| |||||||
| Founded | 1994 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commenced operations | 1994 | ||||||
| Ceased operations | 2004 | ||||||
| Headquarters | Manaus, Brazil | ||||||
| Key people | José Idalberto da Cunha | ||||||
TAVAJ Linhas Aéreas was a Brazilian airline founded in 1994 and based in Manaus, Brazil. It operated an extensive network in the Northern and Central-West regions of Brazil. It ceased operations in 2004.
History[edit]
The airline traces its origins to an air taxi company Taxi Aéreo Vale do Juruá, established in Cruzeiro do Sul in September 1972. In March 1994 it was transformed into a regional scheduled operator, changed its name to TAVAJ Transportes Aéreos Regulares S/A, and moved its base to Rio Branco. In 2002 TAVAJ moved its base again, this time to Manaus. It ceased its operations in 2004.[1]
Initially it was a direct competitor of TABA – Transportes Aéreos da Bacia Amazônica and flew with a fleet of 5 Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante. In 1995 TAVAJ added further 2 EMB110 Bandeirante and the first Fokker F27 MK600. In 1997, as a project of major expansion, TAVAJ leased 4 Bombardier Dash 8-200B directly from the manufacturer but only 2 were delivered.[2]
In 1999 TAVAJ suffered a hard blow during the currency exchange devaluation crisis. Because of high leasing and insurance costs, the airline was forced to return the 2 Dash 8-200B. Continuous economic difficulties lead TAVAJ to cease passenger operations in 2004.[3]
Destinations[edit]
In 1998 TAVAJ was operating flights to 31 cities in the states of Acre, Amazonas, Goiás, Mato Grosso, Pará, and Rondônia.
Fleet[edit]
| Aircraft | Total | Years of operation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante | 9 | 1994–2002 | |
| Fokker F27 MK600 | 3 | 1995–2004 | |
| Bombardier Dash 8-200B | 2 | 1997–1999 | |
| Embraer EMB 120 Brasília | 1 | 1999–2001 |
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ "TAVAJ Linhas Aéreas (Brasil)" (in Portuguese). Aviação Brasil. Retrieved 30 June 2010.
- ^ Beting, Gianfranco. "45 anos de saudade no céu: Breve história de 45 empresas aéreas brasileiras extintas" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Revista Flap. Retrieved 30 June 2010.
- ^ Zwerdling, Robert. "Fim de jornada na Amazônia" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Revista Flap. Retrieved 30 June 2010.
