C-GJLN Boeing 737-210C of Jetall Airways
Toronto Pearson International Airport - 25 May 1996
Douglas Holland and Caz Caswell Note:
Founded in 1987 by Arie Tall through his Jetall Holdings Corporation. Arie Tall remained Owner and CEO, throughout the life of the Airline.
Initially a relatively successful Cargo Airline with Fairchild Metro and Convair Propliners, working to very tight margins, but overall a profitable operation.
During 1992 Arie Tall became President and CEO of Air Niagara Express:
(see:
C-FARO Convair CV-580 of Air Niagara Express In Canadian Airlines of the Past - Part 2
and associated
Air Niagara Express Notes
)
and some sources state from this time Air Niagara Express was entirely owned by Jatall Holdings Corporation. Even if not
strictly true, the relationship was extremely close, although Air Niagara Express now with an extremely reduced fleet continued to operate ass a separate entity.
Arie Tall decided to move up to Jet operations and therefore acquired two Boeing 737 Combi Aircraft. The first of these was a Boeing 737-2A9C from Aloha Airlines
on 21 October 1993 and was placed on the Canadian Register as C-FJLT, The second Aircraft and the one pictured came from Finnair after completing a lease with Air Atlanta Icelandic
and delivered 20 November 1994, with the Canadian registration C-GJLN.
Prior to actual operations each aircraft spent time in Israel being retrofitted and as operated by Jetall were pure Freighters rather than their original Combi Configuration.
The move into 737 Operations put a huge strain on the Jetall organization at all levels as it tried to adapt both culturally and practically to the higher cost base and mandatory operational requirements.
If this wasn't enough of a problem, Jetall were now competing with established Canadian 737 Cargo Operators and found the Commercial side a struggle to obtain an keep profitable contracts for the 737 Aircraft.
As 1995 progressed the financial situation at Jetall deteriorated rapidly and incoming bills were not just being deferred, but not being paid. By late 1995 Creditors were filing against Jetall for
the monies owed and it was increasingly difficult for Jetall to obtain parts, or contract maintenance. This inability to maintain Aircraft in a flyable condition meant contracts could not be met.
By the start of 1996 the situation had become a spiral of decline with one by one the Aircraft being Grounded, resulting in less Contracts, but increasing Debt. The end came in March 1996 when Jetall closed down.
As for the Boeing 737s:
C-GFLT moved to CanAir Cargo on the 17 May 1996 - See Related Picture:
See Related Picture - C-GCDG Boeing 737-217 of CanAir Cargo at YYZ - 30 May 1994
and subsequently to Royal Aviation on 24 August 1997 see related Picture:
See Related Picture - C-FNAQ Boeing 737-242C of Royal Airlines at YYZ - February 1998
C-GJLN moved to Noranda Mines as an in-house freighter
See Related Picture - C-GJLN Boeing 737-210C of Noranda Mines on the Field Aviation Ramp - February 1998
Meanwhile Air Niagara Express remained operating, but with a reconstituted Board of Directors, and continued to fly for a further two years, before ceasing operations in 1998.
As for Arie Tall, although Jetall Airways had ceased operations, Jetall Holdings Corporation appeared to continue in some form and was not formally dissolved until the 6 May 2004., In the meantime Arie Tall had formed another company with Anay Martin in 2001, this being
Jetall Holdings Inc
, which is registered in Opa Locka Florida USA and in the Ground Equipment Business (President now Eric Tall). As it claims Jetall has been in the ground support equipment business since 1997, one assumes it inherited the residual operations of Jetall Holdings Corporation, which included
Jetall GPU - Toronto Canada
which in turn appears to be a part of
North East Aviation NAP Corporation
For more about the Boeing 737 Family see:
The Boeing 737 Technical Site
Boeing History - 737 Commercial Transport
Boeing 737 - Wikipedia Entry
