
Líneas Aéreas Canarias was founded in 1977, marking the beginning of a new era in air travel for the Canary Islands.
The airline's first flight took off from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, connecting the island to the Spanish mainland.
Initially, the airline operated a small fleet of aircraft, but it quickly expanded its services to meet the growing demand for air travel in the region.
Today, Líneas Aéreas Canarias is a leading airline in the Canary Islands, offering a range of domestic and international flights.
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Historia de Líneas Aéreas Canarias
Líneas Aéreas Canarias was founded on November 25, 1985, by a group of 21 investors, including the public company Sociedad Industrial de Canarias (SODICAN).
The company aimed to obtain the concession for the third level of air transport, but ultimately failed to do so, as the state, through the Instituto Nacional de Industria (INI) and Iberia, created the filial Binter Canarias in 1988.
LAC initiated its operations in September 1986 with two Vickers Viscount 806 turbohélices, named "Isla de Tenerife" and "Isla de Gran Canaria", which were acquired from British Air Ferries for 100 million pesetas each.
These aircraft were leased with the financing of Interleasing and the Banco Exterior de España.
The Vickers Viscount 806s allowed LAC to transport 120,000 passengers in its first year of operations and even provided a solution to Iberia and Aviaco's problems, as well as enabling the exchange of flight crews between airports in Gran Canaria and Tenerife Sur.
LAC's commercial team was imaginative, offering week-long trips to England with a stop in Sevilla, which helped to amortize the costs of the flights.
The team's directors included Rodolfo Núñez Ruano, Horacio Fernández del Castillo, José Luis Delgado Jalón, Vicente Ramos Hernández, Rodolfo Bay Alfageme, and José Juan Quintana.
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Otros Intentos de Uso de la Marca
Líneas Aéreas Canarias had a few other attempts to use the brand, but unfortunately, they didn't quite take off.
The airline was initially founded on November 25, 1985, with a group of 21 shareholders, including the public company Sociedad Industrial de Canarias (SODICAN).
Antonio Armas Fernández was the president of the board of directors, and other notable founders included Joaquín Súñer Machado, José Rivero, and Mario Machado.
The airline's main goal was to secure the third level concession, but the state, through the INI and Iberia, took over the inter-island service with the creation of Binter Canarias in 1988.
LAC started operations in September 1986 with two Vickers Viscount 806 turbohélices, which were acquired from British Air Ferries for 100 million pesetas each.
These planes were named "Isla de Tenerife" and "Isla de Gran Canaria" and were used for charter flights and cargo transport.
The airline had a license for passenger and/or cargo charter operations and a well-defined flight program for the inter-island network, as well as to Funchal, Marrakech, El Aaiún, and Dakar in subcharter for other foreign companies.
In its first year, LAC transported 120,000 passengers.
The Vickers Viscount planes were profitable and helped resolve specific problems for Iberia and Aviaco, as well as changing crews for Spanish and foreign airlines between Gran Canaria and Tenerife South airports.
The airline's commercial team came up with the idea of offering week-long trips to England with a stop in Seville, using the plane's technical revisions as an opportunity to amortize travel costs.
La Aventura de Líneas Aéreas Canarias
Líneas Aéreas Canarias was founded on November 25, 1985, by a group of 21 investors, including the public company Sociedad Industrial de Canarias (SODICAN).
The company aimed to obtain the concession for the third level of air transportation, but unfortunately, the state, through the INI and Iberia, took over the inter-island service with the creation of Binter Canarias in 1988.
LAC began operations in September 1986 with two Vickers Viscount 806 turbohélices, bought from British Air Ferries for 100 million pesetas each, financed by Interleasing and the Banco Exterior de España.
These planes, named "Isla de Tenerife" and "Isla de Gran Canaria", had a capacity for 82 passengers and were used for charter flights and cargo transport.
In its first year of operation, LAC transported 120,000 passengers.
The Vickers Viscount planes were profitable and helped resolve problems for Iberia and Aviaco, as well as facilitating the exchange of flight crews between Spanish and foreign airlines at the airports of Gran Canaria and Tenerife Sur.
The company's commercial managers were creative in offering week-long trips to England with a stop in Seville, using the planes' maintenance stops to reduce costs.
Binter Canarias: Primeros Pasos
Binter Canarias was founded in 1989 by the Cabildo de Gran Canaria and the Gobierno de Canarias.
The airline's first flight took place on April 18, 1989, connecting Gran Canaria to Tenerife.
Binter Canarias started with a fleet of two ATR 42 aircraft and a staff of 50 employees.
Desarrollo y Crecimiento
Binter Canarias was founded in 1989 by a group of entrepreneurs from the Canary Islands.
The airline's first flight took place in 1989, connecting Gran Canaria with Lanzarote.
Initially, the airline operated a single aircraft, a Britten-Norman Islander.
Binter Canarias' fleet has since grown to include several aircraft, including the ATR 72 and the ATR 42.
The airline's main hub is located at Gran Canaria Airport, which is one of the busiest airports in the Canary Islands.
Binter Canarias has a strong presence in the Canary Islands, offering flights to many of the islands' airports, including Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, and Tenerife.
1985-1990: Un Período de Expansión
During this period, Binter Canarias began to experience significant growth. The company's fleet was expanded, and new routes were added to its network.
In 1985, Binter Canarias started to operate scheduled flights to the Canary Islands, a move that marked a major milestone for the airline. This decision helped to increase the company's presence in the market.
Binter Canarias' expansion plans were driven by a growing demand for air travel in the Canary Islands. The company's management recognized the need to provide more frequent and convenient flights to meet this demand.
By 1988, Binter Canarias had established itself as a major player in the Canary Islands' air travel market. The company's fleet had grown, and its network of routes had expanded significantly.
The airline's growth was also driven by the introduction of new aircraft, which improved its operational efficiency and reduced costs. This allowed Binter Canarias to offer more competitive prices to its customers.
Binter Canarias' expansion plans were successful, and the company continued to grow and develop during the 1980s.
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Recibiendo su Primer Avión
Binter Canarias received its first ATR, a Franco/Italian-built twin-engine turboprop, in 1999. This marked a significant milestone for the airline.
This aircraft became a central player in the Binter Canarias fleet and paved the way for future growth. The ATR would go on to play a crucial role in the airline's operations.
In 2009, Binter Canarias restructured its operations to improve efficiency and competitiveness. This move was essential for the airline's continued success.
By 2012, Binter Canarias had one of Europe's largest ATR fleets. The airline's fleet expansion continued in 2016 with the order of six ATR-600s to replace some of its ATR-500s.
Here are the key features of the ATR-600s ordered by Binter Canarias:
- 6 ATR-600s ordered
- Replacement for ATR-500s
Flecha de Binter Canarias: Pasado y Presente
Binter Canarias has had quite a few planes in its fleet over the years. The airline previously operated the CASA 235, the ATR72-200, four McDonnell Douglas DC-9s, and a single Boeing 737-400.
They also leased some Bombardier CRJ-100s, Bombardier CRJ-1000s, and Bombardier CRJ-900s from Valencia Manises Airport-based Air Nostrum.
The fleet has changed significantly since then. Today, Binter Canarias operates a total of 32 aircraft.
Here's a breakdown of their current fleet:
- 5 x ATR72-500s
- 22 x ATR72-600s
- 5 x Embraer ERJ E195s
These planes fly from their main bases at Gran Canaria Airport and Tenerife North Airport to destinations all over the world.
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