Astraeus Airlines
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Airline, Aircraft leasing |
| Founded | 2002 |
| Defunct | 21 November 2011 |
| Fate | Entered administration and ceased operations |
| Headquarters | Crawley, West Sussex , England, United Kingdom |
Area served | Global (wet lease, damp lease, dry lease services) |
Key people | Bruce Dickinson (Marketing Director and Captain) |
| Products | Passenger charter flights, aircraft leasing services |
| Owner | Eignarhaldsfelagid Fengur hf |
| Parent | Eignarhaldsfelagid Fengur hf |
Astraeus Limited, operating under the name Astraeus Airlines, was a UK-based airline headquartered at Astraeus House in Crawley, West Sussex, England. Established in 2002 and named after the Greek deity associated with dusk, the company entered administration on 21 November 2011 and halted all operations on that same day.
Originally functioning as a charter carrier, Astraeus transitioned in May 2008 to specialize in aircraft leasing services, providing wet lease, damp lease, and dry lease solutions globally. Its principal hub was located at London Gatwick Airport.
The airline supplied on-demand capacity for a diverse clientele, including professional sports teams such as Manchester United and Arsenal, military transport missions, entertainment industry clients like Disney and Warner Bros., governmental contracts, as well as leisure and corporate charters.
Astraeus possessed a United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority Type A Operating Licence, authorizing it to transport passengers, freight, and mail on aircraft configured with 20 or more seats. The airline was also registered under the IOSA program of the International Air Transport Association.
History
Beginning its charter service in 2002 with Boeing 737 models, Astraeus briefly operated under the Flystar brand. By 2004, the fleet had expanded to include Boeing 757 aircraft. By 2008, the company’s fleet consisted of two Boeing 737-300s, two Boeing 737-700s, and five Boeing 757-200s.
In 2009, Astraeus stood as the sole charter airline based at Gatwick Airport and incorporated Boeing 737-500 and additional 737-700 aircraft into its lineup.
The airline was wholly owned by Eignarhaldsfelagid Fengur hf, an Icelandic travel conglomerate that also controlled Iceland Express.
Operations ceased in November 2011 due to a shortage of contracts for the winter period combined with technical challenges.
Fleet
As of November 2011, Astraeus operated a fleet of nine aircraft averaging 17.4 years in age:
| Aircraft | In service | Passenger Capacity | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus A320-200 | 1 | 180 | |
| Boeing 737-500 | 1 | 126 | |
| Boeing 737-700 | 2 | 148 | |
| Boeing 757-200 | 5 | 160–221 | |
| Total | Template:Center |
Astraeus and Iron Maiden
Bruce Dickinson, frontman of the heavy metal group Iron Maiden, served as a captain for Astraeus Airlines, piloting Boeing 757 aircraft when not engaged in musical performances. He additionally held the position of Marketing Director at Astraeus. Among his notable flights was a charter transporting Liverpool F.C. to Naples for a UEFA Champions League fixture in October 2010.
For their 2008 Somewhere Back in Time tour, Iron Maiden commissioned an Astraeus Boeing 757 dubbed "Ed Force One," which Dickinson personally flew. This aircraft was modified into a combi layout and featured a unique Iron Maiden-themed paint scheme. It was utilized during May 2008 and again during the subsequent tour leg in 2009. During the band's Final Frontier World Tour in 2011, another Astraeus Boeing 757 (registration G-STRX), adorned with a similar livery, operated out of London Southend Airport.