EuroAtlantic Airways

EuroAtlantic Airways is a Portuguese airline focused on charter flying, aircraft leasing, and ACMI services, in which the carrier supplies an aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance to another airline or customer. Its legal name is EuroAtlantic Airways – Transportes Aéreos S.A. The company is headquartered in Carnaxide and operates from Lisbon Airport, serving as a capacity provider rather than relying primarily on a large, branded scheduled network of its own. The airline was established on 25 August 1993 under the name Air Zarco by Portuguese businessman Tomaz Metello. It subsequently traded as Air Madeira before adopting the EuroAtlantic Airways name in May 2000. The rebranding retained elements of the company's earlier corporate design. This history reflects the carrier's development from a Portuguese aviation venture into an international charter and wet-lease operator. EuroAtlantic's business model is built around deploying wide-body and other commercial aircraft for airlines, governments, tour operators, pilgrimage traffic, and ad hoc charter customers. Its aircraft have been used on behalf of carriers including TAP Air Portugal, LOT Polish Airlines, Flynas, TACV Cabo Verde Airlines, TUI fly Belgium, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, and Air Canada. These assignments can involve temporary replacement capacity, seasonal services, route launches, or the operation of flights for another airline under that airline's flight numbers and commercial identity. The company has also undertaken distinctive one-off and specialist operations. In January 2008, it operated a direct Lisbon–Dili flight using a Boeing 757-200 carrying members of Portugal's National Guard. The aircraft was reported to be the largest aircraft to have landed at Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport in East Timor at that time. EuroAtlantic was also associated with the last Lockheed L-1011 TriStar used in European passenger service; that aircraft was withdrawn in March 2010 and later stored in Amman. Ownership changed after a long period under Metello's control. The airline was sold in 2019 to Imperial Jet, a Luxembourg-based group led by Abed El-Jaouni. EuroAtlantic also owns a 38 percent stake in STP Airways, the national airline of São Tomé and Príncipe, giving it a strategic connection to the Portuguese-speaking African aviation market. In more recent operations, EuroAtlantic aircraft have continued to support other airlines through wet-lease arrangements. Reference material identifies operations for Azul Brazilian Airlines and earlier or planned services associated with LOT Polish Airlines, including transatlantic flying. The carrier's role is therefore best understood as an aviation capacity and aircraft-services provider whose activity can shift according to customer contracts, fleet availability, and seasonal demand. Its slogan is “Anytime, Anywhere!”

EuroAtlantic Airways began as Air Zarco on 25 August 1993. It was founded by Portuguese businessman Tomaz Metello, who remained the company's owner until 2019. During its early development, the business adopted the trading name Air Madeira. On 17 May 2000, an amendment to the company's memorandum of association formalized the name EuroAtlantic Airways – Transportes Aéreos S.A. The company retained elements of the visual identity associated with Air Zarco and Air Madeira. Rather than developing primarily as a conventional point-to-point scheduled airline, EuroAtlantic built its business around charter services and the provision of aircraft to other operators. Its ACMI model allows a customer airline to obtain aircraft together with crew, maintenance, and insurance, while the customer generally controls the commercial branding and scheduling. This model gives EuroAtlantic the ability to move between markets and customers as contracts change. The airline has operated both narrow-body and wide-body aircraft and has served customers in Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Its reported customers have included TAP Air Portugal, LOT Polish Airlines, Flynas, TACV Cabo Verde Airlines, and TUI fly Belgium. Earlier arrangements included two Boeing 777s for Biman Bangladesh Airlines in 2009 and two Boeing 767s for Air Canada in 2014. These contracts illustrate the carrier's role as a source of temporary or supplementary capacity for airlines that need aircraft without permanently expanding their own fleets. EuroAtlantic has also carried out unusual long-distance and governmental operations. In January 2008, it flew directly from Lisbon to Dili, East Timor, with a Boeing 757-200 carrying 140 members of Portugal's National Guard. The flight was historically notable because the aircraft was the largest type reported to have landed at Dili's Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport at that point. The airline became associated with the Lockheed L-1011 TriStar, operating what was described as the last example of that type in European passenger service. EuroAtlantic withdrew the aircraft in March 2010, after which it was stored at Amman Civil Airport. The retirement marked the end of a distinctive chapter in the company's fleet history and reflected the broader shift toward newer, more efficient wide-body aircraft. A significant ownership transition occurred in 2019, when Metello sold the airline to Imperial Jet, a Luxembourg group led by German-Lebanese pilot and businessman Abed El-Jaouni. EuroAtlantic also holds a 38 percent interest in STP Airways, São Tomé and Príncipe's national airline. This investment links the company to the aviation infrastructure and Portuguese-speaking markets of the Gulf of Guinea. The airline continues to operate as a flexible charter and ACMI provider. Reference material identifies more recent assignments for Azul Brazilian Airlines and services operated for LOT Polish Airlines, including transatlantic routes. Because ACMI contracts are often seasonal or customer-specific, EuroAtlantic's route map and fleet deployment can change more rapidly than those of a conventional scheduled network carrier.

• 2019

  Ownership transfers to Imperial Jet

  [1]EuroAtlantic Airwaysen.wikipedia.org

  Imperial Jet acquires the airline from founder and long-term owner Tomaz Metello.

• 2010

  Lockheed L-1011 passenger service ends

  [1]EuroAtlantic Airwaysen.wikipedia.org

  The airline withdraws its Lockheed L-1011 TriStar from European passenger service in March.

• 2008

  First large-aircraft operation into Dili

  [1]EuroAtlantic Airwaysen.wikipedia.org

  A EuroAtlantic Boeing 757-200 flies from Lisbon to Dili with Portuguese National Guard personnel, becoming the largest aircraft reported to have landed at the airport at that time.

• 2000

  EuroAtlantic Airways name adopted

  [1]EuroAtlantic Airwaysen.wikipedia.org

  The company formally adopts the EuroAtlantic Airways – Transportes Aéreos S.A. name after previously trading as Air Madeira.

• 1993

  Air Zarco is founded

  [1]EuroAtlantic Airwaysen.wikipedia.org

  Tomaz Metello establishes the Portuguese airline on 25 August under the name Air Zarco.

A Portuguese international aviation services provider positioned around flexible charter, aircraft leasing, and ACMI capacity for airlines and institutional customers.

• Airline capacity services

  ACMI and wet-lease services

  EuroAtlantic supplies aircraft together with operating crew, maintenance, and insurance to customer airlines. The service is designed for temporary capacity needs, seasonal demand, replacement aircraft, route support, or fleet flexibility. Flights may operate under the customer's commercial identity and flight numbers.

• Charter aviation

  Passenger charter operations

  The airline operates passenger charters on an international basis for tour operators, governments, institutions, and other customers. Charter work can include special missions, seasonal programs, and long-haul flights outside a fixed year-round scheduled network.

• Commercial aviation services

  Aircraft leasing and capacity provision

  EuroAtlantic's fleet is deployed as a source of commercial aircraft capacity for other airlines. Historical examples include Boeing 777 operations for Biman Bangladesh Airlines and Boeing 767 operations for Air Canada, demonstrating the company's use of wide-body aircraft in third-party airline programs.

• 2019

  Sale to Imperial JetM&A

  Background

  Tomaz Metello had owned the airline from its foundation through 2019.

  Action taken

  The airline was sold to Imperial Jet, a Luxembourg group led by Abed El-Jaouni.

  Aftermath

  EuroAtlantic continued operating as a Portuguese charter and ACMI carrier under the new ownership.

  Source

• 2000

  Formal rebranding as EuroAtlantic AirwaysStrategy

  Background

  The company had operated under the Air Zarco and Air Madeira names since its 1993 formation.

  Action taken

  It amended its corporate documentation and adopted the EuroAtlantic Airways – Transportes Aéreos S.A. name.

  Aftermath

  The EuroAtlantic identity became the continuing brand for its charter and ACMI activities.

  Source

1. 1EuroAtlantic Airwaysen.wikipedia.org