Post by viscount on Aug 6, 2010 22:47:02 GMT 1
Liverpool Based Airlines
the 'Might Have Beens .........'
and 'If Onlys .......'
Having typed up the story of over 30 Liverpool based operators, with another final 7 in preparation, now to complete the account, urged by Eddie Quinn, some Liverpool based operators that never got beyond the planning stage.
I'm sure many have at some stage day-dreamed their own airline - mine operated Bristol Freighters and the main marketing ploy would have been the transport of bicycles free of charge - well this was way back in the days before I drove! The airlines covered here are those got widespread publicity as they reached the finance and licencing stage.
the 'Might Have Beens .........'
and 'If Onlys .......'
Having typed up the story of over 30 Liverpool based operators, with another final 7 in preparation, now to complete the account, urged by Eddie Quinn, some Liverpool based operators that never got beyond the planning stage.
I'm sure many have at some stage day-dreamed their own airline - mine operated Bristol Freighters and the main marketing ploy would have been the transport of bicycles free of charge - well this was way back in the days before I drove! The airlines covered here are those got widespread publicity as they reached the finance and licencing stage.
Britannia Airways, 1964
At the end of the 1963 summer season, Thomsons with their Euravia airline managers talked seriously with City Council Liverpool Airport Management about moving their operations staff, management and maintenance to Liverpool. At the time, Liverpool had only the one large hangar available (No.1) and found themselves in the position of only being able to offer facilities to one operator, in the event they backed British Eagle as tenants. Euravia became Britannia Airways that winter and established Luton as headquarters and removed all Thomson Holiday flights from Liverpool across to Manchester, and for many years after ignored Liverpool (as shown in their evidence to the Manchester Second Runway inquiry years later).
British Eagle (Liverpool) Ltd, 1969
When British Eagle International Ltd ceased trading early November 1968, due to withdrawal of support by their bankers, there was a concerted effort at a 'rescue', with a 'buy-out' of part of the company. This centered around a section of British Eagle formed September 1964 on the absorption of Liverpool based Starways. Apparently British Eagle (Liverpool) Ltd was a wholly owned subsidiary of British Eagle International Airways Ltd was not in liquidation and held a number of BEIA's assets. The scheme of a consortium, headed by millionaire Mr Geoffrey Edwards, called for several former British Eagle Britannias to be operated until new BAC.1-11s became available off the production line. The deal revolved around the company being granted sufficient licences to be a viable proposition.
The revived British Eagle (Liverpool) Ltd would operate scheduled services and Inclusive Tour flights from a Liverpool base. However the A.T.L.B. rejected the consortium's proposals:
* Although finance was available to commence operations, there was no evidence to suggest that further capital was available should it be required.
* The A.T.L.B. did not accept the consortium's estimates of traffic, revenue and operating costs.
* The A.T.L.B. thought that other airlines had put up over-riding evidence in support of themselves being allowed certain routes, which would make a big hole in the route pattern envisaged by the consortium.
* While acknowledging that much credit was due to many of the staff of British Eagle companies, the A.T.L.B. thought that the retention of the name "Eagle" in British civil aviation would not indubitably be an advantage.
So the 'rescue' of British Eagle was frustrated by the routes regulator (ATLB = Air Transport Licencing Board), so the scheme which would have employed many former British Eagle staff at Liverpool, and would have established a major Liverpool based airline, ultimately came to nothing.
Based on reports and articles in MSAE 'Flypast' magazines for February and December 1969.
Phoenix Airlines, 1969
Phoenix Air Charter
Phoenix Airways (Liverpool) Ltd
Phoenix Airlines[/b]
Phoenix Airlines was founded late in 1968 by former British Eagle employees at Liverpool Airport. The Airline's Managing Director was Mr.R.J.K.Spurrell, and the Chairman was a Liverpool businessman Mr. Malcolm Kingston. After a demonstration from Short Bros at Liverpool using G-AWWS on 27th January 1969, two SC-7 Skyvans were ordered for delivery in April and June 1969, and the airline applied to the A.T.L.B. for licences to operate scheduled services linking Liverpool with Cardiff, Hawarden and the Isle of Man. Phoenix intended to operate both freight and passenger charter and scheduled services with its Skyvans, and eventually hoped to serve Birmingham, Glasgow, Manchester and many towns in the South West of England with scheduled flights from Liverpool. Publicity brochures extolling the virtues of the Skyvan for passenger or freight charters were widely distributed.
However, their ambitious plans had to be downscaled. The fledgling operator negotiated a merger with Ulster Air Transport, a Dakota operator. However plans to merge fell through, so eventually Phoenix Airlines passed into history without flying any services of its own. The first of the Skyvans reserved for Phoenix going to Ghana.
However a number of charters that had been contracted with Phoenix at a time when the Skyvans were anticipated, were operated using Vernair aircraft, one such being by Dove, flown by Mike Tracy of Phoenix to the Paris Air Salon, early June 1969 for the MSAE, operating Liverpool to Pontoise, along with the charter of an Islander from Stapleford.
Based on the entry in 'British Independent Airlines since 1946', Tony Merton-Jones, TAHS/MAS, 1977 and local memories of the Paris Air Salon MSAE flights.
Sureways/Air Manchester, 1982[/size]
Established Inclusive Tour operator, Sureways of Manchester, with their airline Air Manchester, may seem an odd inclusion in this section. The 1982 summer season was a nightmare for the operator. Laker Airways, who had been contracted to provide flights, ceased trading mid-season. Sureways leased a BAC.1-11 aircraft (G-SURE) in their own 'Air Manchester' colours. However, it proved difficult to instantly form an airline with trained crews, cabin staff, infrastructure and acquire the very necessary AoC. Delays and confusion resulted, and by the end of the season Sureways/Air Manchester's reputation had hit the floor and reputedly Manchester Airport withdrew credit terms.
There was at the time a rumour/story, now it might be reasonably considered an "urban myth", quite unprovable now, that the Liverpool Airport Director went on holiday leaving a note on his desk, 'If Sureways ask to use Liverpool, don't let them in.' However, a Deputy that took the call from Sureways had not seen the memo, so was taken in by promises of a full winter season of I/T flights from Liverpool with all the pro-Liverpool publicity, kudos and income that would come with badly needed new services.
As a result Sureways' flight operations moved across from Manchester to Liverpool when their BAC.1-11 G-SURE (now in British Air Ferries colours, and using VF flight numbers) moved across from Manchester at 1855 on Monday 18th October. In all they operated 4 Alicante, 5 Malaga, 8 Palma and 2 Ibiza flights. Main flow of passengers was inbound, with only a very limited number of heavily discounted one-way outbounds being sold. The last inbounds were in the early hours of 1st November from Malaga and Palma, the BAC.1-11 then departing empty to Cardiff at 0910. The last load was due the next weekend, but the BAF Viscount operated into Manchester, despite relatives and friends being sent to Liverpool!
Needless to say, the Liverpool based winter I/T series, including Palma and Amsterdam never materialised despite all the talk and press announcements, which is why Sureways is in this section, even though inbound flights operated.
Details from MAS 'EGGP' movements magazine in late 1982.
Jettair, 1992[/size]
During September 1992 the local press announced that Liverpool businessman, Philip Ettinger was planning a start-up airline, with the intention of linking Liverpool to London City Airport. Equipment would be a former Ryanair ATR-42, with a start date of 26th October 1992.
As the winter season approached, so the start date slipped to late March 1993. Equipment changed to a former Dan Air BAe.146-100 leased from British Aerospace. The envisaged timetable called for a morning and evening service between Liverpool and London City, with a middle rotation to London Gatwick. Jettair applied to the CAA ATLB for Liverpool to London City and/or Gatwick scheduled licence. However the system for route applications was changing, with new EC rules coming into effect on 1st January 1993, which licenced the carrier rather than route and Jettair found the need to re-apply too long winded, along with fresh conditions that were near impossible to meet.
The airline project simply faded away covered in red tape ... forgotten until this is read!
Details from NWAN magazine late 1992/early 1993.
Nexus, 2005[/size]
First information about a planned Liverpool based operator, Nexus Airlines was leaked onto the nwan xsorbit forum site early in 2005. Initial press reports linked the airline to scheduled services, however later press announcements showed that the airline was being formed by Merseyside teenager, Daniel Reilly of Maghull, 18 years old at the time was behind the project. The airline was a development of a business plan written for an A-Level Business Studies project.
In July it became clear that the intention for a 'low-cost' operator to lease a single Boeing 737 initially, to fly from Liverpool to Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, with operations to commence on 1st November 2005, and bookings accepted from 22nd July all looked very positive. A number of Newspaper and Aviation Press articles promoted the airline, even down to a website, logos, schedule and aircraft colour scheme.
Several forum members put their trust in Nexus, and purchased seats. In the event though, plans ran well ahead of financing and licencing, the airline never operating a service. Prospective passengers apparently having their money refunded or rebooked on established operators from Manchester.
Mainly from BBC web news archive, combined with memory of entries on the xsorbit nwan forum site.
Fly Pink, 2007[/size]
How serious this project actually ever was, is unclear. It could well have been a hoax project to prove a point about how investors will back airlines, no matter how ridiculous the project! However found that it was taken seriously by the establishment, with the idea that there was a niche for "a boutique airline designed specially for women, with complimentary manicures before departure" a project to poke fun at and so provide much publicity for! However the Liverpool based airline offering 'shopping breaks to Paris' never got further than Press publicity. Probably quite fortunately!
Compiled from memory of press reports, confirmed by a web search
Comment[/size]
While there have been a great number of established airlines that have been linked with scheduled and charter routes into Liverpool that never operated, here I've only been interested in those declaring Liverpool to be the airline's operating and management base.
There may well be others, after all 'might have beens' are easily forgotten and slip from conscious memory. Do please remind me of any I have forgotten, so not covered - or better still, make the complete entry here for me!
