Cameroon Airlines Boeing 737
In 1971, the government of Cameroon decided to withdraw from the West African multinational airline Air Afrique and start their own flag carrier, which would also be able to take over the domestic services flown by the troubled Air Cameroun. Air France was contracted to provide technical and financial support, in exchange for 25 percent holdings in Cameroon Airlines, which began operations in late 1971 with an ex-Air France Boeing 707 for flights to Paris; two new-build 737s were delivered shortly thereafter. The airline proved profitable enough to replace the 707 with a 747 in 1982, becoming one of the smallest carriers to operate a large wide-body airliner.
Despite building a decent-sized route network by 1990, Cameroon Airlines began to experience financial problems; combined with an abysmal safety record that included three fatal crashes, passengers began to lose confidence in the airline. Air France divested itself of its shares, leaving the airline wholly owned by the Cameroon government.
In 2005, Cameroon Airlines was cited for poor maintenance practices, and it was banned from flying into Paris. As this was the airline’s most profitable route, it was the death knell of Cameroon Airlines. After an attempt to sell the airline to Brussels Airlines, the government of Cameroon began to gradually close down Cameroon Airlines in favor of Camair-Co, the new flag carrier, and Cameroon Airlines finally went out of business in 2008.
This aircraft, TJ-CBA, was sold to Interair South Africa in 1999 and was withdrawn from service in 2001; its present whereabouts are unknown.
Cameroon Airlines Boeing 737
In 1971, the government of Cameroon decided to withdraw from the West African multinational airline Air Afrique and start their own flag carrier, which would also be able to take over the domestic services flown by the troubled Air Cameroun. Air France was contracted to provide technical and financial support, in exchange for 25 percent holdings in Cameroon Airlines, which began operations in late 1971 with an ex-Air France Boeing 707 for flights to Paris; two new-build 737s were delivered shortly thereafter. The airline proved profitable enough to replace the 707 with a 747 in 1982, becoming one of the smallest carriers to operate a large wide-body airliner.
Despite building a decent-sized route network by 1990, Cameroon Airlines began to experience financial problems; combined with an abysmal safety record that included three fatal crashes, passengers began to lose confidence in the airline. Air France divested itself of its shares, leaving the airline wholly owned by the Cameroon government.
In 2005, Cameroon Airlines was cited for poor maintenance practices, and it was banned from flying into Paris. As this was the airline’s most profitable route, it was the death knell of Cameroon Airlines. After an attempt to sell the airline to Brussels Airlines, the government of Cameroon began to gradually close down Cameroon Airlines in favor of Camair-Co, the new flag carrier, and Cameroon Airlines finally went out of business in 2008.
This aircraft, TJ-CBA, was sold to Interair South Africa in 1999 and was withdrawn from service in 2001; its present whereabouts are unknown.