Palestinian Airlines
Encyclopedia
Palestinian Airlines is an airline
based in Egypt
that is wholly owned by the Palestinian Authority. Up until it stopped operations in 2001, the airline had scheduled international services from El Arish, Egypt
to Amman
, Jordan
and pilgrim charter services to Jeddah
. Its main base is El Arish International Airport
.
Palestinian Airlines is a member of the Arab Air Carriers Organization
.
, in northern Egypt
. Scheduled services began on 23 July 1997, operating from El Arish
to Jordan
and Saudi Arabia
. Palestinian Airlines transferred its base to Gaza following the opening of the airport in November 1998 and added a number of new routes in the region. The airline was grounded in October 2000 following the start of the Al-Aqsa Intifada
and was forced to move to El Arish International Airport
in December 2001, after destruction of the runway at its previous base, Yasser Arafat International Airport
, where it operated limited services. It is wholly owned by the Palestinian Authority and has 398 employees (as of March 2007).
According to their website schedule flights were operated during June 2004 on Arish-Amman route.
* Denotes special flights may operate from these cities pending demand
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
Syria
Turkey
United Arab Emirates
Palestinian Airlines had also ordered two Bombardier CRJ-200, seen here, that were never delivered to the carrier.
Airline
An airline provides air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines lease or own their aircraft with which to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for mutual benefit...
based in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
that is wholly owned by the Palestinian Authority. Up until it stopped operations in 2001, the airline had scheduled international services from El Arish, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
to Amman
Amman
Amman is the capital of Jordan. It is the country's political, cultural and commercial centre and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. The Greater Amman area has a population of 2,842,629 as of 2010. The population of Amman is expected to jump from 2.8 million to almost...
, Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
and pilgrim charter services to Jeddah
Jeddah
Jeddah, Jiddah, Jidda, or Jedda is a city located on the coast of the Red Sea and is the major urban center of western Saudi Arabia. It is the largest city in Makkah Province, the largest sea port on the Red Sea, and the second largest city in Saudi Arabia after the capital city, Riyadh. The...
. Its main base is El Arish International Airport
El Arish International Airport
El Arish International Airport is an airport near El Arish, Egypt.- Operations :The airport is home to Palestinian Airlines however the airline has not been operational since 2000. It is the closest airport to the Gaza Strip. The airline relocated to this airport after Yasser Arafat International...
.
Palestinian Airlines is a member of the Arab Air Carriers Organization
Arab Air Carriers Organization
The Arab Air Carriers Organization , established in 1965, is a non profit organization and has 24 Arab airlines as members.AACO was established by the League of Arab States . Its goal is to promote cooperation, quality and safety standards among the Arab airlines...
.
History
The airline was established on 1 January 1995 and started operations in June 1997 with a series of charter flights carrying pilgrims to Jeddah. The flights were originally slated to operate from Gaza, but due to an Israeli ban, the services operated from Port SaidPort Said
Port Said is a city that lies in north east Egypt extending about 30 km along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, north of the Suez Canal, with an approximate population of 603,787...
, in northern Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. Scheduled services began on 23 July 1997, operating from El Arish
Al 'Arish
Arish or el-Arīsh is the capital and largest city of the Egyptian governorate of North Sinai, lying on the Mediterranean coast of the Sinai peninsula, northeast of Cairo. Al `Arīsh is distinguished by its clear blue water, widespread fruitful palmy wood on its coast, and its soft white sand...
to Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
and Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
. Palestinian Airlines transferred its base to Gaza following the opening of the airport in November 1998 and added a number of new routes in the region. The airline was grounded in October 2000 following the start of the Al-Aqsa Intifada
Al-Aqsa Intifada
The Second Intifada, also known as the Al-Aqsa Intifada and the Oslo War, was the second Palestinian uprising, a period of intensified Palestinian-Israeli violence, which began in late September 2000...
and was forced to move to El Arish International Airport
El Arish International Airport
El Arish International Airport is an airport near El Arish, Egypt.- Operations :The airport is home to Palestinian Airlines however the airline has not been operational since 2000. It is the closest airport to the Gaza Strip. The airline relocated to this airport after Yasser Arafat International...
in December 2001, after destruction of the runway at its previous base, Yasser Arafat International Airport
Yasser Arafat International Airport
Yasser Arafat International Airport , formerly Gaza International Airport and Dahaniya International Airport, is located in the Gaza Strip, in Rafah close to the Egyptian border....
, where it operated limited services. It is wholly owned by the Palestinian Authority and has 398 employees (as of March 2007).
According to their website schedule flights were operated during June 2004 on Arish-Amman route.
Destinations
Palestinian Airlines historic network, the airline had also planned to expand services to Athens, Frankfurt, Paris, Rome and London:* Denotes special flights may operate from these cities pending demand
- Cyprus
- LarnacaLarnacaLarnaca, is the third largest city on the southern coast of Cyprus after Nicosia and Limassol. It has a population of 72,000 and is the island's second largest commercial port and an important tourist resort...
– Larnaca International AirportLarnaca International AirportLarnaca International Airport is an international airport located southwest of Larnaca, Cyprus. Larnaca International Airport is Cyprus' main international gateway and the larger of the country's two commercial airports, the other being Paphos International Airport on the island's southwestern...
[suspended]
- Larnaca
- Egypt
- Arish – El Arish International AirportEl Arish International AirportEl Arish International Airport is an airport near El Arish, Egypt.- Operations :The airport is home to Palestinian Airlines however the airline has not been operational since 2000. It is the closest airport to the Gaza Strip. The airline relocated to this airport after Yasser Arafat International...
Base * - CairoCairoCairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
– Cairo International AirportCairo International AirportCairo International Airport is the busiest airport in Egypt and the primary hub for Star Alliance member EgyptAir. The airport is located to the north-east of the city around from the business area of the city.The airport is administered by the Egyptian Holding Co...
[suspended] - Port SaidPort SaidPort Said is a city that lies in north east Egypt extending about 30 km along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, north of the Suez Canal, with an approximate population of 603,787...
– Port Said AirportPort Said AirportPort Said Airport serves the city of Port Said, Egypt, at the north end of the Suez Canal.In 2009, the airport served 30,196 passengers .-Modernisation:...
[suspended]
- Arish – El Arish International Airport
- Jordan
- AmmanAmmanAmman is the capital of Jordan. It is the country's political, cultural and commercial centre and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. The Greater Amman area has a population of 2,842,629 as of 2010. The population of Amman is expected to jump from 2.8 million to almost...
– Marka Airport *
- Amman
- Kuwait
- Kuwait International AirportKuwait International AirportKuwait International Airport is located in Farwaniyah, Kuwait, south of Kuwait City. It serves as hub for Jazeera Airways and Kuwait Airways. A portion of the airport complex is designated as Al Mubarak Air Base, which contains the headquarters of the Kuwait Air Force, as well as the Kuwait Air...
[suspended]
- Kuwait International Airport
- Palestine
- GazaGazaGaza , also referred to as Gaza City, is a Palestinian city in the Gaza Strip, with a population of about 450,000, making it the largest city in the Palestinian territories.Inhabited since at least the 15th century BC,...
– Yasser Arafat International AirportYasser Arafat International AirportYasser Arafat International Airport , formerly Gaza International Airport and Dahaniya International Airport, is located in the Gaza Strip, in Rafah close to the Egyptian border....
- Gaza
- DohaDohaDoha is the capital city of the state of Qatar. Located on the Persian Gulf, it had a population of 998,651 in 2008, and is also one of the municipalities of Qatar...
– Doha International AirportDoha International AirportDoha International Airport is the only commercial airport in Qatar. It has three mosques, free Wi-Fi, a duty-free area, a few eateries and 42 parking bays for aircraft. There are also 60 check-in gates, 8 baggage claim belts and over 1,000 car parking spaces.The airport suffers from...
[suspended]
- JeddahJeddahJeddah, Jiddah, Jidda, or Jedda is a city located on the coast of the Red Sea and is the major urban center of western Saudi Arabia. It is the largest city in Makkah Province, the largest sea port on the Red Sea, and the second largest city in Saudi Arabia after the capital city, Riyadh. The...
– King Abdulaziz International AirportKing Abdulaziz International AirportKing Abdulaziz International Airport is an aviation facility located 19 km to the north of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Named after King Abdulaziz Al Saud, the airport is Saudi Arabia's third largest air facility and busiest airport by passenger. The airport occupies an area of 15 square kilometers...
*
- DamascusDamascusDamascus , commonly known in Syria as Al Sham , and as the City of Jasmine , is the capital and the second largest city of Syria after Aleppo, both are part of the country's 14 governorates. In addition to being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Damascus is a major...
– Damascus International AirportDamascus International AirportDamascus International Airport is a public airport located in Damascus, the capital of Syria. Officially opened in the mid 1970s, DAM is Syria's busiest international airport. The airport is experiencing significant annual passenger growth rates...
[suspended]
- IstanbulIstanbulIstanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
– Atatürk International AirportAtatürk International AirportAtatürk International Airport is the major international airport in Istanbul, Turkey. Opened in 1924 and located in Yeşilköy, on the European side of the city, it is west of the city centre. In 1980, the airport was renamed to Atatürk International Airport in honor of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the...
[suspended]
- Abu DhabiAbu DhabiAbu Dhabi , literally Father of Gazelle, is the capital and the second largest city of the United Arab Emirates in terms of population and the largest of the seven member emirates of the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi lies on a T-shaped island jutting into the Persian Gulf from the central western...
– Abu Dhabi International AirportAbu Dhabi International AirportAbu Dhabi International Airport is an airport in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. The airport is one of the fastest growing airports in the world in terms of passengers , new airline operators, and infrastructural development...
[suspended] - DubaiDubaiDubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
– Dubai International AirportDubai International AirportDubai International Airport is an international airport serving Dubai, the largest city of the United Arab Emirates. It is a major aviation hub in the Middle East, and is the main airport of Dubai. It is situated in the Al Garhoud district, southeast of Dubai...
[suspended]
Fleet
The Palestinian Airlines fleet consists of the following aircraft (as of July 2011):- 1 Boeing 727-200 (SU-YAK, stored in Netherlands)
- 2 Fokker 50 (SU-YAH active, SU-YAI stored in Jordan)
Previously operated
The airline also operated the following:- 2 Bombardier Dash 8-300 (SU-YAM/YAN, both sold)
- 1 Ilyushin Il-62Ilyushin Il-62The Ilyushin Il-62 is a Soviet long-range jet airliner conceived in 1960 by Ilyushin. As successor to the popular turbo-prop Il-18 and with capacity for almost 200 passengers, the Il-62 was the largest jet airliner when it first flew in 1963. It entered Aeroflot service on 15 September 1967 with...
Palestinian Airlines had also ordered two Bombardier CRJ-200, seen here, that were never delivered to the carrier.