Seabird Airlines

Seabird Airlines
Founded11 February 2010; 14 years ago (2010-02-11)
Ceased operations2015
Hubsİstanbul and Alaçatı
Fleet size4
Destinations10
HeadquartersIstanbul
Key peopleKürşad Arusan (Founder and Chairman of the Board)
Websitehttp://www.flyseabird.com
TC-SBA parked in İstanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport

Seabird Airlines was an airline operating scheduled seaplane services in Istanbul, Turkey, and the surrounding area. Its main base was at Haliç on the Golden Horn. It was the only floatplane operator in Turkey. It also operated sightseeing flights over Istanbul.[1]

History

The airline was established in Istanbul in 2010 by Kürşad Arusan (chairman of the board) and the German Angel Investor Christian Theisen, although it took a further two years to get all the required certification from the Turkish aviation authorities. It is part of the Burulas Havacilik Group.[1] It ceased operations in June 2015, citing financial difficulties, most likely driven by a drop in wealthy Russian tourists (source: http://www.todayszaman.com/business_seabird-airlines-sputters-to-a-halt_387464.html)

Destinations

Its main route is between its base in Haliç to Gemlik. Other destinations are:[1]

Fleet

The Seabird Airlines fleet is made up of the following aircraft (at February 2015):[1]

All aircraft are leased from Kenn Borek Air in Canada. Two were returned to the lessor during the winter season 2014/15.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Seabird Airlines Linking Continents". Airliner World: 38–41. February 2015.