Air Charter Work
An important market to be in
An important market to be in
If anyone has any information I would be pleased to show it here, please drop me a line anytime email
From the very beginnings of the independent airlines in the UK charter work was an important stream of revenue.
The State airlines had the rights to the scheduled services, occasionally some routes were flown by the Independents as "associates" of the state airline.
But whether it be flying newspapers under contract, bank notes to far flung places in the Empire or folks to race days around the UK and near continent, charter work often kept the airlines in profit.....or at least solvent.
Many of the airlines in BCal's lineage had charter divisions or offered their aircraft for charter. Some large, some small, but all had aircraft available that you could charter for a price of course.
One, Manx Airlines, started out as Manx Air Charter in its early days. But below are some of those charter offerings from days gone by.
The State airlines had the rights to the scheduled services, occasionally some routes were flown by the Independents as "associates" of the state airline.
But whether it be flying newspapers under contract, bank notes to far flung places in the Empire or folks to race days around the UK and near continent, charter work often kept the airlines in profit.....or at least solvent.
Many of the airlines in BCal's lineage had charter divisions or offered their aircraft for charter. Some large, some small, but all had aircraft available that you could charter for a price of course.
One, Manx Airlines, started out as Manx Air Charter in its early days. But below are some of those charter offerings from days gone by.
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Airwork's Complete Service - Contract Charter - 1947
When entering the air charter market Airwork did not enter quietly; they spent £250,000 on a fleet of 6 Vickers Vikings in 1946 (£9million in 2014 prices) and proclaimed that they did not use any pre-war or war converted aircraft.
When entering the air charter market Airwork did not enter quietly; they spent £250,000 on a fleet of 6 Vickers Vikings in 1946 (£9million in 2014 prices) and proclaimed that they did not use any pre-war or war converted aircraft.
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A special item here - an original Olley Air Service brochure from 1939
Selected pages from their Air Charter section
Selected pages from their Air Charter section
Hunting-Clan - World-wide Charter 1959
The other very large independent airline was Hunting-Clan, (they and Airwork would eventually form BUA). Though not too long before that their 1959 Worldwide charter offering was the Douglas DC-6 and the Vickets Viscount.
The other very large independent airline was Hunting-Clan, (they and Airwork would eventually form BUA). Though not too long before that their 1959 Worldwide charter offering was the Douglas DC-6 and the Vickets Viscount.
Jersey Airlines - 1960 - Hire a Heron
Despite huge volumes of scheduled passengers, charter work was still sought
Despite huge volumes of scheduled passengers, charter work was still sought
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Morton Air Services Ltd - 1950 - Executive Transport
Also based at Croydon, with a satellite operation in Bristol, Mortons also undertook many charter services around the UK and to the near continent with their fleet of Doves and Rapides.
Also based at Croydon, with a satellite operation in Bristol, Mortons also undertook many charter services around the UK and to the near continent with their fleet of Doves and Rapides.
The Lancashire Aircraft Corporation - 1949. One of the largest independents with a vast fleet of over 70 aircraft from Proctors to Halifax Haltons
All of the other airlines in BCal's lineage would have operated charters of course, though literature is hard to come by.
Without doubt, Manx, Dragon, Silver City, Aquila, Transair and Air Kruise would all have had charter work
Without doubt, Manx, Dragon, Silver City, Aquila, Transair and Air Kruise would all have had charter work