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Post by kuga59 on Sept 9, 2015 13:24:46 GMT 1
With the news today that Vueling are to open up a route to Barcelona I have been thinking back over 50 years as to the most number of airlines operating from the airport at the same time. (excluding football charters)
Is nine the most ever? Or when was the last time there was so many?
Hope this is the place to ask this question?
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Post by viscount on Sept 9, 2015 15:25:31 GMT 1
Much depends on the criteria selected. In additional to scheduled service airlines (year round or seasonal), you could also count Inclusive Tour Airlines with a full season of flights, then there have also been regular freight operators in the past too. Certainly short season I/Ts and occasional charters (passengers or freight) should not count. Certainly if just scheduled airlines are counted you certainly could be right, with I/T airlines included, not quite so certain.
That would give us for an anticipated total for summmer '16 of: Easyjet, Ryanair, Flybe, Wizzair, Blue Air, Aer Lingus, CSA and Veuling = 8 scheduled plus once a week I/T TUI = 9.
I'll have to think about this one over the next few days.
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Post by ronturner on Sept 10, 2015 7:18:53 GMT 1
Been thinking about that myself, and I suppose the answer might depend upon whether or not the pre war era is included.
Including inclusive tours, I can think of many airline names but trying to match them up at the same timeframe is a headache. ( e.g Treffield, Euravia, Britannia, Mercury, Bavarian, Laker.....)
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Post by donboy on Sept 15, 2015 22:07:00 GMT 1
Also Derby Airways/British Midland Argonauts to Palma and Dan Air Ambassadors on Saturday afternoons, probably for Arrowsmith Holidays.
There was another Inclusive Tour company whose name I think was YTC Holidays. Can anyone remember where they operated to and which airline they used?
Adding to the mix, BKS operated scheduled car ferry flights to Dublin for a time using Bristol Freighters.
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Post by viscount on Sept 15, 2015 22:40:37 GMT 1
Somehow don't think that the 'Sixties will produce a year with 9 or more different scheduled and full season I/T operators. One additional airline in that period was Autair International, with I/Ts operated for Gaytours of Blackpool, using Ambassadors. In today's world, the company name may seem oddly niche-market, in the '60s 'gay' was simply 'happy' or 'carefree' and totally without any hint of the sexual orientation connotations of today.
Another operator in 1966 and possibly 1967 was Schreiner Airways of Rotterdam with Friendship aircraft.
Who did what, went where, when started/ended, with what, for whom and how frequently just simply was not recorded at the time - after all everyone knew at the time so why write it down and publish it? It is only since the late '70s that the regular everyday has usually been recorded. A great deal of work, using sources that have mostly gone into the bin, is required. From around 1968 the airport published timetables monthly which I have access to so help, before then is taking more work. I have embarked on a big project to record Airport activity through from the mid '50s to the start of the '80s and am making progress with converting the daily visiting aircraft onto Excel (with 1960 to mid 1967 prepared so far), however am struggling with creating a clear record of scheduled airlines destinations and frequencies, and especially charter I/T operation airlines, aircraft, season start/ends and tour operators. The quieter years of the early 60s I'll post on nwan forum (likely making a start this winter), however after 1966 (the new runway was opened) the posts will be huge, so I'll see what reaction I get. Maybe best to start my own Airport History website to handle the sheer volume of information planned, however I have no skills/knowledge in that field whatsoever. Anyone able to offer advice/help/knowledge/experience/suggestions/examples off forum (initially by PM)regarding historical data websites?
Back to the OP question, it is possible that 9 or more airlines might have been reached in the early days of Duggan and Santana Holidays I/T operations and the night mail/freight chartered flights that operated on a year-round basis, which would presumably count too. Be around the mid 80s with Wardair, TAP Air Portugal, BAF, Monarch, Aviogenex, Aviaco, British Midland, Manx, Aer Lingus, JEA, Air Ecosse etc. Well that is 11 without freight/mail operators, needs some work to isolate operators and year(s) of operation though.
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Post by ronturner on Sept 16, 2015 10:48:20 GMT 1
This thread reminds me of a list I once kept where the answer might well have been found. As Stanley Unwin would have said, "Oh deep Folly". It went out with a lot of stuff when I moved. I can see the book now, with such highlights as the weekly Britannia B707 flight to Palma. I did donate a lot of my stuff to PHB, and it may be that he can lay his hands on it, but I cannot be at all certain.
I intend to go through all my colour slides to see if my memory can be jogged as to what airlines were regulars. At least all of my slides are catalogued so from the unique number on each slide I can look up my kardex to see when and where taken. This is going to take some time so I might not get through it for months.
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Post by vanguard on Sept 16, 2015 16:10:42 GMT 1
That Britannia 707 looked a bit on the big side outside Hanger 2 (internatonal Arrivels)memories they are priceless.
Frank.
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Post by calflier on Sept 16, 2015 22:01:36 GMT 1
Think it was G AYSI each time,I seem to remember.
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Post by viscount on Sept 17, 2015 9:18:20 GMT 1
Yes, the Britannia Boeing 707 was G-AYSI, and the year 1971. Season commenced 10th May, from and to Palma - however enthusiast records from that time do not record the frequency (presumably weekly), or the end of the season. The aircraft is recorded at Speke again, on 14th September on diversion away from Manchester, routing Palma-Luton.
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Post by vanguard on Sept 17, 2015 11:54:00 GMT 1
Hi Viscount,as far as i can remember it was weekly late Sunday evening,i could be wrong though.
Frank.
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Post by ronturner on Sept 18, 2015 8:32:40 GMT 1
Yes, weekly, Sundays.
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Post by vanguard on Sept 18, 2015 11:07:37 GMT 1
Nice to see Mr.Turner remembers it aswell,one thing i do remember is the start up.With the airport only having compressed air bottles
it could only start one engine(No3)then cross feed air from that engine to the other three,it was VERY VERY Noisy and it was a few years
before the airport got an ASU-Air Start Unit to do the job right.
Frank
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Post by 8miles27 on Sept 28, 2015 17:18:40 GMT 1
Whilst researching something else I came across a summer 2005 list of ten scheduled airlines in the FoLA magazine :
Easyjet, Ryanair, Euromanx, Emerald, VLM, Aer Aeran, Aer Lingus, Air Wales, Flybe and Wizzair.
Additionally I/T's by Thomson, Balkan and MyTravel had charters operated by (this may not be a full list !!):
European Aircrarter, Monarch, Astraeus, Pegasus, Futura, BMI, Spanair, Britannia and Balkan.
So nineteen at least !!!!!
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