Transavia

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Contents

History

This Caravelle III PH-TRR carries the second type of colour scheme used by Transavia. On the initially two tone green tail only one kind of green remains (Schiphol, 1972, Gert Jan Mentink)
This Caravelle III PH-TRR carries the second type of colour scheme used by Transavia. On the initially two tone green tail only one kind of green remains (Schiphol, 1972, Gert Jan Mentink)

The Transavia company was founded as Transavia Limburg on January 3 1966. A Dakota was bought and, illegally, painted PH-RIC. Transavia Limburg was not successful, so in June of that year another solution was sought. John Block, former 2nd man of Martin's Air Charter, was willing and able to do the job. He agreed to lead the company, but wanted a change in course. Bigger aircraft were thought to be essential and through the Boreas Corporation three reliable Douglas DC-6's were acquired. The company decided to concentrate activities on Schiphol and the name was changed into Transavia Holland. The first commercial flight of the PH-TRC was flown on November 16 1966. From that day on the Douglas DC-6's proved to be very successful both in passenger as in cargo transport.

On June 26 1968 Transavias first jet aircraft arrived, Boeing 707-355C PH-TRF, leased from Executive Jet Aviation. The Boeing was used for long range charters. On July 24 1968 a distance record for commercial aircraft was broken by PH-TRF and its crew. It flew non-stop from Buenos Aires to Brussels (11.300 km) Belgian airline Sabena provided the maintenance for the 707, and their technical engineers also instructed Transavia personnel on the next type to come: the Caravelle.

On February 17 1969 the first of two Caravelle IIIs, leased from Sud Aviation, arrived (PH-TRM and PH-TRN) Already within one year three former Swissair Caravelles were added to the fleet. Maintenance on these birds was carried out by Transavia personnel at Schiphol. From may 1970 the number of Caravelles was, again, increased by adding five former United airlines aircraft. These were all of the newer, and more powerful version VIR. After arriving in full number, the first, leased, Caravelle IIIs were returned to Sud Aviation. From 1974 to 1977 two additional Caravelles, this time VIN's were bought from Alitalia.

Once again a Boeing 707 long range airliner was leased, this time from Airlift International, the PH-TRW. For some reason this airframe was replaced within two months by another 707, PH-TRV. This aircraft was used until the end of 1971. Finally Transavia decided to buy its own Boeing 707, PH-TVA, in March 1972, from American Airlines. This ship would stay in the fleet until 1982. It was joined by a second 707, PH-TVK, leased from Sabena from February 1976 to May 1977.

May 1974 meant the start of the Boeing 737 era, with the arrival of the factory fresh PH-TVC, a 737-200. Several others were soon to follow. The new airliners proved to be very successful on the charter market. During the quiet winter-season surplus aircraft were leased to airlines on the southern hemisphere (e.g. PLUNA). Vice versa 737s from that region came to supplement the fleet during Transavias busy summer-season (e.g. Egyptair) On top of that various 737s were leased from or leased to other airlines e.g. Aerolinas Argentinas, Air Djibouti, Air Malta, Air Zaire, Austrian, British Airways, Britannia Airways, Challenge, CP Air, Eagle Air, Hispania, KLM, Lauda Air, Markair, and Saudia, to name but a few.

In 1976 one last attempt was made to use another aircraft different from the 737. In may of that year an Airbus A-300, leased from Airbus was introduced. The PH-TVL continued to fly for Transavia until May 1977.

Since then Transavia has stuck to Boeing 737 in various versions. The oldest 200 series machine were later replaced by -300s. But these again have been disposed off.

PH-XRA is one of the short fuselage 737-700 aircraft in the fleet. The fuselage is still white after the merger of BASIQ Air back into Transavia. (Schiphol 2005, Gert Jan Mentink)
PH-XRA is one of the short fuselage 737-700 aircraft in the fleet. The fuselage is still white after the merger of BASIQ Air back into Transavia. (Schiphol 2005, Gert Jan Mentink)

The success of lowcost carriers like Easyjet and Ryanair prompted Transavia to step into this market too. It was decided to start the affiliated BASIQAIR.com, referring to the internet address you need to buy a ticket. Since 2005 all BASIQAIR activities have ceased and are performed by Transavia again.

Anno 2006 the fleet is concentrated on two models the 737-7K2 and 737-8K2. Of the former short fuselage model 10 aircraft are in use, while Transavia uses 16 of the latter longer 8K2 version. Recently Transavia has decided to fit their aircraft with winglets, as this has an obvious financial advantage on the long term. Eventually all 737s in the fleet will be fitted with these. In 2006 Transavia has also introduced a new livery on their aircraft.






Aircraft Types

Some of the types it flies or flew with:

  • Airbus A300B2
    • PH-TVL (lsd Airbus Industries)
  • Airbus A310-324: LX-TXA (c/n 594) lsd from Translux in 1998
  • Boeing 707C:
    • PH-TRF (lsd)
    • PH-TRW (lsd)
    • PH-TRV (lsd)
    • PH-TVA
  • Boeing 737-200
  • Boeing 737-300
  • Boeing 737-700
    • PH-XRA (c/n 30784)
    • PH-XRB (c/n 28256)
    • PH-XRC (c/n 29347)
    • PH-XRD (c/n 30659)
    • PH-XRE (c/n 30668)
    • PH-XRV (c/n 34170)
    • PH-XRW (c/n 33465)
    • PH-XRX (c/n 33464)
    • PH-XRY (c/n 33463)
    • PH-XRZ (c/n 33462)
  • Boeing 737-800
    • N739MA (c/n 30670; leased from Miami Air)
    • N807SY (c/n 33016; leased from SunCountry; returned)
    • OY-SEH (c/n 29444; leased from Sterling; returned)
    • PH-HSU (c/n 33021; ex N808SY; leased from SunCountry)
    • PH-HSV (c/n 33016; ex N807SY; leased from SunCountry)
    • PH-HSX (c/n 28225; ex 9Y-GEO; leased from Caribbean; returned as 9Y-GEO)
    • PH-HSY (c/n 32672; ex VT-SPG; leased from SpiceJet)
    • PH-HZA (c/n 28373)
    • PH-HZB (c/n 28374)
    • PH-HZC (c/n 28375)
    • PH-HZD (c/n 28376)
    • PH-HZE (c/n 28377)
    • PH-HZF (c/n 28378)
    • PH-HZG (c/n 28379)
    • PH-HZI (c/n 28380)
    • PH-HZJ (c/n 30389)
    • PH-HZK (c/n 30390)
    • PH-HZL (c/n 30391)
    • PH-HZM (c/n 30392)
    • PH-HZN (c/n 32943)
    • PH-HZO (c/n 34169)
    • PH-HZQ (c/n 32354; ex ZS-SJH; leased from South African; returned as ZS-SJH)
    • PH-HZR (c/n 32693; leased from SpiceJet; returned as VT-SPI; leased again; returned as VT-SPV; leased again)
    • PH-HZS (c/n 32357; ex ZS-SJO; leased from South African; returned as ZS-SJO)
    • PH-HZT (c/n 32355; ex ZS-SJK; leased from South African; returned as ZS-SJK)
    • PH-HZU (c/n 32358; ex ZS-SJP; leased from South African; returned as ZS-SJP)
    • PH-HZV (c/n 30650)
    • PH-HZW (c/n 29345)
    • PH-HZX (c/n 28248)
    • PH-HZY (c/n 30646)
    • PH-HZZ (c/n 32356; ex ZS-SJL; leased from South African; returned as ZS-SJL)
  • Boeing 757-200
    • PH-TKA (c/n 26633; to Royal New Zealand Air Force as NZ7571)
    • PH-TKB (c/n 26634; to Royal New Zealand Air Force as NZ7572)
    • PH-TKC (c/n 26635; to American Trans Air as N512TZ)
    • PH-TKD (c/n 26330; to Air Finland as OH-AFI)
    • PH-TKY (c/n 24118; to China Southern as N769BE)
    • PH-TKZ (c/n 24119; to China Southern as N770BE)
  • Boeing 757-300
    • D-ABOF (c/n 29013; leased from Condor; returned)
    • D-ABOH (c/n 30030; leased from Condor; returned)
PH-XRV shows the latest fashion in Transavia colours (Schiphol,Dec 2005, Frank Noort)
PH-XRV shows the latest fashion in Transavia colours (Schiphol,Dec 2005, Frank Noort)
  • Cessna F152
  • Douglas DC-6
    • PH-TRA
    • PH-TRB
    • PH-TRI (lsd ex JA-6201)
  • Douglas DC-6A
    • PH-TRG (lsd ex JA-6203)
  • Douglas DC-6B
    • PH-TRC
    • PH-TRD (lsd ex TF-LLA)
    • PH-TRE (lsd ex TF-LLB)
    • PH-TRK (lsd ex JA-6208)
  • Piper PA-18
    • PH-CWA
  • Piper PA-31-300
    • PH-TVB
  • Sud Aviation SE210 Caravelle III
    • PH-TRM (Lsd. c/n 21. Ex F-WJAK, OH-LEA, D-ABAF, F-WLGA, to F-BSRR, I-GISA, 9Q-CPS)
    • PH-TRN (Lsd from February 1969 to May 1972?. c/n 191 ex OY-KRG, to YU-AJG)
    • PH-TRO (c/n 33. Ex F-WJAM, HB-ICW, Delivered October 1969, wfu November 1975 and broken up, nose section now preserved in the Aviodrome)
    • PH-TRP (c/n 43, ex HB-ICY, delivered January 1973, wfu and broken up Schiphol December 1975)
    • PH-TRR (c/n 48. ex HB-ICZ, delivered March 1970, wfu and broken up at Schiphol around February 1975)
  • Sud Aviation SE210 Caravelle VIN
    • PH-TVV (c/n 44. Converted Caravelle III. Ex F-WJAP, I-DAXO, delivered May 1973, wfu April 1975 and finaly broken up on Schiphol during 1976)
    • PH-TVW (c/n 36. Converted Caravelle III. Ex F-WJAO, I-DAXE, delivered April 1973, wfu April 1975, broken up on Schiphol ca 1982 after being used as a firetrainer)
  • Sud Aviation SE210 Caravelle VIR
    • PH-TRH (c/n 96. Ex N1011U, delivered May 1971, wfu after taxi incident 22 June 1974, broken up on Schiphol January 1976)
    • PH-TRS (c/n 100. Ex N1015U, to TT-AAD, TT-AAM)
    • PH-TRU (c/n 102. Ex N1017U, delivered November 1970, to N555SL, N2296N, N98KT)
    • PH-TRX (c/n 92. Ex N1007U, delivered June 1970, wfu November 1975, used as a fire trainer on Schiphol, broken up August 1979)
    • PH-TRY (c/n 87. Ex N1002U, to N777VV)
    • PH-TVT (Lsd from Sterling. c/n 93. Ex N1008U, OY-SBW, back to OY-SBW, later to N904MW)
    • PH-TVZ (Lsd from Sterling March 1972-October 1972. c/n 91. Ex N1006U, OY-SBV, back to OY-SBV, later to 5T-MAL,5T-RIM)

Images

Seen here landing at Corfu Airport in 1995, Boeing 757 PH-TKB

More information

External links

Sources

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