AirQuarius Aviation

AirQuarius Aviation was an airline based in Johannesburg, South Africa, operating chartered flights and aircraft leasing contracted by companies throughout Africa and the Middle East. The airline's base was at Lanseria Airport, Johannesburg.[1]

AirQuarius Aviation

IATA ICAO Callsign - AQU QUARIUS
Founded	1997
Ceased operations	February 2012
Hubs	Lanseria Airport
Secondary hubs	Cape Town International Airport
Fleet size	1
Headquarters	Johannesburg, South Africa
Key people	Gavin Branson August 1967 - October 2014
Website	http://www.airquarius.com/ defunct

AirQuarius (ZS-GAV) "Karen" Boeing 737-200.

History

AirQuarius was established by Gavin Branson and started operations in 1997.[2] At one time, it had 120 employees.[1] The airline specialized in operating flights to political crisis areas. As such, AirQuarius was the only operator into Baghdad or Basra during the Iraq War.[3] Other missions included UN flights into Afghanistan and Sudan.

In 2011, it was alleged that an air operating certificate was awarded to an AirQuarius Charters aircraft on the basis of an inspection form which the inspector said was not written or signed by him.[2]

AirQuarius stopped operating on 7 February 2012.[2]

Fleet

AirQuarius operated Fokker 70, Fokker F28-4000 and Boeing 737-200 aircraft at various times.[4]

References

1. "Directory: World Airlines". Flight International. 27 March 2007. p. 71.
2. "AirQuarius flights". Southafrica.to. 7 February 2012. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
3. "Landing in Baghdad". Air & Space Magazine. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
4. "AirQuarius Fleet Details and History". www.planespotters.net. Retrieved 31 August 2017.