Nationwide Airlines was an airline based in Lanseria, South Africa. It operated scheduled domestic and international services. Its main base was OR Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg. On 29 April 2008, the airline ended operations.

History

The airline was founded in 1991 as Nationwide Air Charter and rebranded as Nationwide Airlines in 1995. Nationwide planned to expand its international operations with flights to Munich and possibly Shanghai or Beijing. A second Boeing 767 was to enter service in November 2006, but Nationwide failed to secure the purchase. Aircraft that were also under consideration for the longhaul routes were the Boeing 747-400 and Boeing 777-200ER. In February 2005, the airline began updating its fleet by introducing its first Boeing 737-500 into service. It thus became the only operator of the -500 type in South Africa. In March 2008 the airline was awarded as the most punctual scheduled airline in 2007 between London and Johannesburg for the second consecutive year according to the UK Civil Aviation Authority statistics. In January, Nationwide resumed operations and attained a gradual recovery of the business. However, in the months of March and April they faced a 30% increase in fuel costs coupled with a decrease in passenger load factors. Nationwide's already critical cash-flow meant operations were no longer sustainable without external, third party finance. An effort to sell 51% of the airline that Spring had failed, and as a result management decided to voluntarily cease all flight operations. By May 2008 liquidation proceedings were already in progress. December 2008 saw the first ever auction of Boeing aircraft in South Africa

Destinations

Nationwide Airlines served the following destinations (at April 2008): Africa Europe

Incidents and accidents

Captain Trevor Arnold was subsequently honoured through the receipt of the international Polaris Award for his airmanship and the handling of the emergency.

Grounded

The airline had 30 days to either comply with the regulations or appeal.

Fleet

The Nationwide Airlines fleet consisted of the following aircraft (at April 2008):