International Air Bahama Flight Abroad DC-8-55F

[aharon]

Shalom and greetings all my pals,

Presenting International Air Bahama DC-8-55F flight from MKJP Norman Manley International Airport located on the Palisadoes tombolo in outer Kingston Harbour in Kingston, Jamaica to MYGF Grand Bahama International Airport in Freeport, Bahamas.

At the gate



International Air Bahama crew welcoming you abroad!!







Starting engines with background view of Kingston Harbour



Entering into taxiway A on way to short of runway 12



Still taxiing on taxiway A





Early take off clearance is granted by airport controllers as the engines roar with black smokes while entering into runway 12 to start take off run



Airborne on climb to FL350 with background view of land stripe called Norman Manley Highway running from the airport to Harbour View suburb of Kingston



Still climbing getting ready for 180 degree right turn



Making 180 degree right turn to north toward city of Kingston to cross Jamaica







Finished with 180 degree right turn and now heading north to cross Kingston, Jamaica, Cuba, and Caribbean sea to Bahamas



Passing MKJP runway 12 and another land strip where you can see Port Royal main road running across from left to right toward where Port Royal where Morgans Harbour, Port Royal Jetty, and Gloria's restaurant are.



Passing downtown Kingston and its local airport that I cannot find identification on Internet.



Still climbing to FL350



Leaving Jamaica where you can see the plane passing Port Maria area





Cruising at FL350 across Caribbean sea



Excellent service by the airline



Passengers having fun during the flight



Approaching southern Cuba to cross it



You can tell from color of water that the plane was approaching Cuba's southern shores





Sight of many islands of Bahamas indicates time to descent from FL350 to 10,000 ft on way to MYGF runway 06



Bahamas water!!!



Making left turn to incercept ZQA above Nassau and its airport to head to MYGF runway 06



Passing MYNN Nassau International airport



More Bahamas water while at 10,000 ft



At 5,000 ft above gorgeous Bahamas water







Thunderstorm rain is hitting the plane at 3,000 ft on way to runway 06



On final runway approach to 06





Seconds before touchtown



TOUCHDOWN



Engaging reverse thrusters resulting into spewing water spray



Exiting from runway 06 into taxiway B to gate



Arriving at gate



Thank you for viewing!! Stay tuned for next exciting flight.

Regards,

Aharon

[aharon]

Interesting bit about history of this airline International Air Bahama that would later become Icelandair!!

International Air Bahama was founded in 1968 for flights from Miami to Bahamas to Europe and back offering lowest airfares to Europe from Miami. International Air Bahama operated 707-300, DC-8-55F, and DC-8-63F. Because this airline featured lowest airfares from Miami to Europe and back, it was killing business by another airline called Loftleidir Icelandic Airline which dominated lowest airfare market between NY and Europe. So the Loftleidir Icelandic Airline decided to buy International Air Bahama in order to maintain grip on lowest price routes between America and Europe. Loftleidir Icelandic Airline would dominate route from NY to Europe and back at lowest price WHILE Loftleider's new subsidary International Air Bahama would dominate route from Miami to Europe via Bahamas and back at lowest price. Those two routes due to fantastic price were in great demand and popular in era 1970s. Then government of Iceland decided to merge those two airlines into one airline under one name and therefore Icelandiar was born out of those 2 airlines!!!! Imagine a Caribbean airline becoming Icelandiar!!!!

Regards,

Aharon

[Tom/CalClassic]

Well, there was an Icelandair even in the 1950's so I assume that that airline was also involved in the merger, and that's where they got the name.

[Dennis the menace]

Loftleidir was founded in 1944 as a private airline in Iceland. Originally it flew both domestic and international routes. It was always a "low cost" airline. In 1948 it began flights to the United States.

There was also another Icelandic airline, called Flugfelag Islands. This airline also flew domestic and international routes. In 1952, under government pressure, Loftleidir gave up its domestic network and left that to Flugfelag Islands. Flugfelag Islands was allowed to retain a few routes to Europe.

In 1969, Loftleidir acquired Air Bahama, a small airline. One year later they helped to set up Cargolux, based in Luxembourg.

The 1973 oil crisis caused Loftleidir to merge with Flugfelag Islands under a new name of Flugleidir. In 1979 Flugfelag Islands acquired all the assets of Loftleidir and the airlines name was once again changed to Icelandair.

Loftleidir re-emerged in 2003 as a charter airline of Icelandair.

There ya go!