Istanbul Airlines

Istanbul Airlines

IATA ICAO Call sign IL IST ISTANBUL
Founded	December 1985
Ceased operations	August 24, 2000
Hubs	Istanbul Atatürk Airport
Fleet size	7

Istanbul Airlines (İstanbul Hava Yolları) was a Turkish charter airline that also operated domestic scheduled flights beginning in February 1996. The company ceased operations in 2000.

History

• Istanbul Airlines was founded in Istanbul in December 1985 by private Turkish investors.
• It commenced operations on March 14, 1986, with two Sud Aviation Caravelle aircraft acquired from the airline SAT Flug and two BAC 1-11s leased from the Romanian airline TAROM.
• In its first year, the airline carried 105,122 passengers.
• After Istanbul Airlines acquired additional tour operators as customers, including the holiday provider Öger Tours, the fleet was expanded in 1987 with two additional Caravelle aircraft and in 1988 with a Boeing 737-400
• .A batch of leased Boeing 727-200 aircraft were introduced in 1991, gradually replacing the Caravelles, which were out of production since 1972.
• During the 1990s, Istanbul Airlines developed into one of Turkey's leading charter airlines and modernized its fleet with leased Boeing 737 and Boeing 757 aircraft.
• Following the deregulation of Turkish aviation with many small airlines founded as a result such as Atlasjet, Albatros Airlines, Alfa Airlines, Bosphorus Airways, and Greenair Istanbul Airlines also began operating scheduled flights within Turkey from February 1996.
• On August 24, 2000, the airline ceased operations.

Fleet

Fleet at closing

At the time of the cessation of operations, Istanbul Airlines' fleet consisted of five Boeing 737-400s, one Boeing 737-800 and one Lockheed L-1011 TriStar leased from Air Atlanta Icelandic.

The airline formerly operated the following aircraft

• BAC 111-500
• Boeing 727-200
• Boeing 737-200, 737-300
• Boeing 757-200
• Sud Aviation Caravelle

See also

• List of defunct airlines of Turkey