Overview
Astraeus Airlines commenced operations in 2002 with B737 aircraft, basing itself as a Gatwick operator with a second base at Manchester. The head office is located close to Gatwick Airport and still remains in the original location. It soon established itself as a reliable charter carrier providing lift to UK Leisure tour operators for both summer and winter seasons. By 2004 the fleet was augmented by the addition of B757 equipment. Within a market that was changing the business profile also changed and more and more flying was being operated on behalf of operators who specialised in oil support related work. This found Astraeus Airlines regularly flying to destinations in Africa such as freetown, (Sierra Leone) Equatorial Guinea (Malabo & Bata) and Algeria (Hassi Messaoud) and Kazakhstan (Uralsk).
Milestones were very significant in the carrier's development, such as the only UK operator to operate to Equatorial Guinea plus latterly the first operator to take a B757 into the French ski destination of Chambery. A scheduled service programme commenced in 2007 flying to Chambery, Hurghada, St John's & Deer Lake, Canada and the Cape Verde Islands (from both Manchester and Gatwick).
Special Charter
In 2008 Astraeus Airlines became the world's only operator of a B757 combi passenger and cargo aircraft. One aircraft was reconfigured to take both passengers and cargo and was used by the UK rock band Iron Maiden for a world tour in spring 2008 (the lead singer with Iron Maiden, Bruce Dickinson, is a B757 Captain with Astraeus Airlines).
Changes & Progress
By 2008 the fleet had grown to 9 aircraft; 2 B737-300s, 2 B737-700s and 5 B757s. The tide of change that came through the UK Leisure Industry was not ignored by Astraeus Airlines and a new plan was needed to change the profile of the organisation. In 2007 Astraeus Airlines 'hatched' the plan to move its entire business away from Leisure IT and Scheduled Services and into Leasing - dry, damp and wet. The focus would be on ACMI wet/damp leasing but also where possible dry. Along with this it was planned to keep one unit as an ad hoc aircraft with the ability to cover maintenance on the rest of the fleet, as well as provide substitute aircraft cover for other operators. This plan became fully operational in May 2008.
Ownership
Astraeus Airlines is 100% subsidiary of Eignarhaldsfelagid Fengur hf. An Icelandic based travel group that also owns Iceland Express in Iceland.
IOSA & Worldwide AOC
In November 2008 Astraeus Airlines achieved more goals in its bid to become the premier airline offering B757 and B737 sub lease capacity. Along with the award of IOSA registration, (IATA Operational Safety Audit) IOSA Registration is awarded by the International Air Transport Association (IATA, which represents over 230 airlines worldwide), to those airlines that have demonstrated conformity with the comprehensive IOSA standards, developed by IATA as the first global, consistent and harmonized industry audit programme designed to promote operational safety.
The IOSA Programme is an internationally recognised and accepted audit system that assesses the quality and control systems of an airline. The program involves, among other aspects:
- > Continuously updated standards in eight operational areas of an airline;
- > Audit Organisations that are accredited by IATA thus ensuring that highly experienced airline auditors use the same evaluation methods and procedures.
The IOSA registration is a clear recognition of the high operational standards that have been set by the highly-experienced Astraeus team it is that level of experience and our high reputation that has enabled Astraeus Airlines to forge supply and support relationships with some of the most highly regarded airlines operating today.
In addition to this Astraeus Airlines has also been awarded our World Wide Air Operators Certificate (WWAOC) by the UK Civil Aviation Authority.
2009
Astraeus Airlines is now the ONLY airline remaining that is based at London Gatwick Airport. Astraeus Airlines has been steadily growing the fleet, summer 2009 saw 5 B757-200, 1 737-500, 3 B737-700 and 2 B737-300 with the introduction of our first Airbus A320 added to the fleet in October.
2009 was a very challenging year throughout the Aviation industry with many airlines not making it through such tough financial constraints, this we now feel, has left us in a stronger position than before and our overall performance and profitability has also improved./
In October 09 we were asked by Saudi Arabian Airlines to operate 2 B757-300 from their base in Jeddah for their Hajj Pilgrimage programme. This saw our British crew based in various Middle East countries from early October to the 1 January 10.
In November 2009 we added three of the seven Aer Lingus Airbus A320 to our Air Operating Certificate. Two based in Belfast and one based at London Gatwick this contract was successfully concluded in mid January 10.
2010
At the Start of January 10 we signed a contract with Elite Aviation for our B757-200 operating from Abu Dhabi International and Al Ain in the United Arab Emirates. This short contract was to transport large volumes of Vietnamese workers between Hanoi, Vietnam and the UAE.
In February our B757-200 was based I Santa Cruz, Bolivia operating daily to Miami, USA and once a week though Sao Paulo, Brazil. The contracted started with Astraeus British cabin crew whilst the locally recruited cabin crew were being fully trained in accordance with our operating procedures.
March & April saw the company operate though the toughest of challenges when Eyjafjallajökull caused wide spread air travel chaos across European skies. We were faced with many of our aircraft stranded across the UK, France and Italy unable to move for days on end. Despite this our operations teams worked on continuous plans to enable a swift recovery as soon and airspace was opened and within days our full program was back on track. This was a time to reflect on the team spirit and can do attitude all our staff at Astraeus have.
At the start of May our Airbus had its first full ‘Damp’ contract which started for Travel Service based in Prague, Czech Republic on the 16th operating a vast European program. In mid June the base then changed to Brno Turany Airport.
We currently have a Boeing 757 based at Gatwick operating for EasyJet.