Cameroon Airlines

Cameroon Airlines
IATA ICAO Callsign
QC UYC CAM-AIR
Founded 1971
Ceased operations 2008
Hubs Douala International Airport
Focus cities Yaoundé Nsimalen International Airport
Headquarters Douala, Cameroon
Website cameroon-airlines.net(archived)

Cameroon Airlines was an airline from Cameroon, serving as flag carrier of the country. Based in Douala, it operated scheduled services within Africa, as well as to Europe and the Middle East out of its hub at Douala International Airport,[1] with a second network focus on Yaoundé Nsimalen International Airport. The company was 96.43 per cent state owned, with the remaining shares having been held by Air France. It ceased operations in March 2008; its role as Cameroon's flag carrier was taken over by Camair-Co.

History

A Cameroon Airlines Boeing 747-200 approaches Orly Airport in 1989.

Cameroon Airlines was founded on 26 July 1971 in an effort to create a national Cameroonian airline, as until then domestic and international flight operations at the airports in the country were mostly executed by multi-national Air Afrique. Scheduled flights between Douala and Yaoundé were launched on 1 November of that year with an initial fleet of two Boeing 737–200 aircraft. Shortly thereafter, international flights to Rome and Paris commenced using an ex-Air France Boeing 707, which was replaced by a larger and more modern Boeing 747–200 in 1982. (This aircraft remained in service with Cameroon Airlines until 2000, when it was severely damaged in Flight 70, see below.)

Over the years, Cameroon Airlines was plagued by financial difficulties, which came along with a poor safety and maintenance record. On 16 September 2005, the airline was indefinitely banned by the French Civil Aviation Authority from operating its prestigious Paris route due to safety concerns that had arisen following aircraft check-ups that had revealed failures to meet international norms in the loading, transport of dangerous materials, navigation documentation and tire maintenance.[2]

In an effort to save the airline from bankruptcy, the Government of Cameroon signed an agreement with SN Airholding, the parent company of Brussels Airlines to ensure the future funding. The plans did not materialize, though. Instead, on 11 September 2006, the launch of Camair-Co as new national airline was announced.[3] Cameroon Airlines stayed operational until March 2008, though flight operations had only taken place during irregular intervals over these last years.

Route network

During the 1970s

At that time, the Cameroon Airlines fleet consisted of two Boeing 737-200 and two Douglas DC-4 aircraft for short haul flights, as well as one Boeing 707-300 for long haul flights to Europe. Scheduled destinations included:[4][5]

During the 1990s

Cameroon Airlines had scaled down the domestic route network in a cost-saving measure, relying on the larger sub-Saharan cities as well as some European destinations:[6]

Fleet

A Boeing 757-200 in 2002, again at Charles de Gaulle Airport, the most important international destination of Cameroon Airlines.
A Boeing 747-300, the largest aircraft to have ever operated by the airline, at Luxembourg Findel Airport in 2003.
A Boeing 767-300 of Cameroon Airlines at Dubai International Airport in 2005.

Over the years, Cameroon Airlines operated the following aircraft types:[7]

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
Aircraft Introduced Retired
Boeing 707-300
Boeing 737-200 1971 2006
Boeing 737-300 1996 2005
Boeing 747-200 1981 2000
Boeing 747-300 2001 2004
Boeing 757-200 2002 2008
Boeing 767-200 2001 2008
Boeing 767-300 2000 2008
Bombardier CRJ200 2001 2002
Douglas DC-4
Hawker Siddeley HS 748
Twin Otter
Embraer 145

Accidents and incidents

References

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