Red Air - a new Dominican airline

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MariaRubia

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Jun 25, 2019
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Red Air has just been granted permission to start operations. It's a joint venture between Laser Venezuela and Servair Dominicana. They have 3 MD80 jets, each of which is approximately 30 years old, 5 pilots and various cabin crew.

After the chaos caused when PAWA went under, and given how many airlines are struggling to survive after the pandemic, I just hope that the authorities have checked them very carefully before giving this permission.

Interestingly, Wikipedia has a page dedicated to Dominincan airlines which have gone bust:

List of defunct airlines of the Dominican Republic - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org
 
J

johne

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Jun 28, 2003
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"RED" as in "in the red"? One would think they would want a name change, so I would assume they don't have the money to repaint those old beat up planes that are more like a opened can of 16 oz beer that was kicked around the town dump.
 
Sailor51

Sailor51

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Oct 30, 2018
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windeguy said:
I am seeing RED ink as well.

Good luck to those 30 year old planes and those who risk flying them.
Click to expand...
Quick research shows most airlines retired them 4 or 5 years ago. Service life was around 25 yrs. depending on maintainance.
Nick named "mad dog" by pilots.
 
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playacaribe2

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Jan 9, 2004
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MariaRubia said:
Red Air has just been granted permission to start operations. It's a joint venture between Laser Venezuela and Servair Dominicana. They have 3 MD80 jets, each of which is approximately 30 years old, 5 pilots and various cabin crew.

After the chaos caused when PAWA went under, and given how many airlines are struggling to survive after the pandemic, I just hope that the authorities have checked them very carefully before giving this permission.

Interestingly, Wikipedia has a page dedicated to Dominincan airlines which have gone bust:

List of defunct airlines of the Dominican Republic - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org
Click to expand...

Good luck to them.......they will need it.

I am not sure why Servair got involved as they are an FBO (fixed base operator) that handles ground operations like baggage, fueling etc., at some DR airports.

And 5 pilots is barely enough to keep one plane flying full time.

Maybe 1 plane is for daily flying, 1 for backup, and the third for spare parts lol.

Respectfully,
Playacaribe2
 
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W

william webster

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Jan 16, 2009
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But still functioning...... planes have a difficult, long life

Turn them 'Off' and they aren't making the owner money....
Never ending flying

Yes, mostly cargo now but until recently , passengers too.
Witness British Airways
 
C

cavok

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Jun 16, 2014
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Cabarete
Not all 747's flying are 30 years old. They're still in production. Most airlines retired them because they're not as fuel efficient as the newer two engine Airbus and Boeing models.
 
W

william webster

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Jan 16, 2009
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cavok - they have stopped production now - no more being built

First ones were 1970 or so - '69 maybe

My college girlfriend worked the 1st Pan-Am flt - NYC to LHR - first class lounge
 
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william webster

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Jan 16, 2009
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The 747 has had a great run.......

Now we may see supersonic coming back..... Boom is the manufacturer
UAL has ordered some
 
P

playacaribe2

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Jan 9, 2004
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cavok said:
The MD80's are gas and maintenance hogs. Maintenance hasn't been a strong suit with Dominican airlines. I wish them luck!
Click to expand...

Nor has it been with Laser airlines, the predecessor to Red Air. They have had an inordinate amount of “engine out” problems with their MD 80’s while flying.

Since this really looks like a Venezuelan airline masquerading as a Dominican one, perhaps they will take cryptocurrency as payment. The Venezuelan Bolivar is certainly worthless.

Respectfully,
Playacaribe2
 
M

MariaRubia

Well-known member
Jun 25, 2019
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Great. So in summary we have an airline started by another airline that has a history of engine failures. Flying planes which are 5 years past their "use by" date, which every other airline has stopped using. Started in the middle of a pandemic when even 100 year old airlines are struggling to survive. And a name which is synonymous with making a loss. What could possibly go wrong?
 
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NanSanPedro

NanSanPedro

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Apr 12, 2019
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Boca Chica
yeshaiticanprogram.com
MariaRubia said:
Great. So in summary we have an airline started by another airline that has a history of engine failures. Flying planes which are 5 years past their "use by" date, which every other airline has stopped using. Started in the middle of a pandemic when even 100 year old airlines are struggling to survive. And a name which is synonymous with making a loss. What could possibly go wrong?
Click to expand...
Lots could go wrong but lots could go right. I'm rooting for them!
 
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