LTE International Airways
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Airline |
| Founded | 29 April 1987 |
| Founder | Group of Spanish entrepreneurs and LTU International |
| Defunct | 15 November 2008 |
| Headquarters | Palma de Mallorca , Spain |
Area served | Europe, Africa |
| Products | Passenger charter flights |
Lte International Airways S.A. (also known as Lte Volar Airlines) was a Spanish charter airline based in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, providing passenger charter flights throughout Europe. Its principal hub was located at Son Sant Joan Airport in Palma de Mallorca, with additional operational centers at Tenerife South Airport, Gran Canaria Airport, Lanzarote Airport, Fuerteventura Airport, and Josep Tarradellas Barcelona–El Prat Airport.
History
Established on 29 April 1987 by a group of Spanish entrepreneurs in partnership with the German airline LTU International, the company began its flight operations on 1 November 1987.
Between 1993 and May 2001, LTU became the sole proprietor after buying out all initial stakeholders. On 24 May 2001, ownership transferred when LTU sold Lte to a coalition of investors from Spain and Italy, including the Volare Group. Following this acquisition, the airline was renamed Volar Airlines during the years 2003 and 2004.
In 2005, the airline reverted to its original designation, LTE International Airways, under full ownership of Gasarer.
Starting in July 2008, Lte introduced routes linking Norwich (UK) with destinations such as Barcelona, Alicante, and Palma de Mallorca, with plans to expand service to Tenerife, Las Palmas, and Málaga for the winter season of 2008-2009.
On 16 October 2008, due to financial challenges affecting its ability to cover operational costs, Lte ceased all flights. At that time, only three aircraft remained active under contracts with other carriers while awaiting further decisions. The airline briefly recommenced charter flights on 27 October 2008 and continued limited ACMI operations until it fully halted services on 15 November 2008.
Destinations
By Summer 2008, LTE served a variety of prominent business and leisure destinations across Europe and Africa:
- France
- Germany
- Poland
- Portugal
- Cape Verde (operated in collaboration with TACV)
- Spain
- Alicante - Alicante–Elche Miguel Hernández Airport
- Barcelona - Josep Tarradellas Barcelona–El Prat Airport (Hub)
- Las Palmas - Gando Airport (Hub)
- Tenerife - Tenerife South Airport (Hub)
- Málaga
- Lanzarote - Arrecife Airport (Hub)
- Palma de Mallorca - Son Sant Joan Airport (Primary Hub)
- United Kingdom
- Morocco
- Saudi Arabia
Fleet
As of November 2008, the LTE fleet consisted of:
| Aircraft | Quantity | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Airbus A320-200 | 3 | One aircraft leased to Nouvelair |
| Boeing 757-200 | 6 | |
| Total | 9 |
Accidents
On 18 May 2005, an Airbus A320 with registration JY-JAR, flying on behalf of LTE, encountered a braking system failure during its landing at Leeds Bradford Airport, UK. The aircraft touched down past the designated touchdown area and, because of insufficient deceleration combined with the malfunctioning brakes, was guided onto nearby grass to come to a safe halt. No passengers or crew members sustained injuries. In response to this event, the Air Accidents Investigation Branch released seven safety recommendations.