OLT Express Germany
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Founded | 1958 (as Ostfriesische Lufttaxi) | ||||||
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Ceased operations | 30 January 2013 | ||||||
Hubs | |||||||
Fleet size | 15 | ||||||
Destinations | 10 | ||||||
Parent company | Panta Holdings | ||||||
Headquarters | Bremen, Germany | ||||||
Key people | Prof. Dr. Joachim Klein (CEO) | ||||||
Website | oltexpress.de |
OLT Express Germany (formerly OLT Ostfriesische Lufttransport GmbH or OLT) was
History
Founding and first years
OLT was founded on 1 November 1958 by Martin Dekker and Jan Janssen as Ostfriesische Lufttaxi - Dekker und Janssen OHG, initially operating air taxi flights to islands in the
OLT had, by 1968, five aircraft and operated 13,174 flights.
39 Years of operation as OLT - Ostfriesische Lufttransport
In 1972 the airlines was renamed again, now into Ostfriesische Lufttransport GmbH (OLT) and Kaltenborn-Stachau took over 26%. Several new schedule services were introduced like from Kassel, Düsseldorf to Cologne/Bonn in 1973 and Hanover, Saarbrücken, Stuttgart, Münster/Osnabrück and Frankfurt in 1974.[5] For the regional airlines business strategy the company DLT (Deutsche Lufttransport-Gesellschaft mbH) was created and OLT was renamed into DLT Luftverkehrsgesellschaft. But soon later AGIV decided to split the Emden (OLT) operation away from DLT. This unit (Emden operation) was sold then to AG EMS and OLT restart its old core activities under its own name.[5] To ensure a flexible operation, especially in the charter sector, OLT organised 1976 a joint platform called OFD with the participating airlines OLT, FLN and Dollart GmbH.[5]
At the beginning 1990s, with the fall of the Berlin Wall, the airlines faced an increase of their business activities. OLT started operations in the former East German provinces and 1990 took over Roland Air from Bremen.[6] In 1991 OLT set up a base in Bremen and started with its scheduled services there. In 1996 all OFD activities were integrated into OLT and therefore under the control of AG EMS.[5]
OLT is one of very few airlines that has succeeded in driving a low-cost rival off a route. In December 2005, easyJet started daily flights between Bristol and its base in Hamburg. OLT was operating twice-daily weekday-only services. The route being a predominantly business route, frequency won out over price and easyJet cancelled the route at the end of October 2006.[7]
OLT Express Germany
OLT announced on 4 August 2011 it would undergo major restructuring after losing its shuttle flights contract with
OLT Express Germany completed the purchase of Contact Air in September 2012. The purchase included Contact Air's wet-lease contract to operate two aircraft on behalf of Swiss International Air Lines. The same week as the Contact Air purchase Amber Gold was reported to be experiencing financial difficulty and funding for the deal was in question.[9][10][11] On 27 July, the Polish OLT Express suspended all services without notice.[12]
In August 2012 Dutch company Panta Holdings announced it was buying OLT Germany from Amber Gold and also finalised the purchase of Contact Air. Panta also owns Denim Air and Maas Air Leasing.[13] Both subsidiaries own Fokker aircraft and Maas leased out two Fokker 100 to Contact Air. In December 2012 it was announced that the wet-lease contract with Swiss International Air Lines would not be renewed and was scheduled to conclude in March 2013.
OLT Express Germany ceased all operations on 27 January 2013 due to financial difficulties.[1][2] The company filed for bankruptcy two days later.[14]
Destinations
OLT operated the following services (as of January 2013[update]). Note that all island flights had been transferred to the independent company OFD Ostfriesischer-Flug-Dienst back in 2011.
Operated as OLT Express Germany
- Austria
- Vienna - Vienna International Airport seasonal
- Denmark
- France
- Toulouse-Blagnac Airport
- Germany
- Bremen - Bremen Airport Hub
- Dresden - Dresden Airport
- Hamburg - Hamburg Airport
- Baden Airpark
- Münster - Münster Osnabrück Airport
- Munich - Munich Airport
- Saarbrücken - Saarbrücken Airport Hub
- Switzerland
- United Kingdom
Operated for Swiss International Air Lines
Fleet
As of 2013[update] the OLT Express Germany fleet consisted of the following aircraft:[15]
Aircraft | Total | Orders | Passengers | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Fokker 100 | 10 | — | 100 | |
Saab 2000 | 4 | — | 56 | |
Saab 340 | 1 | — | 37 | |
Total | 15 | — |
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An OLT Saab 2000
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An OLT Fokker 100 (F100)
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An OLT Saab 340
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An OLT Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander
References
- ^ a b "Luftfahrt-Nachrichten und -Community". aero.de. 27 January 2013. Retrieved 17 May 2013.
- ^ "Imprint." (Archived 2 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine) OLT. Retrieved on 4 August 2011. "OLT Express Germany GmbH Henrich-Focke-Strasse 6 28199 Bremen"
- ^ "Directory: World Airlines". Flight International. 10 April 2007. p. 58.
- ^ a b c d e f g [1] Archived 14 December 2009 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "OLT fliegt seit 40 Jahren nach Helgoland " Günstig, Urlaub, Reisen, Billig verreisen, Infos, Tipps und Ratgeber " Holidaystarter - News". Holidaystarter.com. 23 February 2007. Retrieved 6 November 2012.
- ^ "OLT celebrates reaching 50 by acquiring its first jets for Airbus 'shuttle' flights". anna.aero. 19 September 2008.
- ^ "OLT schrumpft zurück zum Inselhüpfer". Airliners.de. 26 July 2012. Archived from the original on 20 September 2011. Retrieved 6 November 2012.
- ^ "OLT Express podnosi ceny biletów i kasuje trasy. Ucieka przed bankructwem? - Transport - Gazeta Prawna - partner pracodawcy, narzędzie specjalisty". Serwisy.gazetaprawna.pl. 25 July 2012. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
- ^ "OLT Express raises prices and goes on sale". Biznes.onet.pl. Retrieved 6 November 2012.
- ^ Hofmann, Kurt (19 July 2012). "OLT Express Germany finalizes acquisition of Contact Air". ATWOnline. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
- ^ "OLT Express zawiesił do odwołania wszystkie swoje rejsy". Wyborcza.pl. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
- ^ "OLT Express Owner Sees Low Labor Costs Key To Profit". Aviationweek.com. 9 August 2012. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
- ^ "Luftfahrt-Nachrichten und -Community". aero.de. 29 January 2013. Retrieved 17 May 2013.
- ^ "OLT Express Germany Fleet Details and History - Planespotters.net Just Aviation". Planespotters.net. 13 September 2012. Retrieved 5 November 2012.