Manx Airlines (1953) edit

An earlier Manx Airlines was established in 1947 as Manx Air Charters and renamed in 1953. It was based at Ronaldsway Airport, Isle of Man, and equipped with De Havilland Dragon Rapides and Douglas C-47 Dakotas.^[4] The airline also operated the Bristol Freighter and its aircraft were equipped with passenger modules. One of this airline's Bristol Freighters crashed on 27 February 1958 in the Winter Hill air disaster.^[5] The airline was absorbed by Silver City Airways in 1958 and then merged with Channel Air Bridge to form British United Air Ferries in 1963.^[6]

Manx Airlines (1982) edit

The new Manx Airlines was a joint venture founded by British Midland Airways and AirUK.^[1] Services commenced on 1 November 1982 and the first flight was JE601, flown from its base at Isle of Man Airport at Ronaldsway, by its Bandeirante to Glasgow.

From 1985 until 1993, the airline employed the Shorts 360 and the Shorts 330. A Vickers Viscount 836 was operated from October 1982 until October 1988.^[7] Before retirement, the Viscount performed several 'champagne' flights, as it was the last to operate scheduled passenger services in the UK.

In March 1987, Airlines of Britain Holdings (ABH) was formed to act as a holding company for British Midland Airways and its subsidiaries. The group was made up of British Midland, Manx Airlines, Loganair and, Eurocity Express.

Manx leased a Saab 340 from 1986 to 1988 to operate the Liverpool - Heathrow route. The aircraft was registered G-HOPP and bore "SkyHopper" titles. Manx acquired its first jet aircraft, a BAe 146-100 registered G-OJET, in late 1987 which entered service on the flagship Heathrow route. In 1993 a larger BAe 146-200 registered G-MIMA was leased to replace this aircraft. Another -200, G-MANS, joined the fleet in 1994.

In October 1988, the airline collected its first BAe ATP, replacing the Viscount. Eventually, the airline owned seventeen ATPs. Airlines of Britain Holdings acquired Business Air in 1996.^[8]

Manx Airlines operated the following types of aircraft:

• Vickers Viscount
• Fokker F27 Friendship
• Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante
• BAC 1-11
• BAe ATP
• Jetstream 31
• Jetstream 41
• BAe 146
• de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter
• Embraer ERJ 145 (BRAL Aircraft, Operated by Manx in 1998 on Southampton - Isle of Man)
• Piper PA-23
• Piper PA-31
• Saab 340
• Shorts 330
• Shorts 360

Manx Airlines Europe

In March 1991, Manx Airlines created Manx Airlines Europe in order to expand and fly routes within the United Kingdom from a base at Cardiff Airport.^[9] ABH restructured Loganair in July 1994 which saw it become a franchise partner of British Airways in Scotland.^[10] Manx Airlines Europe also became a franchise partner of British Airways in 1995, operating some routes from its Manchester base under the British Airways Express brand.^[11]

British Regional Airlines

In September 1996, Airlines of Britain announced it would split its regional airlines into a separate grouping which would enable it to increase its franchise links with British Airways while British Midland looked to increase ties with Lufthansa. Loganair's cross-border trunk routes were combined with Manx Airlines Europe's UK routes and the new airline was renamed British Regional Airlines.^[8] At the same time, British Airways closed down its 'Highlands' division and transferred the routes to British Regional Airlines which would operate them as a British Airways Express franchise partner.^[12]

A small Manx Airlines operation retained its own identity operating five aircraft on routes from the Isle of Man. The British Regional Airline Group was created which contained both Manx Airlines and British Regional Airlines.^[8] The Loganair name continued following a management buyout which saw a smaller independent airline continuing to operate routes between Shetland and Orkney.^[13] In 1998 British Regional Airlines Group floated on the London Stock Exchange.^[14]

In late 1998, Manx changed its corporate identity and introduced a new livery featuring a dark belly and a new Triskelion tail canvas.^[15]

In March 2001, British Airways purchased the British Regional Airlines Group, holding company of British Regional Airlines and Manx Airlines, for £78 million.^[16] British Regional Airlines then merged with Brymon Airways to create British Airways CitiExpress, with Manx Airlines continuing to operate as a stand-alone operation.^[17] In mid-2002 it was announced that Manx Airlines would also be integrated in to the new regional carrier.^[18]

Between March 1999 and the date of closure, the fleet was as follows:^[19]

Manx Airlines ceased operations on 31 August 2002. The last flight was planned to be flown by BAe 146 G-MIMA, from London (Gatwick) to Isle of Man Airport (Ronaldsway). However, due to technical problems, a sub-chartered aircraft was brought in to operate this service. Therefore, the honour of operating the last Manx Airlines flight (JE 818 Birmingham International to Ronaldsway) went to Manx-born pilot Captain Paul Quine, who was in command of ATP G-MANB, which landed at Ronaldsway at 20:10 GMT on Saturday, 31 August 2002.

• de:Manx Airlines (1947)
• List of defunct airlines of the United Kingdom

Notes

Bibliography

  Media related to Manx Airlines at Wikimedia Commons