly started scheduled flights between Malta and Palermo

    Malta
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  • Saturday, December 06, 1919

    The first experimental airmail flight in China took place between Peking and Tientsin (now Beijing and Tianjin) with a Handley Page O/7

    China

    Friday, December 06, 1935

    First TWA “air hostesses” began flying aboard the DC-2

    USA

    Friday, December 06, 1957

    First flight of the Lockheed L-188 Electra

    USA

    Friday, December 06, 1991

    First flight of the Dornier 328

    Germany

    Wednesday, December 06, 2006

    Star XL German Airlines was re-organized as XL Leisure Group, resulting in the airline changing its name to XL Airways Germany

    Germany

    Wednesday, December 06, 2006

    Star Airlines changed name to XL Airways France, following a management buyout

    France

    Thursday, December 06, 2007

    Lynx Aviation began passenger operations

    USA
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  • Tuesday, December 07, 1926

    A Stinson Detroiter being delivered to Canadian Air Express was the first airplane inspected (and passed) by the Federal Government

    Canada

    Tuesday, December 07, 1948

    Starways was formed at Blackpool by two pilots, Captain Noel Rodnight and Captain Albert Dean

    United Kingdom

    Thursday, December 07, 1950

    By decree Nº 26.099 of the Executive Power, Aerolineas Argentinas was created as a State Company & restarted operations

    Argentina

    Monday, December 07, 1981

    SunState Airlines operations started

    Australia

    Tuesday, December 07, 2004

    The Embraer 195 commercial airliner made its first flight at Embraer’s Sao José dos Campos site

    Brazil

    Wednesday, December 07, 2005

    Indian Airlines was rebranded as Indian for advertising purposes as a part of a program to revamp its image in preparation for an initial public offering (>>Air India)

    India

    Monday, December 07, 2009

    Jamaica Air Shuttle operations started

    Jamaica

    Wednesday, December 07, 2011

    V Australia was absorbed by Virgin Australia

    Australia

    Friday, December 07, 2012

    SEAir International, created by founders of SEAIR, launch services between Manila and Basco

    Philippines
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  • Saturday, December 08, 1934

    Imperial Airways extends its airmail service to Australia

    United Kingdom

    Tuesday, December 08, 1942

    Pollack Flying Service was acquired by Alaska Star Airlines

    USA

    Saturday, December 08, 1945

    LAB (Linhas Aereas Brasileiras), founded on 14Jul1945, start operations

    Brazil

    Tuesday, December 08, 1964

    A United Air Lines Caravelle made the first landing in the USA completely controlled by computer (automatic touchdown)

    USA

    Wednesday, December 08, 1965

    DC.9 entered service with Delta Air Lines

    USA

    Monday, December 08, 1969

    Air Charter changed its name to Air Charter International (>Air France)

    France

    Friday, December 08, 1995

    Freedom Air restarted operating low-cost charter flights between New Zealand and Australia as Freedom Air International

    New Zealand

    Monday, December 08, 2003

    Air Polonia began cargo operations in late 2001 & now commenced lo-cost passenger services

    Poland

    Tuesday, December 08, 2009

    Coventry Airport announced that it was to close with immediate effect due to its owners being wound up in the High Court

    United Kingdom

    Thursday, December 08, 2011

    Dalian Airlines received its public air carrier’s license from the CAAC

    China
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  • Thursday, December 09, 1954

    Transpac was formed by Herbert Coursin, Henri Martinet & Louis Eschembrenner. Became Air Caledonie on 01Jan1968

    New Caledonia

    Monday, December 09, 1963

    Royal Jordanian Airlines was founded as Alia

    Jordan

    Friday, December 09, 1983

    Delta Air Lines received the 1,000th production B.737 at Boeing's headquarters

    USA

    Monday, December 09, 1991

    KAPO Aviakompania restarted operations

    Russia

    Thursday, December 09, 1999

    The last classic B.737 was rolled off the Renton, Wash., assembly line, ending a production run of 1,988 airplanes

    USA

    Monday, December 09, 2002

    United Airlines files for Chapter 11 reorganization, the largest airline bankruptcy in US history

    USA
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  • Friday, December 10, 1926

    Western Canada Airways was incorporated, with headquarters in Winnipeg (>Air Canada)

    Canada

    Monday, December 10, 1928

    First airmail flight between Edmonton and Winnipeg. Punch Dickens flew the Fokker Super Universal aircraft for Western Canada Airways (>Air Canada)

    Canada

    Wednesday, December 10, 1930

    Eastern Air Transport inaugurated first continuous passenger service from Atlanta to New York (>Eastern Air Lines)

    USA

    Wednesday, December 10, 1947

    Inaugural scheduled flight of Air Ceylon as Ceylon Airways

    Ceylon

    Wednesday, December 10, 1958

    National Airlines operated the very first domestic jet service in the United States, flying a B.707 from Miami to New York’s Idlewild (now JFK)

    USA

    Monday, December 10, 2007

    Bravo Air Congo ceased operations

    DR Congo

    Monday, December 10, 2007

    Bravo Air Congo Brazzaville ceased services following its parent's collapse

    Republic of Congo

    Friday, December 10, 2010

    Kevin Waters established Penobscot Island Air

    USA

    Monday, December 10, 2012

    Fly Go-Air, originally established in 2010, started operations

    South Africa

    Tuesday, December 10, 2013

    LINK Airs files for bankruptcy protection, failing to start operations

    Japan

    Thursday, December 10, 2015

    FlyDamas launched services on with scheduled flights to Iraq, Syria and Sudan

    Syria
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  • Thursday, December 11, 1980

    First flight of A300 with digital autopilot

    France

    Wednesday, December 11, 1996

    Oasis International Airlines ceased operations

    Spain

    Thursday, December 11, 2008

    Yeongnam Air ceased operations

    South Korea

    Tuesday, December 11, 2012

    Kuban Airlines' operations ceased & the airline filed for bankruptcy

    Russia

    Wednesday, December 11, 2013

    Windavia Airlines made its inaugural flight, the shortest commercial flight in the history of continental Portugal, from Beja to Lisbon and back

    Portugal

    Thursday, December 11, 2014

    Havana Air start operations using aircraft of Vision Airlines operating charters from Miami to Havana and Santa Clara in Cuba

    USA

    Friday, December 11, 2015

    Island Airlines ceased operations. Nantucket based scheduled airline

    USA
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  • Wednesday, December 12, 1923

    Aero Expresso Italiana (AEI) was founded (>Ala Littoria).

    Italy

    Wednesday, December 12, 1951

    First flight of the de Havilland Canada DHC-3 Otter prototype

    Canada

    Wednesday, December 12, 1951

    Alaska Airlines became the first airline to fly over the North Pole

    USA

    Monday, December 12, 1955

    Southern Airlines, founded in Apr1955, started services from Melbourne

    Australia

    Friday, December 12, 1969

    PanAm took first delivery of the B.747

    USA

    Wednesday, December 12, 1990

    UTA merged into Air France. Ceased to exist on 18Dec1992

    France

    Monday, December 12, 1994

    SA Alliance Air was founded as African Joint Air Service as African Joint Air Service (>SA Alliance Air)

    Uganda

    Thursday, December 12, 1996

    Armavia was officially registered as a company

    Armenia

    Saturday, December 12, 1998

    Virgin Express Ireland commenced operations with Shannon to Stansted

    Ireland

    Wednesday, December 12, 2001

    Thomas Cook Airlines (Belgium) was established by the Thomas Cook Group to serve the Belgian holiday market

    Belgium

    Friday, December 12, 2003

    Tiger Airways was incorporated as Tiger Airways

    Singapore

    Friday, December 12, 2003

    Olympic Airways changed its name from to Olympic Airlines

    Greece

    Tuesday, December 12, 2006

    Maestro started operations

    Canada

    Tuesday, December 12, 2006

    Club Air Italy's AOC was withdrawn by ENAC. Restarted under new management but ceased operations on 23May2008

    Italy

    Sunday, December 12, 2010

    Heritage Air started operations

    Malaysia

    Thursday, December 12, 2013

    Air Onix ceased operations when its AOC was withdrawn

    Ukraine
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  • Monday, December 13, 1920

    The first Norwegian airline, DNL (Det Norske Luftfartrederi) was liquidated

    Norway

    Tuesday, December 13, 1955

    The de Havilland Comet 3, the world’s first jet airliner, visits an American airport for the first time when it stops at Honolulu International Airport

    United Kingdom

    Friday, December 13, 1963

    ATI (Aero Transporti Italiani) was established (>>Alitalia)

    Italy

    Wednesday, December 13, 1967

    Boise Aviation was certificated

    USA

    Monday, December 13, 1971

    Monarch Airlines' first commercial jet service took to the air, when three B.720Bs joined its fleet

    United Kingdom

    Tuesday, December 13, 1977

    The first Eastern A.300 started operations

    USA

    Friday, December 13, 1996

    GENSA was founded in Sao Paulo

    Brazil

    Monday, December 13, 2004

    Jetstar Asia’s inaugural flight took off for Hong Kong

    Singapore

    Monday, December 13, 2004

    Blue Air was launched, the first Romanian airline company, with 100% private equity

    Romania

    Saturday, December 13, 2014

    Chautauqua Airlines ended operations. All ERJ 145s were shifted to sister airline Shuttle America starting 01Jan2015

    USA
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  • Wednesday, December 14, 1927

    Iberia restarted operations as Iberia, Compañía Aérea de Transportes

    Spain

    Wednesday, December 14, 1960

    Air Ivoire was established

    Ivory Coast

    Wednesday, December 14, 1960

    Aer Lingus entered the jet age when three B.720 are delivered for use on the New York route and the newest destination Boston

    Ireland

    Thursday, December 14, 1967

    First B.727-200 was delivered to Northeast Airlines

    USA

    Wednesday, December 14, 1988

    Hi Fly was founded as Air Luxor

    Portugal

    Thursday, December 14, 2000

    Bulgarian Air Charter operations restarted

    Bulgaria

    Thursday, December 14, 2006

    Indus Air, established in 2004, restarted operations

    India

    Sunday, December 14, 2008

    Flyant Cargo ceased operations after parent Futura collapsed

    Spain

    Monday, December 14, 2009

    Sverdlovsk 2nd Air Enterprise becomes Uktus

    Russia

    Friday, December 14, 2012

    Star XL German Airlines having became XL Airways Germany on 23Nov2006, suspended services

    Germany

    Friday, December 14, 2012

    Skyjet Air scheduled operations started

    Philippines

    Saturday, December 14, 2013

    Vladivostok Air along with SAT Airlines end operations to become Aurora

    Russia

    Saturday, December 14, 2013

    Brindabella Airlines ceased operations

    Australia

    Sunday, December 14, 2014

    Myanma Airways re-branded itself to Myanmar National Airways

    Myanmar
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  • Monday, December 15, 1919

    Aktiengesellschaft was founded in Zurich (=>Ad Astra Aero >Crossair)

    Switzerland

    Tuesday, December 15, 1953

    ANA (All Nippon Airways) restarted operations as Japan Helicopter & Aeroplane Transport Co.

    Japan

    Sunday, December 15, 1963

    Alia (>Royal Jordanian Airlines) restarted operations

    Jordan

    Tuesday, December 15, 1970

    Hong Kong Air International, scheduled helicopter services, started operations

    Hong Kong

    Friday, December 15, 1978

    NCA - New Central Airservice was established

    Japan

    Thursday, December 15, 1983

    Japan Air Commuter, established in Jul1983 by Japan Air System & local municipalities in Kagoshima Prefecture, started operations

    Japan

    Saturday, December 15, 1984

    Transafrik International (Angola) operations started in São Tomé as Transafrik

    São Tomé + Príncipe

    Monday, December 15, 1986

    National Airlines operations started as Murray Air

    USA

    Thursday, December 15, 1988

    Pan Air, established in Madrid in 1987, start operations (>ASL Airlines Spain)

    Spain

    Friday, December 15, 1989

    Independence Air started life as Atlantic Coast Airlines

    USA

    Saturday, December 15, 1990

    fly-SAX operations restarted as CHS Aviation

    Kenya

    Thursday, December 15, 1994

    USA Jet Airlines operations restarted

    USA

    Thursday, December 15, 1994

    Air Nostrum restarted operations

    Spain

    Sunday, December 15, 1996

    The merger of McDonnell Douglas and Boeing was announced

    USA

    Monday, December 15, 1997

    Eastern Airways operations restarted

    United Kingdom

    Tuesday, December 15, 1998

    Keewatin Air operations started, out of Rankin Inlet, Nunavut

    Canada

    Tuesday, December 15, 1998

    Blue Panorama, established by tour operator Astra Travel on 03Sep1998, began operations

    Italy

    Wednesday, December 15, 1999

    Constellation International Airlines, having ceased operations on 03Dec1999, was declared bankrupt

    Belgium

    Wednesday, December 15, 2004

    Dubrovnik Airlines was officially launched

    Croatia

    Friday, December 15, 2006

    SkyValue Airlines was formed

    USA

    Friday, December 15, 2006

    FaroeJet ceased all operations because of financial problems

    Faroe Islands

    Saturday, December 15, 2007

    Taron Avia operations started

    Armenia

    Monday, December 15, 2008

    Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras inaugurated services

    Brazil

    Tuesday, December 15, 2009

    First flight of the B.787 Dreamliner

    USA

    Thursday, December 15, 2011

    P.C. Air operated its maiden flight, between Bangkok and Surat Thani

    Thailand

    Thursday, December 15, 2011

    Livingston Compagnia Aerea acquires the assets of Livingston Energy Flight before starting operations on 31Mar2012

    Italy

    Thursday, December 15, 2011

    Gulfstream International Airlines rebrands as Silver Airways

    USA

    Saturday, December 15, 2012

    Movil Air Tours operations started

    Peru

    Saturday, December 15, 2012

    Luk Aero operations restart after rebranding from Eastern Express

    Kazakhstan

    Saturday, December 15, 2012

    Excellent Air operations started

    Malta

    Saturday, December 15, 2012

    Air Brasil Cargo operations were suspended

    Brazil

    Monday, December 15, 2014

    Fly Hermes (Hermes Aviation) started scheduled operations

    Malta

    Thursday, December 15, 2016

    LASA Líneas Aéreas, a planned scheduled carrier based out of Comodoro Rivadavia General E. Mosconi (CRD), Chubut, was founded. It intends to start in Jan2018

    Argentina
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  • Monday, December 16, 1957

    Antonov An-12 first flight

    USSR

    Wednesday, December 16, 1959

    China Airlines was founded

    Taiwan

    Saturday, December 16, 1989

    Kish Air was established by the Kish Free Zone Organization

    Iran

    Monday, December 16, 1996

    RegionsAir, formed in 1996. commenced operations as Corporate Express Airlines

    USA

    Thursday, December 16, 2004

    Atlantic Express Airlines began services

    Gambia

    Saturday, December 16, 2006

    Air Madrid ceased operations

    Spain

    Wednesday, December 16, 2009

    Flyglobespan shut down all operations and was immediately placed into receivership

    United Kingdom

    Thursday, December 16, 2010

    Tigerair Philippines was officially launched (>Cebgo)

    Philippines

    Tuesday, December 16, 2014

    Cambodia Bayon Airlines launched its inaugural flight from China to Phnom Penh

    Cambodia

    Friday, December 16, 2016

    TAM (Transportes Aereo Militar) ceased all civilian passenger operations following a directive from the Bolivian Ministry of Public Works

    Bolivia
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  • Thursday, December 17, 1903

    The Wright brothers successfully take to the air in the first powered aircraft.

    USA

    Monday, December 17, 1917

    Deutsche Luft-Reederei (DLR) was established (>Lufthansa).

    Germany

    Friday, December 17, 1920

    AT&T (Aircraft Transport & Travel), was overcome with debt in Nov1920 & placed in liquidation. Operated its last service.

    United Kingdom

    Monday, December 17, 1928

    Pacific Air Transport, founded in Jan1926, ceased operations (>UAL)

    USA

    Tuesday, December 17, 1935

    First flight of the Douglas DC-3

    USA

    Friday, December 17, 1943

    Comair was initially formed as Commercial Air Services

    South Africa

    Monday, December 17, 1962

    TAME was founded as a branch of Ecuadorian Air Force

    Ecuador

    Tuesday, December 17, 1974

    First flight of the McDonnell Douglas DC-9-50

    USA

    Saturday, December 17, 1994

    KLM’s last DC-10 was retired

    Netherlands

    Wednesday, December 17, 1997

    Boeing delivers the first B.737-700 to launch customer Southwest Airlines

    USA

    Tuesday, December 17, 2002

    StarFlyer was founded as Kobe Airlines

    Japan

    Friday, December 17, 2004

    Antonov An-148 first flight

    Russia

    Saturday, December 17, 2005

    FaroeJet was founded by private companies and investors

    Faroe Islands

    Wednesday, December 17, 2008

    NordStar was established as the Moscow division of established Siberian carrier Taimyr Avia

    Russia

    Wednesday, December 17, 2008

    KLM became full owner of Martinair

    Netherlands

    Wednesday, December 17, 2008

    ATA Airlines was established

    USA

    Wednesday, December 17, 2008

    Air Europe ceased operations

    Italy

    Friday, December 17, 2010

    Fly540 acquired EASAX (East African Safari Air Express) remaining assets

    Kenya

    Wednesday, December 17, 2014

    V air began services

    Taiwan

    Wednesday, December 17, 2014

    Pullmantur Air became Wamos Air

    Spain
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  • Tuesday, December 18, 1934

    Air Travel (NZ), founded by Captain Bert Mercer in 1934, begin operations (>Air New Zealand)

    New Zealand

    Friday, December 18, 1936

    Wearne's Air Service was formed (>MAS)

    Malaya

    Thursday, December 18, 1941

    INAEC (Iloilo-Negros Air Express Co.) ceased operations when all aircraft destroyed in Japanese air attack (>PAL)

    Philippines

    Monday, December 18, 1950

    Harewood Aerodrome, Christchurch became the first international airport operating in New Zealand

    New Zealand

    Friday, December 18, 1970

    Airbus Industries was formally established to develop the Airbus A300; it comprised Aérospatiale, Deutsche Airbus, Fokker and Hawker Siddeley

    France

    Monday, December 18, 1978

    Nationwide Air International was incorporated

    New Zealand

    Thursday, December 18, 1986

    Eagle Aviation restarted operations

    Kenya

    Friday, December 18, 1992

    UTA, having merged into Air France, ceased to exist

    France

    Thursday, December 18, 2008

    Air Comet Chile,  having ceased operation on 31Oct2008, files for bankruptcy protection

    Chile

    Friday, December 18, 2009

    Tafa Air commence operations

    Albania

    Tuesday, December 18, 2012

    Air Canada rouge was officially launched and began services on 01Jul2013

    Canada
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  • Saturday, December 19, 1908

    The world’s first aerodrome, Port-Aviation, was opened 12 miles (19 km) outside of Paris.

    France

    Friday, December 19, 1975

    Air France took delivery of its 1st Concorde

    France

    Friday, December 19, 1980

    New York Air began airline operations

    USA

    Friday, December 19, 1986

    Western Air Lines became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Delta

    USA

    Tuesday, December 19, 1989

    American Airlines purchases the Central and South American routes owned by struggling Eastern Air Lines.

    USA

    Thursday, December 19, 1996

    EuroLot was established

    Poland

    Thursday, December 19, 2002

    Adam Air started operations

    Indonesia

    Tuesday, December 19, 2006

    Komiinteravia became Utair-Express

    Russia

    Monday, December 19, 2011

    South East Airlines had its licence revoked

    Russia

    Wednesday, December 19, 2012

    Westair Benin operated its inaugural passenger flight, from Cotonou to Niamey

    Benin

    Wednesday, December 19, 2012

    Air Canada rouge was officially launched

    Canada

    Friday, December 19, 2014

    Hamburg Airways' last flight was operated from Moscow to Hanover before it's AOC was suspended

    Germany

    Monday, December 19, 2016

    Tonga Airways (Tongatapu) had intended to launch its inaugural flight but failed to start

    Tonga
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  • Friday, December 20, 1929

    ISAS (Indian State Air Service) start operations

    India

    Monday, December 20, 1948

    Clark County Public Airport in Las Vegas was renamed to McCarran Field for U.S. Senator Pat McCarran

    USA

    Tuesday, December 20, 1949

    Aeronorte was founded (>Varig >> Gol)

    Brazil

    Friday, December 20, 1957

    The first B.707-120, the basic domestic version, made its first flight. Entered service with Pan AM in Oct 1958

    USA

    Tuesday, December 20, 1977

    Goldensun Aviation commenced operations

    India

    Saturday, December 20, 1980

    Aero Lloyd was established (+>XL Airways (Germany))

    Germany

    Friday, December 20, 1991

    Sahara Indian Airlines was established (Sahara Indian Airlines >Air Sahara >JetLite >>JetKonnect)

    India

    Monday, December 20, 1993

    AirAsia was established

    Malaysia

    Tuesday, December 20, 1994

    Alliance Air was established

    Uganda

    Sunday, December 20, 1998

    Air Do operations started as Hokkaido International Airlines

    Japan

    Friday, December 20, 2002

    Air Atlas Express started operations

    Morocco

    Tuesday, December 20, 2011

    Tor Air. having received its Swedish Air Operators Certificate on 01Dec2000, had it revoked

    Sweden

    Thursday, December 20, 2012

    AviaDnipro was established by Serhiy Tkachenko, the previous chairman of the board of Dniproavia

    Ukraine

    Friday, December 20, 2013

    Vanilla Air, relaunched from AirAsia, operated its first flight

    Japan

    Sunday, December 20, 2015

    Rayani Air commenced commercial passenger operations

    Malaysia
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  • Friday, December 21, 1945

    Ethiopian Airlines,the flag carrier of Ethiopia, was founded as Ethiopian Air Lines

    Ethiopia

    Wednesday, December 21, 1955

    Condor Flugdienst was founded as Deutsche Flugdienst by four partners

    Germany

    Thursday, December 21, 1961

    Caledonian Airways, formed in Apr1961, operated its first fare-paying passengers to New York departed Prestwick(...>>British Airways)

    United Kingdom

    Tuesday, December 21, 1965

    New York Airways commenced helicopter services between the roof of the Pan Am building and John F. Kennedy International Airport

    USA

    Wednesday, December 21, 1988

    Antonov An-225 Mriya first flight

    USSR

    Monday, December 21, 2009

    Air Comet ceased operations

    Spain

    Saturday, December 21, 2013

    Valahia Air start operation

    Romania

    Wednesday, December 21, 2016

    Air Stork had its AOC issued

    Moldova
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  • Thursday, December 22, 1910

    Aero Rt was established as one of the world's first aviation companies.

    Hungary

    Wednesday, December 22, 1937

    DETA started regular airmail services

    Mozambique

    Monday, December 22, 1947

    Ruy Vacani founded the airline TCA (Transportes Carga Aérea) in Anápolis, State of Goiás

    Brazil

    Wednesday, December 22, 1965

    The Convair CV-640 entered service with Caribair

    USA

    Wednesday, December 22, 1976

    First flight of the Ilyushin Il-86

    USSR

    Thursday, December 22, 1977

    First flight of the Antonov An-72

    USSR

    Thursday, December 22, 1988

    Kel Air begin operations

    France

    Friday, December 22, 1995

    Star Europe (Société de Transport Aérien Régional) started operations (>XL Airways France)

    France

    Thursday, December 22, 2005

    Air Nepal International suspended all flights

    Nepal

    Tuesday, December 22, 2009

    Pol'Air, founded in 2009, obtained its air transport certificate

    French Polynesia

    Tuesday, December 22, 2009

    Cimber Air merged into Cimber Sterling

    Denmark

    Wednesday, December 22, 2010

    MEGA Maldives received an AOC

    Maldives

    Wednesday, December 22, 2010

    Continental Micronesia ceased operations on (merged with Continental Airlines)

    Guam
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  • Monday, December 23, 1929

    Imperial Airways, the maiden service from London to Delhi took place & took nearly seven days to complete the journey (>BA)

    United Kingdom

    Wednesday, December 23, 1931

    SAM (Societal Aerea Mediterranea) purchased Transadriatica (..=>Ala Littoria)

    Italy

    Monday, December 23, 1940

    United Airlines inaugurated the first all-cargo service in U.S. airline history.

    USA

    Friday, December 23, 1988

    Asiana start operations as Seoul Air International

    South Korea

    Monday, December 23, 1996

    Manunggal Air Services restarted operations

    Indonesia

    Thursday, December 23, 2004

    EirJet commenced operations

    Ireland

    Friday, December 23, 2005

    Lucky Air, formed as Shilin Airlines in 2004, was renamed prior to starting operations

    China

    Saturday, December 23, 2006

    PIA (Pakistan International Airlines) took delivery of its first B.777-300ER

    Pakistan

    Thursday, December 23, 2010

    Mauritania Airways went out of service

    Mauritania

    Sunday, December 23, 2012

    Barrier Aviation was grounded for safety reasons

    Australia
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  • Monday, December 24, 1962

    Iran National Airlines Corporation was formed by PAS (Persian Air Services) + Iranian Airways (>Iran Air)

    Iran

    Tuesday, December 24, 1963

    Idlewild Airport was rededicated as John F. Kennedy International Airport

    USA

    Tuesday, December 24, 1963

    B.727 was certified by the FAA

    USA

    Thursday, December 24, 1992

    AVIAL NV, incorporated on 21Mar1991, started operations as Avial Aircompany

    Russia

    Saturday, December 24, 2005

    Regional Wings ceased operations

    Spain

    Wednesday, December 24, 2008

    LATAM Ecuador received approval to begin domestic operations, which were launched in Mar2009

    Ecuador

    Thursday, December 24, 2009

    Eastar Jet launched international services with a flight from Incheon to Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia.

    South Korea

    Monday, December 24, 2012

    Air Mali suspended operations

    Mali

    Wednesday, December 24, 2014

    Russian Sky Airlines license was revoked

    Russia
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  • Wednesday, December 25, 1918

    Lignes Aeriennes Latecoere (Latecoere Air Lines) began services, its assets were incorporated into Air France in 1933.

    France

    Saturday, December 25, 1993

    Air Vias was founded as the first Brazilian airline dedicated exclusively to charter flights

    Brazil

    Wednesday, December 25, 2002

    Styrian Spirit was established

    Austria

    Sunday, December 25, 2011

    VietJetAir restarted commercial services after renamed from VietJet AirAsia

    Vietnam
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  • Friday, December 26, 1952

    Wisconsin Central Airlines changed its name to North Central Airlines, and moves its headquarters from Clintonville, Wisconsin, to Minneapolis, Minnesota (>Delta Air Lines)

    USA

    Friday, December 26, 1952

    Far Eastern Airlines was founded, but did not begin operations until 20 Jan 1954 (>ANA)

    Japan

    Friday, December 26, 1975

    The Soviet Union inaugurates the world’s first regular supersonic airline service, with the departure of a Tupolev-144 from Moscow

    USSR

    Friday, December 26, 1980

    Aeroflot introduces the Ilyushin Il-86 into service on its Moscow-Tashkent route

    USSR

    Monday, December 26, 1994

    Shandong Airlines operations restarted

    China

    Tuesday, December 26, 1995

    Katekavia was founded in the town of Sharypovo in the Krasnoyarsk Territory by Rodkin Sergey Vasilievich (>Azul Air)

    Russia

    Sunday, December 26, 2004

    Susi Air was founded in late 2004 by Susi Pudjiastuti & Christian von Strombeck, operate supply flights to areas hit by the Tsunami

    Indonesia

    Thursday, December 26, 2013

    CAA (Compagnie Africaine d'Aviation) merged with flyCongo to form Fly CAA

    DR Congo
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  • Saturday, December 27, 1919

    The Boeing Airplane Co. B-1 mail plane, the first Boeing-designed commercial aircraft, made its first flight.

    USA

    Tuesday, December 27, 1949

    American Airlines and TWA begin coast-to coast coach-class flights with 60-passenger DC-4s, charging US $110 one-way

    USA

    Saturday, December 27, 1952

    ANA (All Nippon Airways) was established as Japan Helicopter & Aeroplane Transport Co. was established

    Japan

    Saturday, December 27, 1958

    TACV was founded

    Cape Verde Islands

    Friday, December 27, 1974

    A300B4 first flight

    France

    Friday, December 27, 1996

    The first EMB 145 was delivered to Continental Express

    USA

    Thursday, December 27, 2007

    UK International Airlines suspended all operations & its license and AOC was surrendered by the company

    United Kingdom

    Thursday, December 27, 2007

    Albatros Airlines was established

    Venezuela

    Thursday, December 27, 2012

    XL Airways Germany, having suspended services on 14Dec2012, filed for bankruptcy

    Germany

    Saturday, December 27, 2014

    Qantas withdraws last 5 remaining passenger B.767 aircraft from service

    Australia

    Sunday, December 27, 2015

    BoA Regional commenced revenue operations with its maiden flight La Paz El Alto to Uyuni

    Bolivia
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  • Tuesday, December 28, 1926

    Imperial Airways began England-India mail and passenger service.

    United Kingdom

    Friday, December 28, 1934

    BAT, NAT, PAT and Varney are merged into UALTC (=>UAL)

    USA

    Wednesday, December 28, 1966

    TACA Airlines entered the jet age when it inaugurated their first jet, a BAC One Eleven

    El Salvador

    Saturday, December 28, 1985

    First flight of the Fokker 50

    Netherlands

    Saturday, December 28, 1985

    By Public Deed # 11963, the company Aerolíneas Nacionales SA (ANSA) was organised

    Panama

    Tuesday, December 28, 1993

    Ural Airlines became a joint stock company under the laws of the Russian Federation

    Russia

    Thursday, December 28, 2000

    Royal Phnom Penh Airways, established on 24Oct1999, began international services

    Cambodia

    Friday, December 28, 2001

    USA3000 Airlines began operations

    USA

    Tuesday, December 28, 2010

    P.C. Air, founded by Piyo Chantraporn and Chatrawiwat Klumkomol, received its operating licence

    Thailand

    Tuesday, December 28, 2010

    MEGA Maldives, established in 2010, had it's first domestic flight (from Malé to Gan)

    Maldives

    Sunday, December 28, 2014

    AirTran Airways final flight from Atlanta To Tampa Bay  (>Southwest Airlines)

    USA

    Monday, December 28, 2015

    Flyways Linhas Aéreas, founded on 11Jun2014, commenced services

    Brazil
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  • Wednesday, December 29, 1937

    CAUSA (Compania Aeronautica Uruguaya S.A) was founded by the Uruguayan banker Luis J. Supervielle and Coronel Tydeo Larre Borges

    Uruguay

    Saturday, December 29, 1945

    A Government decision terminates the activities of the RLAF (Réseau des Lignes Aériennes Françaises) and turns the entire French airline network over to the Société Nationale Air France

    France

    Friday, December 29, 1967

    First delivery of B.737-200 to United Airlines

    USA

    Wednesday, December 29, 2010

    SKY Aviation, formed in 2009, started operations

    Indonesia
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  • Monday, December 30, 1929

    Imperial Airways' maiden service from London to Delhi in a DH66 Hercules arrived. It had left London Croydon Airport on 23Dec1929

    United Kingdom

    Tuesday, December 30, 1930

    PATCO (Philippine Aerial Transport Co.) was founded (>PAL (Philippine Air Lines))

    Philippines

    Sunday, December 30, 1934

    First flight of Martin M-130

    USA

    Sunday, December 30, 1945

    Ethiopian Airlines was formally incorporated by proclamation of Emperor Haile Selaisse as Ethiopian Air Lines

    Ethiopia

    Tuesday, December 30, 1975

    Harbin Y-11 first flight

    China

    Wednesday, December 30, 1987

    Flagship Airlines was established as Nashville Eagle (>>Envoy Air)

    USA

    Saturday, December 30, 1989

    Air Dolomiti was established by the Linee Aeree Europee

    Italy

    Monday, December 30, 2002

    Yakutia operated its first flight, a Tu-154 on route Yakutsk – Moscow – Yakutsk

    Russia

    Tuesday, December 30, 2014

    Gambia Bird Airlines suspended all operations

    Gambia
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  • Monday, December 31, 1928

    Aero TZ, founded in Feb1925, ceased operations

    Poland

    Saturday, December 31, 1938

    The Boeing 377 Stratoliner, the first airliner with a pressurized cabin, made its initial flight.

    USA

    Saturday, December 31, 1960

    Air Guinee Express was established by the Guinea government as Air Guinee

    Guinea

    Tuesday, December 31, 1963

    Starways, formed in 1948, was taken over by British Eagle

    United Kingdom

    Saturday, December 31, 1966

    Air Brousse ceased operations (was taken over by Air Congo on 30Jun1967)

    DRC

    Sunday, December 31, 1967

    ASA (African Safari Airways), formed on 01Aug1967, started operations

    Kenya

    Tuesday, December 31, 1968

    Tupolev Tu-144 first flight

    USSR

    Friday, December 31, 1971

    Paninternational, having ceased trading on 06Oct1971, was liquidated

    West Germany

    Sunday, December 31, 1989

    Minerve Canada ceased operations

    Canada

    Friday, December 31, 2004

    China Southern acquired China Northern, its subsidiaries Beiya Airlines, China Northern Swan & Xinjiang Airlines

    China

    Monday, December 31, 2007

    Aeroflot retired the last Tupolev Tu-134 after 40 years in service

    Russia

    Wednesday, December 31, 2008

    Santa Barbara Airlines was rebranded as SBA Santa Barbara Airlines following its acquisition by Aserca Airlines

    Venezuela

    Thursday, December 31, 2009

    ATA Airlines. established on 17Dec2008, first flight was from Tabriz to Mashhad

    Iran

    Saturday, December 31, 2011

    Jade Cargo, founded by Lufthansa Cargo & Shenzhen Airlines, ceased flying

    China

    Saturday, December 31, 2011

    Dalian Airlines launched services with a flight from Dalian to Shenzhen

    China

    Tuesday, December 31, 2013

    Tatarstan Airlines ceased all operations

    Russia

    Tuesday, December 31, 2013

    Evergreen International Airlines declare bankruptcy after ceasing operations on 02Dec2013

    USA

    Wednesday, December 31, 2014

    Chautauqua Airlines end operations

    USA

    Thursday, December 31, 2015

    SETE Linhas Aereas's regular services were indefinitely suspended & merged into SETE Táxi Aéreo

    Brazil

    Thursday, December 31, 2015

    Colorful Guizhou Airlines commenced commercial operations with scheduled passenger flights between Guiyang and Bijie

    China
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