Delta Air Transport

Delta Air Transport was founded in 1966, by Frans Van den Bergh, as a provider for air taxi and charter flight services with an initial fleet of three Cessna aircraft (one each of the types Skymaster, 210 and 206). DAT's first scheduled flight from Antwerp to Amsterdam on behalf of KLM took place on 19 September 1967; for that purpose two Beechcraft Queen Air feederliners had been acquired (some sources erroneously mention three of the type).

{{cite web|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/FlightPDFArchive/1968/1968%20-%200549.pdf |title=flightglobal.com: 1968 issue of Flight International |format=PDF |access-date=2013-09-23}}

{{cite web |url=http://www.barrois.be/1966_Delta_Air_Transport |title=1966 Delta Air Transport |publisher=Barrois.be |language= nl}}

File:Douglas DC-3C OO-GVG Delta AT AMS 05.06.72 edited-3.jpg arrives at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport in June 1972 on a scheduled service from Antwerp Airport.]]

Operations grew when the larger Douglas DC-3, CV440 and DC-6 joined the fleet over the following years, allowing DAT to operate charter flights on behalf of KLM (which owned a 33.3 percent stake in DAT), Sabena, Crossair and BIAS. In 1973, the majority of the airline's stake was bought by Compagnie Maritime Belge.{{cite web|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1974/1974%20-%201598.html?search=Delta%20Air%20Transport |title=World Airlines Directory, Flight International, 1974 |publisher=flightglobal.com |access-date=2013-09-23}} During 1974, a Boeing 720 was leased, allowing DAT to offer worldwide charter flights under the Delta International branding,{{cite web|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1973/1973%20-%201941.html?search=Delta%20Air%20Transport |title=World Airline Directory, Flight International, July 1973 |publisher=flightglobal.com |access-date=2013-09-23}} which soon turned out to be unsuccessful, though.{{cite web|url=http://www.skystef.be/airlines/delta-air-transport.htm |title=Information about DAT at SkyStef's Aviation Page |publisher=Skystef.be |access-date=2013-09-23}}

In 1986, Sabena acquired a 49 percent stake in DAT, and an increasing number of flights were operated on behalf of the Belgian national airline henceforth{{cite web|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1986/1986%20-%200549.html?search=Delta%20Air%20Transport |title=Sabena sizes down, Flight International, March 1986 |publisher=flightglobal.com |date=1986-03-25 |access-date=2013-09-23}} (also adopting the airline codes of Sabena), using a fleet of British Aerospace 146 aircraft, in favor of which other airliners were gradually phased out. DAT became a member of the European Regional Airlines Association in 1993.{{cite web|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1993/1993%20-%202378.html?search=Delta%20Air%20Transport |title=European regionals log healthy growth", Flight International, October 1993 |publisher=flightglobal.com |date=1993-10-12 |access-date=2013-09-23}} In 1996, Sabena bought the remaining KLM stake, thus DAT became a wholly owned Sabena subsidiary, moved its headquarters from Antwerp to Brussels{{cite web|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1995/1995%20-%202966.html?search=Delta%20Air%20Transport |title=Sabena boss seeks more work for less, Flight International, October 1995 |publisher=flightglobal.com |date=1995-10-24 |access-date=2013-09-23}} and was re-branded as DAT Belgian Regional Airline, offering low-cost flights. Gradually, the livery of Sabena was applied to all DAT aircraft.

On 1 November 2001, Sabena collapsed due to financial difficulties. DAT could re-launch its operations on 10 November with a flight to Geneva,{{cite web|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/2001/2001%20-%203670.html?search=Delta%20Air%20Transport |title=DAT Plus gets airborne as Virgin Express signs interim co-operation agreement, Flight International, November 2001 |publisher=flightglobal.com |date=2001-11-26 |access-date=2013-09-23}} having received all of Sabena's slots at Brussels Airport and thus being able to maintain the successful European network.{{cite web|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/2002/2002%20-%203308.html?search=Delta%20Air%20Transport |title=Delsey folds its wings, Flight International, November 2002 |publisher=flightglobal.com |date=2002-11-18 |access-date=2013-09-23}} Freddy Van Gaever, its former CEO, planned to merge DAT with Virgin Express and add flights to the United States using former Sabena aircraft, which was why the new DAT Plus branding was adopted.{{cite web|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/2001/2001 |title=3748.html?search=Delta Air Transport flightglobal.com: "Ex-DAT Boss to Plug Belgian Gap", Flight International, Nov/Dec 2001 issue |publisher=Flightglobal.com |date=2010-06-14 |access-date=2013-09-23}}{{cite web|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/2002/2002 |title=0071.html?search=Delta Air Transport flightglobal.com: "Virgin Express Begins Merher Talks", Flight International, Jan 2002 issue |publisher=Flightglobal.com |date=2010-06-14 |access-date=2013-09-23}} Actually, DAT came under the umbrella of SN Airholding (the liquidator of Sabena) in 2002, and was re-organized under a new AOC as SN Brussels Airlines, which later became Brussels Airlines after indeed merging with Virgin Express, today's flag carrier of the country.

In its early years, Delta Air Transport offered up to 4 daily scheduled flights between its then base at Antwerp Airport and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol on behalf of KLM (the contract lasted until 1997, when DAT had become a wholly owned Sabena subsidiary),{{cite web|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1997/1997%20-%200358.html?search=Delta%20Air%20Transport |title=DAT Disposal, Flight International, February 1997 |publisher=flightglobal.com |date=1997-02-25 |access-date=2013-09-23}} as well as a limited number of routes to the neighboring countries. During the 1990s and early 2000s, DAT was able to grow an extensive short-haul network, as more and more flights were operated on behalf of demising Sabena, eventually becoming the tenth largest regional airline of the continent, transporting more than 1.7 million passengers per year.{{cite web|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1999/1999%20-%201172.html?search=Delta%20Air%20Transport |title=The World's Top Regional Airlines by Passenger Numbers, Flight International, May 1999 |publisher=flightglobal.com |date=1999-05-11 |access-date=2013-09-23}} During its height, the airline had nearly 800 employees,{{cite web|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/2000/2000%20-%200941.html?search=Delta%20Air%20Transport |title=DAT's entry in the World Airlines Directory, Flight International, March/April 2000 |publisher=flightglobal |access-date=2013-09-23}} and served the following cities on a scheduled basis from its hub at Brussels Airport:{{cite web|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1995/1995%20-%200869.html?search=Delta%20Air%20Transport |title=World Airlines Directory, Flight International, March/April 1995 |publisher=flightglobal.com |access-date=2013-09-23}}{{cite web|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1997/1997%20-%200835.html?search=Delta%20Air%20Transport |title=World Airlines Directory, Flight International, March/April 1997 |publisher=flightglobal.com |access-date=2013-09-23}}{{cite web|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1998/1998%20-%200592.html?search=Delta%20Air%20Transport |title=World Airline Directory, Flight International, March 1998 |publisher=flightglobal.com |access-date=2013-09-23}}{{cite web|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/2002/2002%20-%200974.html?search=Delta%20Air%20Transport |title=World Airlines Directory, Flight International, March/April 2002 |publisher=flightglobal.com |access-date=2013-09-23}}

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;Austria

• Vienna

;Bulgaria

• Sofia

;Croatia

• Zagreb

;Czech Republic

• Prague

;Denmark

• Copenhagen

;Finland

• Helsinki

;France

• Bordeaux
• Paris
• Lyon
• Marseille
• Nice
• Strasbourg
• Toulouse

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;Germany

• Berlin
• Düsseldorf
• Frankfurt
• Hamburg
• Hanover
• Munich
• Stuttgart

;Greece

• Athens

;Hungary

• Budapest

;Ireland

• Dublin

;Italy

• Bologna
• Florence
• Milan
• Naples
• Rome
• Turin
• Venice

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;Luxemburg

• Luxembourg

;Netherlands

• Amsterdam

;Norway

• Oslo

;Poland

• Warsaw

;Portugal

• Lisbon
• Porto

;Romania

• Bucharest

;Spain

• Barcelona
• Bilbao
• Madrid
• Málaga
• Seville
• Valencia

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;Sweden

• Gothenburg
• Stockholm

;Switzerland

• Basel
• Geneva
• Zürich

;United Kingdom

• Birmingham
• Bristol
• Edinburgh
• Glasgow
• Leeds
• London
• Manchester
• Newcastle upon Tyne

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File:Douglas DC-6B, Delta Air Transport - DAT AN0792162.jpg at Antwerp Airport in 1976]]

File:Embraer EMB-120RT Brasilia, Delta Air Transport - DAT AN0214411.jpg of Delta Air Transport at Stuttgart Airport in 1988]]

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File:Fokker F-28-4000 Fellowship, Delta Air Transport - DAT AN0206438.jpg at Stuttgart Airport in 1991]]

File:British Aerospace BAe 146 RJ100, OO-DWH, Delta Air Transport.jpg in the latest livery of Delta Air Transport at Berlin Tempelhof Airport in 2001]]

Over the years, Delta Air Transport operated the following aircraft types:{{cite web|url=https://www.planespotters.net/airline/Delta-Air-Transport |title=Selected DAT fleet listing (1990 onwards) at |publisher=Planespotters.net |access-date=2013-09-23}}

{{incomplete list|date=July 2011}}

• On 4 October 1974 at 20:01 local time, the flight engineer of a DAT Douglas DC-6 (registered OO-VGB) decided to retract the nose gear during take-off run at London Southend Airport even though the aircraft had not yet lifted off, which happened due to a communication error with the pilots. The airplane slid along the runway, during which it was damaged beyond repair. 99 passengers had been on board the flight to Antwerp, one of which was severely injured (another four received minor injuries from evacuating the aircraft). The six crew members remained uninjured.{{cite web|url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19741004-0 |title=DAT 1974 accident at the Aviation Safety Network |publisher=Aviation-safety.net |date=1974-10-04 |access-date=2013-09-23}}{{cite web|url=http://www.aaib.gov.uk/cms_resources.cfm?file=/6-1976%20OO-VGB%20a.pdf |title=Official report of the 1974 DAT accident at Southend Airport |format=PDF |access-date=2013-09-23}}
• On 2 June 1990 at 19:11 local time, a DAT Embraer EMB 120 Brasilia (registered OO-DTA) without any passengers collided with a Piper Aerostar during a low-pass manoeuvre at Antwerp International Airport, resulting in the crash of the Piper and the death of the four people on board. The two aircraft had been performing a close formation flight for aerial photographs of the DAT Embraer for advertising purposes.{{cite web|url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19900602-2 |title=DAT 1990 incident at the Aviation Safety Network |publisher=Aviation-safety.net |date=1990-06-02 |access-date=2013-09-23}}

{{Reflist}}

{{commons category}}

• {{cite book|title=Aeronews of Belgium|year=2010|publisher=Aviation Society of Antwerp|location=Antwerpen-Deurne, Belgium|issn=0772-6198|pages=15, 16 }}

{{Airlines of Belgium}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Belgian companies established in 1966

Category:Defunct airlines of Belgium

Category:Airlines established in 1966

Category:Airlines disestablished in 2002

Category:2002 disestablishments in Belgium