Fly540 Angola

Fly540 Angola was established in 2009 as a subsidiary of Kenya-based Fly540.{{cite news | url=http://www.macauhub.com.mo/en/2009/04/30/6987/ | title=Angola: Airline Fly540, of the Lonrho group, ready to start flight to Luanda soon | work=Macauhub | date=30 April 2009 | accessdate=29 January 2016}} It was the first privately owned airline in Angola. The subsidiary was created as Fly540 felt there was a lack of domestic and regional air service in and out of Angola.{{cite news | url=http://www.howwemadeitinafrica.com/new-breed-of-airlines-opening-up-african-skies/ | title=New breed of airlines opening up African skies | work=How We Made It in Africa | date=30 March 2011 | accessdate=29 January 2016 | author=Maritz, Jaco}} Fly540 faced difficulties in launching Fly540 Angola, as Angola was under scrutiny by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and state-owned TAAG Angola Airlines had been placed on the EU blacklist due to safety concerns.{{cite news | url=http://www.eturbonews.com/20161/fly-540-finally-takes-skies-angola | title=Fly 540 finally takes to the skies in Angola | work=eTurboNews | date=22 December 2010 | accessdate=29 January 2016 | author=Thome, Wolfgang}}{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7Gu6BAAAQBAJ| title=Ready for Takeoff?: The Potential for Low-Cost Carriers in Developing Countries | publisher=World Bank Publications | year=2014 | location=Washington, DC | author1=Schlumberger, Charles | author2=Weisskopf, Nora | page=106| isbn=9781464802836 }}

Operations were expected to begin in 2009, but Fly540 Angola did not obtain certification from the Instituto Nacional da Aviação Civil until February 2011.{{cite news | url=http://www.cnc-angola.com/index.php/noticias/78-companhia-fly-540-certificada-pelo-inavic | title=Companhia Fly 540 certificada pelo INAVIC | work=Conselho Nacional de Carregadores | date=2 March 2011 | accessdate=21 November 2016 | language=Portuguese | trans-title=Fly540 certified by INAVIC}} The airline commenced flights in April 2011 with a single ATR 72-500 and the Cabinda airport as its base.{{cite magazine |date=2011 |title=ATR enters Angola market |url=http://www.atraircraft.com/datas/download_center/7/atreview_n26_7.pdf |magazine=ATReview |publisher=ATR |access-date=21 November 2016 |issue=26 |page=4 |archive-date=16 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216160217/http://www.atraircraft.com/datas/download_center/7/atreview_n26_7.pdf |url-status=dead }}{{cite news | url=http://www.angop.ao/angola/es_es/noticias/transporte/2011/2/9/Fly-540-presenta-nuevo-avion,07aae1b6-2d33-452f-a1aa-3fa5885ed1d6.html | title=Fly 540 presenta nuevo avión | work=ANGOP | date=2 March 2011 | accessdate=21 November 2016 | language=Spanish | trans-title=Fly540 presents new aircraft}} By February 2013, the fleet had grown to two ATR 72-200s and one ATR 72-500.{{cite news | url=http://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/16682-fly540-withdraws-brand-license-for-fastjet-legal-battle-continues | title=Fly540 withdraws brand license for Fastjet, legal battle continues | work=ch-aviation | date=8 February 2013 | accessdate=21 November 2016}}

Fly540 Angola struggled in the market and accumulated losses.{{cite news | url=http://centreforaviation.com/analysis/taag-angola-airways-boosts-capacity-justifying-angolas-investment-in-airport-infrastructure-119834 | title=TAAG Angola Airways boosts capacity, justifying Angola's investment in airport infrastructure | work=CAPA - Centre for Aviation | date=22 July 2013 | accessdate=29 January 2016}} In June 2012, parent company Fly540 was acquired by Rubicon Diversified Investments, which made all of Fly540's subsidiaries part of its new venture Fastjet.{{cite news | url=http://centreforaviation.com/news/lonrho-sells-fly540-to-rubicon-as-basis-for-new-african-lcc-fastjet-159769 | title=Lonrho sells Fly540 to Rubicon as basis for new African LCC FastJet | work=CAPA - Centre for Aviation | date=14 June 2012 | accessdate=29 January 2016}} However, in April 2014, Fastjet suspended Fly540 Angola's operations in order to restructure the airline from its full-service model to Fastjet's low-cost model.{{cite news | url=http://centreforaviation.com/news/fastjet-to-restructure-fly540-operations-in-angola-and-ghana-331027 | title=fastjet to restructure Fly540 operations in Angola and Ghana | work=CAPA - Centre for Aviation | date=30 April 2014 | accessdate=29 January 2016}}{{cite news | url=http://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/27655-fly540-angola-ops-suspended-as-fastjet-moves-to-restructure | title=Fly540 Angola ops suspended as fastjet moves to restructure | work=ch-aviation | date=1 May 2014 | accessdate=29 January 2016}} Fastjet subsequently decided to sell off Fly540 Angola's fleet, and the airline never resumed operations.{{cite news | url=http://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/38328-fastjet-sells-fly540-ghana-to-dwg-g-for-1 | title=fastjet sells Fly540 Ghana to DWG-G for $1 | work=ch-aviation | date=23 June 2015 | accessdate=29 January 2016}}

Pablo Martins was the airline's commercial director at the time of its launch. Fastjet held a 60% stake in the airline.

At the time of its suspension, Fly540 Angola flew to the following destinations:

File:D2-FLC ATR.72 Fly540 Africa (7836687568).jpg]]

Fly540 Angola operated two ATR 72 aircraft at the time of its suspension.

Fly540 Angola functioned as a full-service airline rather than as a low-cost airline. Its ATR 72-500 offered 56 economy class seats and 12 business class seats.

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{{Airlines of Angola}}

Category:Defunct airlines of Angola

Category:Airlines established in 2009

Category:Airlines disestablished in 2014

Category:Companies based in Luanda