Meridian Airways
{{Short description|Belgian airline}}
{{Infobox airline |
airline=Meridian Airways
|logo= Meridian Airways logo.jpg
|logo_size=250|
IATA=-|
ICAO=MAG|
callsign=MERID AIR|
founded=2003 (as Cargoplus Aviation)|
ceased=2015|
headquarters=Kotoka International Airport
Accra, Ghana|
hubs=Ostend-Brugge International Airport|
fleet_size=5|
destinations=|
website=https://web.archive.org/web/20130901210043/http://www.meridianairways.com///
}}
Meridian Airways was a Ghanaian registered cargo airline (with an Air Operator Certificate Number of AOC 023) with its head office in Kotoka International Airport, Accra, and served as its main hub at Ostend-Brugge International Airport in Belgium.
History
The company started operations as Cargoplus Aviation in 2003, changing its name to Air Charter Express in 2007 while operating a Douglas DC-8-63AF. Operated two DC-8s on cargo charter flights from Ostend Airport to the Middle East. The airline also operated charter flights for the British Ministry of Defence from RAF Lyneham.
Two additional DC-8-63F's arrived {{When|date=August 2011}} at Ostend Airport (EBOS) with Meridian Air colours. During 2009, Air Charter Express was renamed to Meridian Airways.{{Cite news|url=http://blog.seattlepi.com/worldairlinenews/archives/180369.asp|title=Air Charter Express is now Meridian Airways|date=2009-09-27|work=Airliners Gallery World Airline News|access-date=2017-08-17|language=en-US|archive-date=2009-09-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090929112928/http://blog.seattlepi.com/worldairlinenews/archives/180369.asp|url-status=dead}}
Meridian Airways Ltd. was banned from operating in the European Union.{{cite web|title=LIST OF AIR CARRIERS OF WHICH ALL OPERATIONS ARE SUBJECT TO A BAN WITHIN THE EU |url=http://ec.europa.eu/transport/modes/air/safety/air-ban/doc/list_en.pdf |publisher=European Union |accessdate=28 March 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121117224638/http://ec.europa.eu/transport/modes/air/safety/air-ban/doc/list_en.pdf |archivedate=17 November 2012 }}
In January 2010, Meridian Airways operated a series of flights from East Midlands Airport to Port-au-Prince in response to the 2010 Haiti earthquake.
In 2014, Meridian's fleet of DC-8's were among all planes of that type grounded by the Ghana government and ceased all the operations in 2015.{{cite web|title=Meridian Airways, Airlift Int'l hit as Ghana grounds all DC-8s|url=http://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/25668-meridian-airways-airlift-intl-hit-as-ghana-grounds-all-dc-8s|publisher=CH-Aviation.com|accessdate=12 January 2016}}{{cite web|title=EU LIFTS BAN ON LOCAL AIRLINES|date=27 July 2015 |url=http://citifmonline.com/2015/07/27/eu-lifts-ban-on-ghanaian-airlines|publisher=Citifmonline|accessdate=12 January 2016}}
Fleet
File:Douglas DC-8-63(F), Meridian Airways JP6719239.jpg
- 5 × Douglas DC-8-63F (9G-AXA, 9G-AXB, 9G-AXC, 9G-AXD, 9G-AXE)
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{official website|https://web.archive.org/web/20130901210043/http://www.meridianairways.com}}
- [http://www.wiloo.be/meridian_airways_ltd_%28ghana%29.htm wiloo.be: "Meridian Airways Ltd, nieuwkomer?" (Flemish) 30-sept-09]
- [http://www.wiloo.be/ace_oostende.pdf Insert to the Belgisch Staat Blad, (2007) PDF-document on wiloo.be]
{{Portal bar|Africa|Companies|Aviation}}
{{Navbox Airlines of Ghana}}
Category:Defunct cargo airlines
Category:Defunct airlines of Ghana
Category:Airlines established in 2003
Category:Airlines disestablished in 2015
Category:Airlines formerly banned in the European Union