Seven Seas Airlines
Operator Identification
1957 to September 1961
United States of America
TYPE: Non-scheduled airline
IATA/ICAO CODES: Nil
HEADQUARTERS: New York, NY
FORMER NAME: Nil
SUBSEQUENT NAME: Nil
Operator History
Seven Seas Airlines was incorporated in New York in 1957. It flew cargo and passenger charter operations although it based most of its small fleet in Luxembourg. From there, it flew ship's crew positioning charters to various ports in Europe and the Far East. It also had contracts for migrant flights to Australia.
In July 1960, Seven Seas, together with a number of European companies such as Transair Sweden, Interocean and Starways, received a contract from the United Nations for the delivery of relief goods from Europe and some African countries to the Belgian Congo. Seven Seas' four Douglas DC4s were mainly used for flights from Europe to Leopoldville, Congo, and two Commandos were purchased for the transports within Africa. Seven Seas' Commandos notably supplied fuel to the stranded Blue Helmets holding on to airfields in Elisabethville and Kamina. The crews were mainly made up of US, Swedish and British pilots. In addition to these flights, Seven Seas continued to carry out charters worldwide.
Later in 1960, two Boeing C-97s from the USAF disposals were also purchased. These were also deployed in Congo for the UN. However, although it was clearly stipulated in the UN contract that the flights should only be carried out for the United Nations, C-97 N9540C was caught on 15 February 1961 delivering three Fouga CM-170 Magisters attack aircraft in parts, new from the plant in Toulouse, destined for the rebellious province of Katanga. Then, within a month of this scandal on 20 March 1961, a Seven Seas DC4 crashed during a cargo flight on its way to Napur India, seriously discrediting the company's name. Following these two incidents, a number of contracts were not renewed and Seven Seas got into financial problems. It was mainly the lucrative long-distance contracts and the UN flights that were cancelled, as a result of which Seven Seas mainly focused on charter work within Europe. The financial problems were partly resolved by selling both company-owned DC-4s to Amerco Anstalt and directly renting them back.
In July 1961, the three remaining aircraft were deployed during a strike by BOAC personnel for the transport of passengers from London and Manchester to Prestwick. However, when on 1 August 1961 one of the DC4s was claimed by the owners due to arrears, this meant the end of the company whereby in September 1961 the permit was withdrawn.
Commando Operations
May 1959* to 1964*
Seven Seas purchased two Commandos to fulfill its UN contract in Congo: N111E and N9841F. There were used to carry troops and supplies around the country for ONUC troops. N9841F was also used as Katangese president Moise Tchombe's personal aircraft.
Last edited: 22/12/2019