IAero Airways

{{Short description|Defunct charter airline of the United States (1997–2024)}}

{{Distinguish|Swiftair|Swift Air Malawi|Swift Aire Lines|AirSWIFT}}

{{Infobox airline

| airline = iAero Airways

| logo = IAeroAirways Logo.svg

| logo_size = 125

| fleet_size = 10

| destinations =

| IATA = WQ

| ICAO = SWQ

| callsign = SWIFTFLIGHT

| parent = iAero Group

| founded = {{start date|1997||}}
{{small|(as Swift Air)}}

| commenced = {{start date|2020|01|01}}
{{small|(as IAero Airways)}}

| ceased = {{end date|2024|04|06}}

| aoc = I5EA212N{{Cite web|url=https://av-info.faa.gov/detail.asp?DSGN_CODE=I5EA&OPER_FAR=121&OPER_NAME=SWIFT+AIR+L+L+C|title=Federal Aviation Administration - Airline Certificate Information - Detail View|website=av-info.faa.gov|access-date=2019-06-27}}

| headquarters = Greensboro, North Carolina, United States

| key_people = {{bulleted list|

| Timothy Rainey (President)

| William Garrett (CFO)

| Jon Corbi (CRO)}}

| hubs = {{ubl|class=nowrap

| Miami

| Phoenix/Mesa}}

| secondary_hubs =

| focus_cities =

| frequent_flyer =

| alliance =

| subsidiaries =

| num_employees =

| website = {{URL|www.iaeroairways.com}}

}}

iAero Airways, previously named Swift Air, was an American charter airline based in Greensboro, North Carolina with its main hub at Miami International Airport.Flight International 12–18 April 2005 The airline announced that it would cease all operations on April 6, 2024, after failed restructuring efforts during bankruptcy proceedings.

History

=Foundations as Swift Air=

File:Swift Air logo.svg

The airline was established in 1997 and was a customer for the Embraer ERJ-135. In November 2006, the airline received authorization for Part 121 operations and began flying three Boeing 737-400s. These aircraft are each configured with all first class interiors, electrical outlets, and club work areas with tables. The primary use of these aircraft is air transportation for major professional sports team (NBA, NHL, MLB) and for VIP charters.{{cite web|url=http://www.swiftaviationgroup.com/charter/Jet_737-400.html|title=Swift Aviation Group, Inc. - Sales, FBO, Charter & Management|access-date=2007-11-02|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070529231109/http://www.swiftaviationgroup.com/charter/jet_737-400.html|archive-date=2007-05-29}}

John McCain's 2008 presidential campaign utilized one of Swift Air's Boeing 737-400s, which was dubbed the Straight Talk Express, the same name given to his bus used earlier in the campaign.{{citation needed|date=April 2024}} In June 2011, Swift Air originally planned to operate public charter flights from Chicago to some European destinations such as Belgrade, Zagreb and Kraków; however, these destinations were only flown in June 2011.{{citation needed|date=April 2024}}

On June 17, 2011, Swift Air voluntarily suspended their Part 121 operations pending an inquiry by the FAA.{{cite web|url=http://www.flyswiftair.com/Update.aspx |title=Swift Air Operations|access-date=2011-06-19|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110621085228/http://www.flyswiftair.com/Update.aspx|archive-date=2011-06-21}}{{cite web|title=Svift er kažnjen zbog otkazivanja leta za Beograd i Zagreb|language=hr|first=Lj.|last=Bukvic|date=2011-08-16|url=https://www.danas.rs/ekonomija/svift-er-kaznjen-zbog-otkazivanja-leta-za-beograd-i-zagreb/|website=Danas|access-date=2019-12-19}} / {{cite web|url=https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=sr&u=http://www.danas.rs/danasrs/ekonomija/svift_er_kaznjen_zbog_otkazivanja_leta_za_beograd_i_zagreb.4.html%3Fnews_id%3D221666&ei=hhFNTvjNJe364QSSlYnXBw&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBgQ7gEwAA&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dhttp://www.danas.rs/danasrs/ekonomija/svift_er_kaznjen_zbog_otkazivanja_leta_za_beograd_i_zagreb.4.html%253Fnews_id%253D221666%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1R2SKPB_srRS380%26biw%3D1680%26bih%3D818%26prmd%3Divns|author=Google Translate|title=Swift is fined for canceling flight to Belgrade and Zagreb|access-date=2017-04-29}} Swift Air resumed normal part 121 operations on June 25, 2011, after making manual changes to satisfy the FAA.

In 2017, Swift Air announced plans to acquire the Boeing 737-800 assets of the second iteration of Eastern Air Lines stating, "Eastern Air Lines’ name, assets, and associated trademarks will be retained within the transaction.".{{cite web|url=http://www.flyswiftair.com/eal|title=Swift Air / Eastern Air Lines - Swift Air|website=flyswiftair.com}} One aircraft remained painted in Eastern livery to protect the trademark, although the fleet of Dynamic Airways (owned by a co-owner of Swift Air) would eventually take the Eastern name and trademark (as Eastern Airlines, without the space), retaining the Dynamic AOC. Following the acquisition of assets from Eastern Air Lines, Swift Air began operating charter flights to Cuba for Havana Air.{{citation needed|date=April 2024}}

=Further development as iAero=

In May 2019, Swift became a subsidiary of iAero Group, an aviation service firm minority owned by The Blackstone Group.{{cite press release|website= prnewswire.com|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/swift-air-joins-iaero-group-300855569.html|title= Swift Air Joins iAero Group|access-date=June 27, 2019}} Swift Air has announced that it intends to rebrand itself as iAero Airways, following its recent takeover by the iAero Group. A filing with the US Department of Transportation (DOT) on September 9, 2019, stated that, at present time, it intends to retain its corporate name - Swift Air, LLC - and therefore does not seek the re-issuance of its operating licenses and certificates.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/81746-arizonas-swift-air-to-rebrand-as-iaero-airways|title = Arizona's Swift Air to rebrand as iAero Airways}} By December 31, 2019, Swift Air subsequently transition its rebrand as iAero Airways.{{cite web|website= iaeroairways.com|url= https://www.iaeroairways.com/about-us/|title= About us iAero Airways|access-date= December 17, 2019|archive-date= December 18, 2019|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20191218003215/https://www.iaeroairways.com/about-us/|url-status= dead}}

On September 20, 2023, the airline announced that it would be filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.{{Cite web |last=McDermott |first=John |date=September 20, 2023 |title=iAero Airways Files for Bankruptcy Protection |url=https://airlinegeeks.com/2023/09/20/iaero-airways-files-for-bankruptcy-protection/ |access-date=February 14, 2024 |website=AirlineGeeks.com}} On March 14, 2024, it was announced that Eastern Air Express had bid $71 Million dollars to acquire the carrier's assets out of bankruptcy.{{Cite web |last=Kaminski-Morrow |first=David |date=March 14, 2024 |title=Court filing lists nearly 30 737s as part of IAero asset sale linked to US carrier Eastern |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/airlines/court-filing-lists-nearly-30-737s-as-part-of-iaero-asset-sale-linked-to-us-carrier-eastern/157378.article |access-date=April 6, 2024 |website=flightglobal.com}} However, on April 1, 2024, President Timothy Rainey announced in a memo to staff members that the airline would cease all operations at the end of the day on April 6, 2024.[https://www.freightwaves.com/news/bankrupt-charter-airline-iaero-to-cease-operations freightwaves.com - Bankrupt charter airline iAero to cease operations] April 2, 2024

Operations

iAero Airways operated charter flights for nationally known fractional aircraft operators, financial institutions, construction and transportation as well as many collegiate athletic departments, professional sports organizations, and major tour operators.{{cite web|url=https://www.iaeroairways.com/about-us/|title=About Us - iAero Airways|website=www.iaeroairways.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191218003215/https://www.iaeroairways.com/about-us/|archive-date=2019-12-18}} It was also a major contractor for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, operating many of the agency's deportation flights as well as flights transporting detainees between immigration detention facilities within the United States.{{Cite news|last=MacDonald-Evoy|first=Jerod|title='ICE Air' flew more than 32K immigrants out of Mesa in less than 10 months|work=AZ Mirror|date=17 July 2019|url=https://www.azmirror.com/2019/07/17/ice-air-flew-more-than-32k-immigrants-out-of-mesa-in-less-than-10-months|access-date=10 July 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/video/us/100000007122997/ice-deportations-coronavirus-video.html|title=How ICE Helped Spread the Coronavirus|date= 10 July 2020|website= The New York Times}}

The airline also provided ACMI services for private owners.{{citation needed|date=April 2024}}

Fleet

File:N626SW iAero 20210624 1.jpg]]

File:Swift Air Boeing 737-4Q8 N807TJ approaching JFK Airport.jpg in former Swift Air branding.]]

=Last fleet=

As of April 2024 and prior to the closure of operations, the iAero Airways fleet included the following aircraft:{{cite web|url=https://www.iaeroairways.com/charter/|title=Charter - iAero Airways|publisher=iAeroAirways.com|access-date=April 3, 2024}}

class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em auto; text-align:center" \|+ iAero Airways fleet
rowspan=2\|Aircraft !rowspan=2\|In service !rowspan=2\|Orders !colspan=3\|Passengers !rowspan=2\|Notes
F !Y !Total
Boeing 737-400 \|4 \|— \|12 \|138 \|150 \|
Boeing 737-800 \|3 \|— \|– \|189 \|189 \|
Boeing 737-800BDSF \|3 \|— \|colspan=3\|Cargo \|Operated for DHL Aviation{{Citation needed\|date=October 2024}}
Total !10 !— !colspan=4\|

class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em auto; text-align:center"

|+ iAero Airways fleet

rowspan=2|Aircraft

!rowspan=2|In
service

!rowspan=2|Orders

!colspan=3|Passengers

!rowspan=2|Notes

!Total

Boeing 737-400

|—

|12

|138

|150

Boeing 737-800

|—

|–

|189

Boeing 737-800BDSF

|—

|colspan=3|Cargo

|Operated for DHL Aviation{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}}

Total

!10

!—

!colspan=4|

=Historic fleet=

As Swift Air, it also operated the following aircraft types:{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" \|+ iAero Airways former fleet
Aircraft !Total !Introduced !Retired !Notes
Boeing 727-200 \|1 \|2010 \|2013 \|
Boeing 737-300 \|10 \|2011 \|2024 \|
Boeing 737-400SF \|2 \|2020 \|2024 \|Operated for DHL Aviation
rowspan=2\|Boeing 767-200ER \|rowspan=2\|1 \|2010 \|2013 \|
2017 \|2018 \|
Boeing 767-300ER \|1 \|2022 \|2022 \|
Bombardier Challenger 800 \|1 \|2006 \|2008 \|
Cessna Citation V \|4 \|1997 \|2006 \|
Cessna Citation X \|9 \|1997 \|2010 \|
Dassault Falcon 2000 \|3 \|1999 \|2006 \|
Embraer Legacy 600 \|8 \|2002 \|2005 \|
Swearingen Merlin \|1 \|1998 \|2001 \|

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"

|+ iAero Airways former fleet

Aircraft

!Total

!Introduced

!Retired

!Notes

Boeing 727-200

|2010

|2013

Boeing 737-300

|10