) Palau Micronesia Air Boeing 737 at Auckland Airport, January 2005 | |||||||
| |||||||
| Founded | September 2002 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ceased operations | 23 December 2004 | ||||||
| Fleet size | See Fleet below | ||||||
| Destinations | See Services below --> | ||||||
| Headquarters | Palau | ||||||
Palau Micronesia Air was an airline based in Palau. It operated services under the Air New Zealand air operators certificate. It suspended operations in December 2004.[1]
History
The airline was established in September 2002.[1] In October 2003 Air New Zealand reached an understanding with Palau Micronesia Air committing to provide a range of support services for the new company, including operating its aircraft under the Air New Zealand air operators certificate.[2] Operations started on 5 August 2004. It suspended operations on 23 December 2004, attributing it to high costs and under-performing sales.[1] The first flight was in a leased plane from a Swedish company using experienced pilots from Australia and New Zealand, as well as newly trained Palauan cabin staff. As of August 2005 the website stated an intention to restructure and recommence operations. The airline was locally owned and financed by Palauan businessmen, Alan and Glenn Seid [3]
Services
It served Palau, Guam, Saipan, Micronesia, Australia and the Philippines. It was the first airline to provide direct service between Palau and Australia.
Fleet
Palau Micronesia Air operated the following aircraft (in 2004) [3]
- 1 Boeing 737-33A
References
- ^ a b c Flight International 12–18 April 2005
- ^ Air New Zealand 7 November 2003
- ^ a b CNN 4 November 2004