East-West Airlines (India)
Encyclopedia
East-West Airlines was the first Indian private scheduled airline to take off the ground after the Open Skies policy was announced in 1991. The airline ceased operations in 1996.
The airline operated its offices in Mumbai
, New Delhi, Chennai
and Trivandrum.
It started, as per government stipulations, with three aircraft, all Boeing 737-200s. During the Indian Airlines strike In 1992, to counter the impact of a crippling Indian Airlines pilot strike, the then-Civil Aviation minister, Madhavrao Scindia aked the airline to bring in more aircraft. East West went on to acquire four more planes taking their count to seven Boeing 737s.
The Indian Government granted scheduled domestic airline status to nine private air-taxi operators including East West in 1994.
On November 13, 1995 The company's managing director Thakiyudeen Wahid
was shot dead near his Mumbai office.
The airline owed 3.3 million dollars to PLM Equipment - the company from which they had leased three Boeings. The American company first appealed to the DGCA to deregister the aircraft and then went to court. The Delhi high court ordered East West to pay up or return the planes. The three planes were then grounded.
In May 1996 the airline sought and was given DGCA permission to stop flying trunk routes due to a shortage of aircraft. By June 1996 they decided to fly only from Bombay to non-trunk destinations like Calicut, Trivandrum, Cochin.
Finally, on August 8, 1996, East West Airlines ceased all operations.
After the Airline shut down operations, the Boeings were returned to the lessors
while 2 Fokkers were stored at Mumbai Airport until 2006 when they were auctioned off by AAI to recover some of the dues it was owed by way of parking and landing charges.
Boeing 737 - 200
Fokker F27 Friendship
when the aircraft's left main landing gear failed on touchdown. The aircraft continued moving forward on its belly and skid to a halt on the runway. There was no fire and no injury to persons on board the aircraft.
Poor maintenance was cited as a contributory factor in the accident. The aircraft was written off.
History
East West Airlines began operations in early 1992, when the Indian Government opened up the industry to its "open skies policy" that gave rise to numerous private 'air taxi operators' that serviced India.The airline operated its offices in Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
, New Delhi, Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
and Trivandrum.
It started, as per government stipulations, with three aircraft, all Boeing 737-200s. During the Indian Airlines strike In 1992, to counter the impact of a crippling Indian Airlines pilot strike, the then-Civil Aviation minister, Madhavrao Scindia aked the airline to bring in more aircraft. East West went on to acquire four more planes taking their count to seven Boeing 737s.
The Indian Government granted scheduled domestic airline status to nine private air-taxi operators including East West in 1994.
On November 13, 1995 The company's managing director Thakiyudeen Wahid
Thakiyudeen Wahid
Thakiyudeen Abdul Wahid was a leading Indian entrepreneur and aviator. He was the Managing Director of the now-defunct East West Airlines.Mr. Wahid along with his brother, Mr. Nasirudeen A Wahid created East West Airlines, Indias first private airlines, from the success of a profitably run...
was shot dead near his Mumbai office.
The airline owed 3.3 million dollars to PLM Equipment - the company from which they had leased three Boeings. The American company first appealed to the DGCA to deregister the aircraft and then went to court. The Delhi high court ordered East West to pay up or return the planes. The three planes were then grounded.
In May 1996 the airline sought and was given DGCA permission to stop flying trunk routes due to a shortage of aircraft. By June 1996 they decided to fly only from Bombay to non-trunk destinations like Calicut, Trivandrum, Cochin.
Finally, on August 8, 1996, East West Airlines ceased all operations.
Fleet
East West operated a total fleet of 11 aircraft, including 8 leased Boeing B737s and 3 Fokker F27Fokker F27
The Fokker F27 Friendship is a turboprop airliner designed and built by the Dutch aircraft manufacturer Fokker.-Design and development:Design of the Fokker F27 started in the 1950s as a replacement to the successful Douglas DC-3 airliner...
After the Airline shut down operations, the Boeings were returned to the lessors
while 2 Fokkers were stored at Mumbai Airport until 2006 when they were auctioned off by AAI to recover some of the dues it was owed by way of parking and landing charges.
Boeing 737 - 200
Boeing 737
The Boeing 737 is a short- to medium-range, twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner. Originally developed as a shorter, lower-cost twin-engine airliner derived from Boeing's 707 and 727, the 737 has developed into a family of nine passenger models with a capacity of 85 to 215 passengers...
| Registration | From | To |
|---|---|---|
| VT-EWA | Leased from GPA Guinness Peat Aviation Guinness Peat Aviation was a Commercial Aircraft Sales and Leasing company set up in 1975 by Aer Lingus, the Guinness Peat Group and Tony Ryan, then an Aer Lingus executive.-History:... in April 1992 |
Returned to GPA on 23-08-1993 |
| VT-EWB | Leased from PLM International Inc on 30-05-1992 | Returned to PLM in July 1998 |
| VT-EWC | Leased from PLM International Inc on 30-05-1992 | Returned to PLM in Jan 1997. PLM leased it back to Sahara India Airlines |
| VT-EWD | Leased from GPA in Dec 1992 | Returned to GPA in Oct 1996 |
| VT-EWF | Leased from GECAS GE Commercial Aviation Services GECAS is a unit of GE Capital, itself part of the large conglomerate General Electric. The president of GECAS is Norman Liu. GECAS is responsible for the leasing of aircraft and associated equipment to airlines... in Dec 1992 |
Returned to GECAS in July 1997 |
| VT-EWH | Leased from Aer Lingus in Jan 1993 | Returned to Aer Lingus in Jan 1997 |
| VT-EWI | Leased from Aer Lingus in Jan 1993 | Returned to Aer Lingus in July 1997 |
| VT-EWJ | Leased from PLM International Inc in Jan 1993 | Returned to PLM in October 1996 |
Fokker F27 Friendship
| Registration | From | To |
|---|---|---|
| VT-EWE | NLM CityHopper NLM CityHopper NLM CityHopper full name Nederlandse Luchtvaart Maatschappij, was a Dutch commuter airline, founded in 1966.-History:The carrier was formed as Nederlandse Luchtvaart Maatschappij in 1966... |
Stored at Baroda after accident |
| VT-EWG | NLM CityHopper | Auctioned by AAI in 2006 to Pune-based Indian Institute of Aeronautical Engineering. |
| VT-EWK | NLM CityHopper | Auctioned by AAI in 2006 to Delhi-based School of Engineering and Technology |
Accidents and incidents
On 1 July 1995, an East West Airlines Fokker F-27, registered VT-EWE, was engaged in a training touch and go exercise at Vadodara AirportVadodara Airport
Vadodara Airport or Civil Airport Harni is a civilian airport located in the north-east of Vadodara, Gujarat, India in the suburb of Harni....
when the aircraft's left main landing gear failed on touchdown. The aircraft continued moving forward on its belly and skid to a halt on the runway. There was no fire and no injury to persons on board the aircraft.
Poor maintenance was cited as a contributory factor in the accident. The aircraft was written off.