note

Charter airline founded by Morris Nachtomi, a retired EL AL pilot. Mr. Nachtomi helped to establish and run Metro International, passenger arm of Cargo giant Flying Tigers in 1981. Metro International was abandoned in 1982 and Mr. Nachtomi purchased name Tower Air from a travel agency Tower Travel which used Metro International for its packages to Europe and Israel. Tower Air begun operations in November 1983 with a leased Boeing 747. Airline offered charter as well as scheduled low-fare flights. Its main focus were flights to Brazil, San Juan, Paris, Israel and India from its hubs in Miami, Los Angeles and New York. During the first Gulf Was Tower Air provided significant support to the US Military hauling cargo and personnel. It also provided the only service out of Israel beside El Al during the war. Another significant source of revenue were annual Hadj flights on behalf of other carriers. In 1993 Tower Air went public, but its founder and his family retained two thirds of stock. In 1998 Tower Air emplyed over 1700 people and had revenue of just under half a billion dollars. Tower developed significant technical base at New York JFK airport and converted one of its hangars to its own passenger terminal. In 1999 US Military revoked its contract with Tower Air due to poor safety standards. FAA also revoked its rights to fly to Brazil. Rising costs, lost of contracts and labor disputes forced Tower Air to declare bankruptcy in 2000.

founded - demised (age)

1983 - 2000  (17)

headquarters

JFK Airport Hangar 17, Jamaica NY, Jamaica

web

www.towerair.org

employee site

base airports

KJFK J F Kennedy International New York

hub / maintenance

related operators

Metro International Airways

predecessor