Founded | 1966 |
---|---|
Commenced operations | 1967 |
Ceased operations | 1979 [1] |
Headquarters | Bangui, Central African Republic |
Air Centrafrique was the flag carrier of the Central African Republic from 1966 to the late 1970s. The company operated domestic services. It had its headquarters in Bangui. [2]
The carrier was formed as Compagnie Centre Africaine Air Bangui in 1966 in association with Air Afrique and Union de Transports Aériens (UTA), [3] [4] with the latter providing management and technical assistance. [5] It was conceived to provide feeder services to Air Afrique. [5] Operations started in early 1967, linking Bangui with Berberati [nb 1] using Douglas DC-3 aircraft. [3] [4] In July 1967 , a Beech 95 Baron was acquired for flying new routes to Bakouma and Bangassou. [5]
One DC-3 and one Beech Baron made up the aircraft park at March 1970 . [7] Gaining flag carrier status, the company was renamed Air Centrafrique in mid-1971 following reorganisation after the government attempted to withdraw from the Air Afrique consortium earlier that year. [8]
The launching of Air Centrafrique as an independent airline was one of the moves of the proclaimed Emperor Bokassa I that indebted the country, to the point that banks began to refuse loans to the state in the same year. [9] Following the rupture with Air Afrique, agreements were signed with Zaire, Congo and Chad for Air Centrafrique to fly to those destinations. [10] On 1973-2-13, Bokassa issued a decree suspending operations of Air Centrafrique, due to a conflict with French navigation staff. [11]
By March 1975Bambari, Bangassou, Birao, Bouar, Bria, Carnot, M'Boki, Ouadda and Zemio were operated; seasonal flights were also undertaken during the safari hunting period. [12] A Caravelle 3 entered the fleet in the late 1970s. [5] [nb 2]
, passenger scheduled services to Bangui,The airline ceased operations between 1978 and 1979. [nb 3] The collapse of Air Centrafrique, along with other debacles of the Bokassa legacy, contributed to undermining the prestige of the Central African Republic internationally. [14]
Following is a list of destinations served by Air Centrafrique all through its history:
Air Centrafrique operated the following aircraft throughout its history: