Updated: 9th October, 2024
Flying Enterprise DC-7
Flying Enterprise Canadair C-4 Argonaut
Flying Enterprise Denmark
Copenhagen, Denmark
1959 - 1965
Owner: Hans Linde and Finn Nielsen
Flying Enterprise AS Denmark, was the first charter airline in Denmark, active from 1959 to 1965. The company was founded in July 1959 by 2 former SAS employees, Hans Linde and Finn Nielsen, who wanted to challenge SAS, which at the time had a negative view of charter flights.
Flying Enterprise Argonaut
Passengers boarding the Canadair C-4 Argonaut
Flying Enterprise operated 5 Canadair C-4 Argonaut, a 4-engine propeller aircraft that was a Canadian development of the American Douglas DC-4 aircraft. They were all leased from Overseas Aviation and had previously flown with the British company BOAC. The planes were originally intended for 62 passengers, but in a converted charter version with space for up to 90 passengers.
One of Flying Enterprise's first customers was the Swedish travel agency RESO, which hired the newly formed airline in the early 1960s for charter trips to Italy and Spain. All flights departed rom Malmö.
Flying Enterpris Douglas DC7 OY-DMR in first livery. Here at Malaga airport 1964
Flying Enterprise DC-7
From 1964, Flying Entreprise had four Douglas DC-7, 4-engine propeller aircraft with seating for 112 passengers in charter version. Two of the aircraft (OY-DMP and OY-DMR) were registered to Flying Enterprise, but reportedly leased from Swedish Osterman Air Charter, the aircraft later transferred to the charter company Internord.
RESO's collaboration with Flying Enterprise ended in the autumn of 1961, when Scanair significantly increased charter quality with SAS's DC-7 four-engine propeller plane and the French Caravelle jet.
This was ominous for Flying Enterpise but then they were contracted by a new customer the Danish travel agency Spies Rejser (Simon Spies)who arranged had trips for smaller groups to Mallorca by train to Barcelona and on by boat to Mallorca.
With the introduction of so-called "charter flights" to the aviation market in the early 1960s, Simon Spies realised the advantage that the trips would be carried out with the new mode of "folk flight "charter" to shorten travel time. The first flights were flown by Aero Loyd but when Flying Enterprise was introduced to the market
On this occasion, the Danish tycon Simon Spies saw to starting his own airline and could now negotiate with the bankrupt company to buy the estate at a very reasonable price. The purchase included three DC-7s and hangars.
Flying Enterprise transformation into Conair of Scandinavia livery
Conair of Scandinavia first livery in a hurry!
A week later after the deal was set, the "new" carrier Conair of Scandinavia was established
on 1 March 1965 and obtained a temporary permit on 2 April 1965, the final licence was grant-
ed on 23 April the same year.
The final livery!
Simon Spies in the clasic tour-uniform.
Canadair 5 no C-54, North Star
Douglas 4 no DC-7