Back in 2008, the Philadelphia Inquirer ran fake ads for a new airline called Derrie-Air. The buzz that the bogus airline created (jokes about Derrie-Air's derriere of course made the rounds) only highlighted the fact that an airline’s branding is as important as all other products and services. Most companies stick with simple and recognisable names, drawing associations with the sky, flying, the home base of the carrier or their national symbols. Then, sometimes, there are those that really make you wonder...
LUCKY AIR
Lucky Air, originally called Shilin Airlines, is a Chinese carrier based in Kunming, Yunnan and is owned by Hainan Airlines, Shanxi Airlines and Yunnan Shilin Tourism Aviation. So far, it has not figured in any accidents, but shall we, perhaps, attribute that to Lady Luck?
Route network: Domestic routes from its hub at Dali Airport to more than 30 destinations across the Mainland.
Fleet: Composed of 14 B737-700 aircraft.
Website: www.luckyair.net (only in Chinese)
OKAY AIRWAYS
Established in 2004 and based Beijing's Fengtai District, it is unclear whether the carrier is trying to indicate that it only offers basic services or asserting that everything is smooth sailing. Its website claims that it is the only Chinese carrier to maintain a safety record of six years running.
Route network: Consists of 33 domestic destinations.
Fleet: 13 aircraft in service: nine Boeing B737 and four Xian MA60s.
Website: http://ok.okair.net (only in Chinese)
VIKING HELLAS AIRLINES
Viking Hellas Airlines is based in Greece, contrary to what one might expect, and used to operate as the subsidiary of Viking Airlines (which was based in Sweden). After the mother company went bankrupt in February, Viking Hellas took over the company’s domain name. Their name made sense when it was based in Sweden, not so much in Greece. Could they not have rebranded? No, to Hellas with that!
Route network: Nine destinations spanning Europe and the Middle East.
Fleet: Five aircraft: three Airbus A320s, one MD83 and a Challenger 600t.
Website: www.flyviking.gr
WHITE AIRWAYS
This airline, established in 2005 and headquarterd in Portugal, offers charter services out of Lisbon Portela Airport. The funny thing about this one is that it could be perceived as politically incorrect.
Route network: From Lisbon, White flies to 27 destinations in North Africa, Greece, the Caribbean and Latin America.
Fleet: Five aircraft: one A310-300, one A320 and three A319 CJ.
Website: www.flywhite.eu
YETI AIRWAYS
The Nepalese airline, established in 1998, connects the “isolated population of Nepal living in far-flung mountain areas” with the rest of the world, states its website. But, Yetis don’t fly. In fact, nobody knows if these mountain monsters even exist. The only connection between Yetis and Yeti Air is that they’re both based in Nepal. (And no, the former kingdom's official animal is not the yeti, but a cow).
Route network: Domestic routes to 16 destinations, including its famous “Everest Express” to Lukla Airport – the starting point for adventurers to begin their ambitious climb of Mount Everest.
Fleet: Seven BAe Jetstream 41s and four DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft.
Website: www.yetiairlines.com
Please feel free to add to our list in the comments box below.
Alisha Haridasani
