Pacific Express Cargo
New Zealand based cargo (1992)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pacific Express Cargo was a New Zealand based cargo airline established in 1992. It was founded by the Israeli businessman Simon Lahav, alongside Roger Leslie Banks and Roderick Grant Annals. Banks and Annals had previously operated the shortly lived Southern World Airlines in 1991, operating charter cargo services.
 A Pacific Express Ilyushin Il-76MD | |
| Commenced operations | March 1992 |
|---|---|
| Ceased operations | 16 September 1993 |
| Hubs | |
| Headquarters | Auckland, New Zealand |
| Key people |
|
Pacific Express operated leased Il-76 freighter aircraft from Russia and Ukraine, exploiting the turmoil following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The airline did not have a traditional fleet of aircraft, instead leasing aircraft on a tramp trade once a cargo contract had been arranged.[1] It did not have an air operators certificate, exploiting a loophole present with the Civil Aviation Authority.
History
When the first aircraft arrived in New Zealand, it still contained the Soviet flag on the tail, which would be painted over at Whenuapai Air Base.
In November 1992, Pacific Express took part in the airshow "Air Expo 92" with an Il-76MD registration CCCP-76822.[2] The aircraft, flown by a Russian crew, was also used to transport a Royal Air Force Harrier jump jet to the airshow.[3] It was also accompanied by a Russian Beriev A-40 Albatros flying boat.[4][5][6]
Fleet
| Aircraft | Number | Introduced | Withdrawn | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ilyushin Il-76TD | 3 | 1992 | 1993 |
|
| Ilyushin Il-76MD | 3 | 1992 | 1993 |
|
| Boeing 737-300 | 1 | 1993 | 1993 | 5W-FAX leased from Polynesian Airlines.[citation needed] |
