Austral Azure

Austral Azure

Code	AAZ
Callsign	TOPAZA
Type	International Mainline Carrier
Founded	1993
Hubs	Cantaloa International, Hipe International
Slogan	"Abot mo ang Mundo", "Fly away with Austral Azure Airways"
Creator	Avos, Pyrenol, Yi, & Avilan

Austral Azure is the leading airline of the Alavegan Air market, founded in 1993, they have gone through alot in even though they're relatively young compared to some of their competitors.  The airline operates more than 1000 flights per week to over 62 passenger and cargo destinations in the Avalon, Oconia, Kyokkou, Alavega, Aesir, and Tselinoyarsk.

The airline is currently based in Cantaloa City operating from Cantaloa International airport, however the airport runs a cargo hub in Hipe city, and with 318 aircraft it is the largest airline in all of Alavega by fleetsize. The airline also owns the Low Cost Carrier Sureño Spirit Airways.

Subsidiaries

Austral Azure Cargo Callsign: TOPAZA | ICAO: AAZ | Airline Type: International Freighter Carrier

History

Austral's history began in the late 80s when its founder Epifanio Conrado Sevilla, a retired airforce pilot, began an air taxi service between Ebenrau and Santa Mortica based in the Alavegan Outskirts. Epifanio later expanded the service and, in October of 1993, he officially registered Austral Azure and acquired a basic commercial license, and began operating as a regional airline operating in Alavega and Southern Avalon, the early fleet contained four A300s and six 757s some of which have survived and can be found in Cantaloa and Santa Mortica today. Epifanio hoped to catch on to the economic boom of the 90s and had talks with the local city government to take a 25% stake in its shares providing additional capital to work with, and in 1997 he drew up an expansion plan for the upcoming millennium which took effect in 1999 as a large number of lease agreements and aircraft purchases.

The start of the century looked positive for Austral, especially with the end of the "V6BP" contract, the acquisition of an extended commercial contract, and the establishment of flights to the Oconian Isles and Eastern Aesir. Then began the Black Novennial, leading to the loss of seven aircraft, most notably during the 2001 and 2004 airport attacks. As a result, the late 2000s saw stagnation as a recession from the anti-cartel campaign and Santa Mortica's limited infrastructure and recession from the anti-cartel campaign made any further growth counterproductive and especially with the start of flights to Kyoukou. So they had to resort to cutting down on flights and laying off employees, even then they barely avoided Bankruptcy.

In 2010 the winds were finally changing in Austral's favor and the city of Cantaloa finally announced the opening date of the New International Airport. The airline drew up plans to move its headquarters and base of operations to Cantaloa, at the same time ordering dozens of new aircraft- most notably 28 777-300s and beginning a rebranding effort to appeal to the newly established market of the "high-class passenger". By 2012 just months before the opening of the new airport, the airline's transition was finally finished and enough aircraft had been delivered. On the day of the airport's inauguration, Austral revealed its new livery and rebranding to the public along with new flights to Western Aesir, Northern Avalon, and Kyokkou, which was met with great reception. The relocation and rebranding were deemed a massive success to Austral Azure, helping to triple the fleet's size thanks to the rapidly developing tourism industry and new cargo market around this time, causing it to bite a huge chunk out of Cantaloan Airways' market share.

In 2013 the airline started a partnership with ALTAN and its Technik Subsidiary after ALTAN did a great favor by repairing a 777-300 for free after being thrashed by Typhoon Hoian, Austral's partnership evolved to granting them several long-term maintenance contracts and lease agreements over the years.

Despite the dangers of the continent, Austral Azure Airlines has become the leading airline of Alavega, surpassing what had once been considered its rival Cantaloan Airways. Today Santa Mortica is sparsely serviced by Austral as in 2018 it founded a low-cost subsidy named Sureño Spirit Airways. Its target market is Alavegan commuters and Avalonian tourists, the original customers Austral used to serve in the 90s.

Despite all the good that has come the airline's way, the future has become uncertain as its relationship with its aircraft manufacturers is increasingly being strained due to delayed production with the A350 and the endlessly postponed 777X deliveries.

Notable incidents

AZ 2351 - in 2003 AZ 2351 was a flight from Santa Mortica to Hipe airport served by a 757-200, while it was taxiing to the terminal its left engine blew up leading to an evacuation and the plane was consumed by the flames, sadly 2 deaths were caused by debris from the explosion. The cause was revealed to be improper maintenance. Today the flight number is used for the Cantaloa to Hipe service.

AZ 2499 - in 2004 AZ 2499 was a regular flight from Santa Mortica to Sandris, during landing the right wing tore off leading to a loss of control and the deaths of all 212 passengers, the cause was determined to be from metal fatigue in the wing root and several failed attempts to repair it caused the cracks to worsen. Today the number is still in use for the Cantaloa to Sandris service.

Hipe Airport Massacre of 2004- In 2004, Cartel forces infiltrated Hipe airport's facilities shooting up the terminal and destroying critical infrastructure and aircraft, Austral lost two 757-300s, and the airport was shut down for two years.

2001 Anti-Cartel campaign incident- During an operation between Police forces and Cartel Mercenaries at Santa Mortica city, fighting spilled onto the airport ramp and a stray RPG flew into a 757-200's fuel tanks resulting in an explosion that caused a chain reaction leading to two more aircraft to explode. The airport was temporarily shut down as the terminal was shot up and AV fuel tanks were hit and burned for half a month. To this day no one knows who fired the RPG.

Historical notes

Black Novennial (2001-2009)  - a period of stagnation and recession in the Alavegan economy due to the economic downturn caused by the anti-cartel campaign of (2001-2005).

Anti-Cartel campaign of (2001-2005) - one of the most ferocious campaigns in Alaevgan history, led to several Cartel counterattacks leading to billions in damages, two being the 2001 and 2004 airport attacks.

Epifanio Conrado Sevilla (1945-2017) - the founder of Austral Azure and a former Cantaloan Airforce pilot from Santa Mortica.

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Gallery

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Further lore is available on Google Docs.