Whirligig

Borealis Jet Express (BJEX)

BJE | BJ

Group I

Canada

HQ: Toronto Pearson (YYZ)

Bases: Vancouver (YVR) | Montreal (YUL) | Calgary (YYC) | Edmonton (YEG)

Fleet (as of 2022)

Boeing 777-300ER x 21

Boeing 777-200LR x 14

Boeing 777-200ER x 28

Boeing 767-400ER x 49

Boeing 767-300ER x 4

Boeing 767-300F x 10

Boeing 767-200ER x 3 (Corporate/Charter)

Boeing 767-200SF x 6

Airbus A321NEO x 42

Airbus A319NEO x 21

Airbus A321-200 x 39

Airbus A321-100 x 15

Airbus A320-200 x 4

Mitsubishi CRJ-200LR x 28

Historical Fleets

Douglas DC-6 (1955 - 1967)
Convair CV-240/440 (1956 - 1970)
Bristol Britannia (1957 - 1974)
Vickers VC10 (1965 - 1989)
Boeing 727 (1972 - 1993)
Fokker F.28 (1969 - 1997)

Lore

Borealis Jet Express (BJEX) was founded in 1955 following the collapse of wartime airline Imperial Canadian Aviation Corporation (ICAC). The first routes were situated along the St. Lawrence river alongside a single 3-stop transcontinental flight between Vancouver and Montreal. The airline quickly grew internationally launching a vast network of overseas flights utilizing stopover flights on the Bristol Britannia. BJEX was quick to adopt the jet age by purchasing 50 English VC10s to take over long-distance operations. During this renaissance of Canadian aviation, BJEX was well known for First and Business class offerings with an exceptional sense for professionalism. The airline quickly introduced Boeing 727s and Fokker F.28s to create an extensive regional network with heavy growth in the US and Caribbean markets. 

With the introduction of the 767 in 1984, BJEX rebranded to Borealis and began a phase out of the classic tuxedo livery. In the years after, a heavy emphasis was placed on fleet modernity with the quick adoption of the early A320 variants as well as subsequent 767 variants. Nearing the Millennium, there was significant concern that the airline would not remain competitive in long haul markets as competing airlines were connecting the continents non-stop with aircraft such as the 747 and MD-11. Following negotiations with Boeing, both the 777 and 767-400ER fleet types were launched and ordered to assert dominance in international markets. Furthermore, Borealis ordered Bombardier CRJ-200s to replace Fokker F.28s and maintain it's small presence in Canadian feeder networks. 

In the 2010s, Borealis went through another rebranding adopting the livery that we know today. Additionally the airline placed mass orders for the Airbus A321NEO family as well as the Boeing 777X project. These will be introduced during the 2020s and replace much of the aging fleet. It is unknown what plans the airline has, if any, regarding the replacement of the 767 fleet, however it is rumored that the 767-400ERs and the 767Fs will soldier on until at least 2030. 

Borealis is a member of the Elite Airline Alliance as known in the game AirwaySim.

Zambezi Air Charter | Callsign: Zambezi | IATA: ZC | ICAO: ZAC

Hubs

HQ: Lusaka Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (FLKK)

Bases: FLLI, FLND

Fleet:

Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner

9J-GRC

Embraer EMB-120 Brasilia 

9J-GSQ

9J-GSR

9J-GSS

9J-GST

Embraer EMB-120ER Brasilia 

9J-GSV

9J-GSW

Embraer EMB-120FC Brasilia

9J-GSU

9J-GSX

Background

Zambezi Air Charter was founded in 2016 under the administration of President Edgar Lungu as part of a larger plan to develop the nation's economy. The premise was a flexible airline which could cater to the seasonal tourism rushes as well as support the logistical operations of the nation's ore mining operations. 

Zambezi Air Charter placed an initial lease for four EMB-120s from various different airlines, and commenced operations on November 27th of 2016. During the 2017 Paris Air Show, Zambezi agreed to lease one 787-8 aircraft from AerCap. The aircraft would be delivered new from Boeing in September of 2019. Between 2017 and 2021, Zambezi also placed leases on four more EMB-120s including two of the EMB-120FC dedicated freighter variant for domestic logistics. In late 2021, it would be announced that a second 787-8 would join the Zambezi fleet. Although the airline has not publicized the specifics of the deal, it is speculated that the airframe will be the ex. Hainan Airlines B-2729 following reports that the frame was flown to maintenance after two years of COVID related groundings. 

The airline operates regular bi-weekly flights to London's Heathrow and Johannesburg as well as a weekly flight to Dubai, all on the Boeing 787. The airline also operates a vast variety of regional flights including both scheduled passenger services as well as charter operations for executives, corporations, and tourists. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, Zambezi Air Charter switched it's main focus onto humanitarian missions such as vaccine and medical supply distribution. During this time, the airline ceased all international passenger travel and placed it's sole 787 on cargo flights to Hong Kong and New York (via Dakar).

The airline remains crucial to many communities and industries in Zambia and is projected to see massive growth in the years following the global pandemic.

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