Summary

  • AtlasGlobal, formerly known as Atlasjet, operated domestic and international flights to and from Turkey.
  • The airline had a diverse fleet, including Airbus A320ceo, A330-200, Boeing 757-200, and Bombardier CRJ aircraft.
  • AtlasGlobal faced multiple temporary suspensions before finally filing for bankruptcy in February 2020.

Istanbul-based AtlasGlobal operated various domestic and international flights to and from Turkey for nearly two decades. Formed in 2001, the airline eventually ceased operations in February 2020, temporarily suspending its operations several times in the months beforehand. Let's look back at the story of AtlasGlobal, whose story ended just before COVID hit the industry.

Starting off as Atlasjet

While AtlasGlobal was the airline's identity at the time of its demise, it spent most of its life under a different brand. Indeed, when the Turkish carrier came into existence in 2001, it did so with the name Atlasjet International Airways. The airline was founded in March of that year and commenced operations three months later. According to ch-aviation.com, it shortened this name to Atlasjet Airlines in 2004.

Atlasjet assumed its final identity as AtlasGlobal in 2015. By this time, it had supplemented its scheduled and charter services to and from Turkey by adding pilgrimage flights to its growing repertoire of services. It contracted the US's Ryan International Airlines to operate these services to Medina and Tel Aviv. Istanbul was Atlasglobal's primary hub, although it also had a base in Antalya.

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An AtlasgGlobal Airbus A330 Flying In The Sky.
Photo: Soos Jozsef/Shutterstock

Between 2013 and 2019, AtlasGlobal also had a Ukrainian subsidiary airline that was named, rather logically, AtlasGlobal Ukraine. This short-lived sub-division was initially based out of Kyiv Zhuliany Airport (IEV), although, by the time of its eventual ruin due to AtlasGlobal's broader financial struggles, its only route was connecting Istanbul Airport (IST) with Ukraine's Odesa International (ODS).

Which aircraft did AtlasGlobal fly?

AtlasGlobal's network of both scheduled and charter destinations boasted considerable diversity. Utilizing Turkey's location on the boundary of Europe and Asia, its network ranged from Amsterdam, London, and Paris in the west to Baghdad and Tehran in the east. Correspondingly, the airline also operated a diverse fleet.

Data from ch-aviation shows that a grand total of 56 aircraft graced the Atlasjet and AtlasGlobal fleet over the years. The Airbus A320ceo family was a particularly dominant force at the Turkish carrier, accounting for some 37 aircraft altogether. This figure consisted of three A319s, 16 A320s, and 18 A321s, and Airbus also had widebody representation in the form of six A330-200s.

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An AtlasGlobal Boeing 737 Taxiing In Copenhagen.
Photo: Gestur Gislason/Shutterstock

Aside from Airbus, the only Boeing type that ch-aviation lists as having been flown by AtlasGlobal is the 757-200 (eight examples), although ATDB.aero notes that 737s also served AtlasGlobal on lease. The Bombardier CRJ family also had a role at the airline, and AtlasGlobal flew two CRJ700s and three CRJ900s. These planes aside, 2007 also saw the carrier briefly lease the McDonnell Douglas MD-83.

The end of the line

Sadly, AtlasGlobal's final few months of operations were marked by financial struggles, both numerous and severe in nature. These problems first came to a head back in November 2019, when economic difficulties forced AtlasGlobal to temporarily suspend its operations for the first time. However, 26 days later, and just in time for Christmas, the troubled airline was back in the skies.

An AtlasGlobal Airbus A321 On The Runway In Istanbul.
Photo: Resul Muslu/Shutterstock

However, this return to action unfortunately didn't last long for AtlasGlobal. Indeed, just a month later, in January 2020, the struggling airline ceased flying once again. At the time, it expected to recommence operations on February 9th that year. However, by then, AtlasGlobal was really on its last legs, and it had already returned its remaining two Airbus A330 widebodies to their lessors.

However, just three days after AtlasGlobal's second planned return to the skies, February 12th saw it file for bankruptcy. The airline told staff not to come to work and suspended ticket sales for future flights. This was the final nail in the coffin for the troubled Turkish carrier, and it was among the first of the many airlines to cease operations in 2020, with the onset of the pandemic proving disruptive.

What are your memories of AtlasGlobal? Did you ever fly with the airline? Let us know your thoughts and experiences in the comments!

Sources: ATDB.aero, ch-aviation.com