Skyways (British airline)

Skyways Limited was an early post-World War II British airline formed in 1946 that soon became well-established as the biggest operator of non-scheduled air services in Europe.^[1][2]

Its principal activities included the operation of worldwide non-scheduled passenger and cargo services, including trooping and

Skyways was a major civilian participant in the Berlin Airlift and became one of Britain's foremost independent^{[nb 1]} airlines during the 1950s and early 1960s.^[5]

Following the airline's liquidation in 1950 and transfer of the bankrupt carrier's assets to a new company incorporating the name Skyways, control passed to the Lancashire Aircraft Corporation (LAC) in 1952. LAC's acquisition of Skyways resulted in concentration of the combined group's operations at London Stansted Airport.^[2]

Low-fare scheduled services commenced in 1953.^{[3][6][7][8][9][10]}

Launch of the world's first Coach-Air operation in 1955 resulted in a demerger that saw those services transferred to new subsidiary Skyways Coach-Air Limited.^[2]

A number of financial reorganisations during the 1950s provided the funds for a major expansion of Skyways's activities and fleet, culminating in the buyout of the company in 1961 by Eric Rylands, LAC's former co-owner and managing director.^[11][12]

Loss of a major freight contract that had accounted for 75% of Skyways's revenue, a failed investment in a regional

A new Skyways emerged in 1975 when, still under Eric Rylands's stewardship, Skyways Cargo Airline assumed the original Skyways's air freight business. Financial difficulties following a period of expansion during the second half of the 1970s led to the cessation of operations in 1980, resulting in the final disappearance of the Skyways name from the UK air transport scene.^[13]

History

Beginning

Skyways was

Following the launch of operations from Langley, Berkshire, by November 1946, Skyways had moved its main operating base to Dunsfold Aerodrome near Guildford in Surrey.^[2][14]

The first year of operations saw Skyway joined by a second York named Sky Courier. Both aircraft were kept busy transporting oil company personnel between the UK and Iraq.^[2]

In addition to oil industry support flights, which accounted for the bulk of its operations, Skyways undertook 'aerial cruises' to

Skyways was one of the major civilian participants in the Berlin Airlift, where up to seven of the company's aircraft — three Yorks and four Lancastrians — were employed between November 1948 and August 1949. The former served on the airlift from 16 November 1948 until 15 August 1949 and the latter from early-January until 17 July 1949. The latter were also fitted with additional fuselage tanks to carry diesel and petrol.^[2][16][17]

In 1950, the War Office began awarding trooping flight contracts to Britain's contemporary independent airlines. Skyways was one of the main beneficiaries,^{[nb 2]} along with Airwork, Hunting and Eagle. Following the award of the War Office contract, the airline purchased a large fleet of Avro Yorks from BOAC. These operations included frequent flights between the UK and Singapore in co-operation with Airwork.^{[12][16][18][19]}

Other areas of activity in which Skyways engaged during its formative years included a growing number of ad hoc passenger and cargo

Some examples of their freight contracts include the transport of three Fordson tractors from Dunsfold to Kuwait, fruit from Italy to UK in Lancastrians, and milk from Northern Ireland to Liverpool in 1947. A service was also established using a Lancastrian to fly twice weekly between Singapore and Hong Kong, taking five and a half hours, against BOAC's two days with an overnight in Bangkok. This led to the creation of Skyways (Far East) Ltd in 1947. Skyways also had ambitions to carry mail between the UK and Hong Kong. The proposed service using a Lancastrian via Karachi would take a day and a half, in competition with BOAC's 8 day service, however, political pressures supporting the nationalised airline prevailed and the service was not started.[20]

The rapid growth in business resulted in a major expansion of the fleet and workforce that saw the acquisition of additional Yorks and Lancastrians as well as several

To support its fledgling operation, Skyways established a maintenance base at Dunsfold Aerodrome. The new maintenance division initially traded as Samlesbury Engineering Ltd.[10]

As the late 1940s'

LAC's takeover of Skyways in 1952 resulted in the establishment of Eric Rylands Ltd^{[nb 7]} as a new holding company for Skyways and Skyways Engineering (the renamed Samlesbury Engineering). The Skyways takeover furthermore resulted in Skyways Engineering transferring its base to Stansted from Bovingdon, where it had moved temporarily following the Hawker Aircraft company's move to Dunsfold. The large engineering base at Stansted comprised three hangars. This provided the maintenance support for Skyways's new operating base at that airport with sufficient space for the overhaul of the entire LAC fleet, which mainly consisted of Yorks and Lancastrians. Commercial flights from Stansted began in October 1952 with a fleet of Avro Yorks. Following the move to Stansted, in November 1952, Skyways acquired five additional Yorks from Eagle Aviation for £160,000. This acquisition increased the York fleet to 29, making the airline the world's largest operator of the type. It also lent further support to the company's claim to being the largest independent airline operator in Europe. Another consequence of this takeover was LAC's acquisition of approximately 20% of Morton Air Services shares previously held by Skyways.^{[5][7][10][12][16][22][23][24]}

LAC followed up the takeover of Skyways with an announcement concerning the combined group's new strategy to

• "fly anything anywhere";
• operate all four-engined aircraft under the Skyways of London name;
• maintain Central London head offices in Berkeley Street and overseas presences in Hamburg and Canada.^[2]

In its first year of operation at Stansted (October 1952 to October 1953), Skyways's fleet numbered 33 aircraft, making it one of the largest contemporary independent airlines. During that period, the airline's Stansted operation handled 40,000 troops and accounted for 2.9 million

In November 1953, Skyways commenced its first low-fare scheduled services from Stansted to Nicosia via Malta. These were marketed as Crusader Coach. The 14-hour trip was operated with Yorks departing the Essex airport on alternate Wednesdays and cost £75 return (£33 less than competing air services).^{[3][6][7][8][9][10]}

In subsequent years, general passenger and freight charters, IT flights and additional scheduled services were added, including a livestock freight service from Stansted to Beauvais.^[9][10]

In 1954, Skyways acquired ten Handley Page Hermes aircraft from BOAC for use on trooping and general charter work.^[3][25]

In 1955, Skyways launched the world's first Coach-Air service linking London and Paris. In July of that year, the Air Ministry awarded the airline a lucrative, £1.5 million contract to transport 12,000 troops between the UK and Cyprus, which had until then only been an intermediate stop on trooping flights between the UK and the Middle and Far East. These flights utilised the recently acquired Hermes. This was also the year it sold a minority stake to the Bibby Line.^[9][10][26]

In 1956,

In 1959, Skyways leased four

Bahamas. This was furthermore the time London's premier airport became the airline's main operating base.^{[nb 9]} Although the airline's Yorks were by then nearing the end of their service lives, they were still kept busy ferrying spare parts around the world on behalf of BOAC and Pan Am.^{[1][3][28][29]}

Financial difficulties and Euravia takeover

inclusive tour flight at Manchester

in August 1963

In 1961, the Bibby Line sold its minority holding in the Skyways group to Eric Rylands Ltd, henceforth the holding company for all Skyways subsidiaries. By that time, most of the Hermes had left the Skyways fleet, and Constellations were exclusively used for all passenger flights, including the weekly scheduled service between Heathrow, Tunis and Malta Skyways operated in association with British European Airways (BEA).

This was also the time when Skyways began experiencing growing financial difficulties as a result of the high cost of the Constellation

Luton.^{[1][3][6][7][10][29][30][31]}

In October 1962, Euravia (London) took over Skyways for a nominal £1, including four Yorks and three Constellations[nb 10] but excluding the Coach-Air operation, which remained a separate entity.^{[1][3][7][10][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37]}

Skyways became a wholly owned subsidiary of Euravia in 1963.^{[3][7][10][30][31][32][33]}

Skyways continued trading under the Skyways of London name until 1964, with the Constellations contracted by Euravia parent Universal Skytours to operate IT flights from several UK airports to European holiday destinations. In that year, Euravia adopted the Britannia Airways name for all operations following its decision to re-equip its entire fleet with Bristol 175 Britannia turboprops.^[3][31][38]

Reconstitution as cargo airline

The Skyways cargo operation survived Dan-Air's takeover of Skyways International's passenger operations in February 1972, using three DC-3s Air Freight Ltd^{[nb 11]} had acquired from Skyways Air Cargo, the defunct airline's cargo subsidiary, in 1970.^[39]

Following Skyways Coach-Air's liquidation in early 1971, Air Freight initially continued the former Skyways Air Cargo operation^{[nb 12]} under its own name and, in February 1973, merged with South West Aviation.^[39][40]

The closure of Ashford Airport in 1974 resulted in the relocation of Air Freight's headquarters and operating base to nearby Lydd Airport.^[40]

In May 1975, Air Freight resurrected the Skyways name, when it began trading as Skyways Cargo Airline. This reorganisation led by Eric Rylands resulted in acquisition of a further three DC-3s and an expansion into North Sea oil industry passenger and cargo charters, including the stationing of an aircraft at Aberdeen Airport. Another two aircraft were stationed at Aberdeen by autumn 1976.^[39][40]

Skyways Cargo Airline further expanded by adding three

Fairchild Hiller FH-227 turboprop freighters to its DC-3 piston freighters. There were also plans to begin scheduled passenger services.^[39]

However, Skyways Cargo Airline's expansionist strategy was not as successful as hoped, and growing financial difficulties forced the closure of Skyways' final incarnation in October 1980.^[39][40]

Fleet details

Skyways operated the following aircraft types:

• Avro Lancastrian
• Avro 685 York
• de Havilland Dragon Rapide
• de Havilland Dove
• Douglas DC-3/C-47
• Douglas DC-4/C-54
• Fairchild Hiller FH-227
• Handley Page HP.81 Hermes
• Lockheed L-749A Constellation

Fleet in 1955

In late 1955, the Skyways fleet comprised 28 aircraft.^[3]

Skyways fleet in late 1955

Aircraft	Total
Handley Page Hermes	10
Avro 685 York	15
Douglas DC-3	3
Total	28

Fleet in 1958

In April 1958, the Skyways fleet comprised 18 aircraft.^[9]

Skyways fleet in April 1958

Aircraft	Total
Avro 685 York	14
Douglas DC-3	4
Total	18

Fleet in 1962

In April 1962, the Skyways fleet comprised 9 aircraft.^[10]

Skyways fleet in April 1962

Aircraft	Total
Lockheed L-749A Constellation	4
Handley Page Hermes	1
Avro 685 York	4
Total	9

Accidents and incidents

There are 13 recorded accidents and incidents during Skyways' 16-year existence from 1946 until 1962. Five of these involved fatalities.^[41]

• On 14 May 1948 a Skyways De Havilland Dove, G-AJOU, broke up in a severe storm during a charter flight from Paris to Cannes. Kick Kennedy, sister of John F. Kennedy, her friend Lord Fitzwilliam, together with the crew of two, were killed.^[42][43]
• 1953 Skyways Avro York disappearance: The worst accident involving a Skyways group aircraft occurred on 2 February 1953. On that day a Skyways Avro 685 York 1 (registration: G-AHFA) operating the Terceira-Lajes Airport, Azores, Portugal, to Gander Airport, Newfoundland, Canada, sector of a Stansted—Kingston trooping flight with 39 occupants (six crew and 33 passengers) was lost over the Atlantic Ocean without trace. The last radio contact was a distress signal (SOS) received from the aircraft. The aircraft's last position was 46° 15'N 46° 31'W. The wreckage was never found.^[44] This crash lost Skyways its trooping contract with the War Office.^[45]
• On 28 June 28, 1954, a Skyways Cargo
  Soviet zone, 50 miles northwest of Berlin. The crew of three were killed. There was no cargo on board.^[46] The Times newspaper named the three crew as: Capt B S Murphy, First Officer Rube Giles and Radio Operator Z I Patterson ^[47][48]
• On 4 March 1956, a Skyways Handley Page HP.81 Hermes 4 (registration: G-ALDW) was destroyed on the ground at Nicosia Airport as a result of a bomb explosion in the forward baggage hold while the aircraft was awaiting a full load of 68 passengers.^[3][49]
• On 1 April 1958 Handley Page Hermes G-ALDV crashed shortly after takeoff from Stanstead on a routine test flight. The elevators became jammed and the pilots were deprived of control. The crew, Captain Rayment, Captain West and Flight Engineer Norman Bradley were all killed.^[50]
• On 17 August 1978, Douglas C-47B G-AMSM of Skyways Cargo Airline was damaged beyond economic repair in a take-off accident at Lydd Ferryfield.^[51]

See also

• List of defunct airlines of the United Kingdom

Notes and citations

Notes

1. government owned corporations
2. ^ as a result of assuming responsibility for the contract the War Office had awarded Lancashire Aircraft Corporation prior to the LAC-Skyways merger
3. ^ four ex-KLM examples, the first two of which joined the fleet in October 1947
4. ^ by May 1947
5. ^ sold to Gulf Aviation
6. ^ entailing twice-monthly joint LAC-Skyways trooping flights from Bovingdon to Bermuda and Jamaica
7. ^ Eric Rylands Ltd subsequently acquired ownership of Skyways Coach-Air and the Bibby Line's minority holding in the Skyways group as well
8. ^ through Eric Rylands Ltd
9. Gatwick
   as well) while Stansted continued to be used for maintenance and training
10. ^ acquisition of the ex-Skyways Constellations helped Euravia overcome the capacity shortage it was facing ahead of the 1963 summer charter season
11. ^ originally established in April 1967 as general sales agent for Skyways Coach-Air's freight operations
12. ^ comprising all-cargo routes from Ashford to Antwerp and Beauvais

Citations

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i} Dix, Barry, Fly Past: I just want to go home, The Hounslow Chronicle.co.uk, 25 June 2008
2. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p} Aircraft (Gone but not forgotten ... Skyways), p. 57, Ian Allan Publishing, Hersham, Christmas 2010
3. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l m n} Aircraft (Gone but not forgotten ... Skyways), p. 58, Ian Allan Publishing, Hersham, Christmas 2010
4. ^ ^{a b c d} Airliner World (Skyways), p. 62, Key Publishing, Stamford, November 2011
5. ^ ^{a b} Aircraft (Gone but not forgotten ... Skyways), pp. 57-59, Ian Allan Publishing, Hersham, Christmas 2010
6. ^ ^{a b c} Britain Goes It Alone, Air Commerce, Flight International, 15 April 1960, p. 543
7. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j} Stansted Airport Consultative Committee, Stansted - The Early Years (1942-1966), Flying Troops from across the World
8. ^ ^{a b} Crusader Coach - Stansted-Nicosia by Skyways, Flight International, 13 November 1953, p. 644
9. ^ ^{a b c d e} World Airline Directory ..., Flight International, 18 April 1958, p. 528
10. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j} World Airline Survey — The UK Carriers ..., Flight International, 12 April 1962, p. 548
11. ^ ^{a b} Aircraft (Gone but not forgotten ... Skyways), pp. 57/8, Ian Allan Publishing, Hersham, Christmas 2010
12. ^ ^{a b c d} Airliner World (Skyways: The charter specialist), p. 65, Key Publishing, Stamford, November 2011
13. ^ Aircraft (Gone but not forgotten ... Skyways), pp. 56, 60, Ian Allan Publishing, Hersham, Christmas 2010
14. ^ Airliner World (Skyways), p. 63, Key Publishing, Stamford, November 2011
15. ^ Airliner World (Skyways), pp. 63/4, Key Publishing, Stamford, November 2011
16. ^ ^{a b c d} L.A.C. buys Skyways, Civil Aviation, Flight International, 28 March 1952, p. 361
17. ^ ^{a b} Airliner World (Skyways: The charter specialist), p. 64, Key Publishing, Stamford, November 2011
18. ^ Fly me, I'm Freddie!, Eglin, R. and Ritchie, B., Weidenfeld and Nicolson, London, 1980, p. 29
19. ^ ^{a b} Aircraft (Gone but not forgotten ... Skyways), pp. 56/7, Ian Allan Publishing, Hersham, Christmas 2010
20. ^ Longhurst, Henry (1949). You never know till you get there. Dent.
21. ^ Airliner World (Skyways: The charter specialist), pp. 64/5, Key Publishing, Stamford, November 2011
22. ^ ^{a b} Troops to the Caribbean, Civil Aviation, Flight International, 11 July 1952, p. 54
23. ^ Skyways, Ltd., ..., Brevities, Flight International, 28 November 1952, p. 683
24. ^ Fly me, I'm Freddie!, Eglin, R. and Ritchie, B., Weidenfeld and Nicolson, London, 1980, p. 33
25. ^ The Hermes: B.O.A.C. statement, Flight International, 23 April 1954, p. 527
26. ^ Airliner World (Skyways: Another new base), p. 66, Key Publishing, Stamford, November 2011
27. ^ Airliner World (Skyways: Coach Air, New ventures), pp. 67, 69, Key Publishing, Stamford, November 2011
28. ^ ... and B.O.A.C.'s Constellations, Air Commerce, Flight International, 5 June 1959, p. 787
29. ^ ^{a b} Airliner World (Skyways: New ventures), p. 67, Key Publishing, Stamford, November 2011
30. ^ ^{a b c} Aircraft (Gone but not forgotten ... BRITISH EAGLE), Vol 42, No 10, pp. 33/4, Ian Allan Publishing, Hersham, October 2009
31. ^ ^{a b c d} Britannia wary of wide bodies, Air Transport, Flight International, 8 March 1973, p. 330
32. ^ ^{a b} World Airline Survey ..., Flight International, 11 April 1963, p. 524
33. ^ ^{a b} Aircraft (Gone but not forgotten ... Britannia Airways), pp. 78/9, Ian Allan Publishing, Hersham, July 2011
34. ^ World Airline Survey ..., Flight International, 11 April 1963, p. 539
35. ^ World Airlines 1970 ..., Flight International, 28 March 1970, p. 500
36. ^ World Airlines, Flight International, 6 May 1971, p. 631
37. ^ The Spirit of Dan-Air, Simons, G.M., GMS Enterprises, Peterborough, 1993, pp. 77-79, 102
38. ^ Aircraft (Gone but not forgotten ... Britannia Airways), p. 79, Ian Allan Publishing, Hersham, July 2011
39. ^ ^{a b c d e} Aircraft (Gone but not forgotten ... Skyways), p. 60, Ian Allan Publishing, Hersham, Christmas 2010
40. ^ ^{a b c d} Airliner World (Skyways: Another turbulent spell), p. 69, Key Publishing, Stamford, November 2011
41. ^ Aviation Safety Network > ASN Aviation Safety Database > Operator index > United Kingdom > Skyways
42. ^ "Lord Fitzwilliam killed". The Times (51072): 4. 15 May 1948.
43. ^ "ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 15". Aviation Safety Network. Flight Safety Foundation. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
44. ^ ASN Aircraft accident description Avro 685 York 1 G-AHFA — off Newfoundland, Canada (Atlantic Ocean)
45. ^ Fly me, I'm Freddie!, Eglin, R. and Ritchie, B., Weidenfeld and Nicolson, London, 1980, p. 30
46. ^ "Avro 685 York C.1". AirTeamImages.com.
47. ^ The Times (London, England), Monday, Jun 28, 1954; pg. 6; Issue 52969.
48. Aviation Safety Network
    . Retrieved on 3 April 2016.
49. ^ "G-ALDW accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 2 July 2011.
50. ^ Civil Accident Report No. C677
51. ^ "G-AMSM Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 1 August 2010.

Sources

• "Flight International". Flight International. Sutton, UK: Reed Business Information.
  ISSN 0015-3710
  . (various backdated issues relating to Skyways Ltd, Skyways Coach-Air, Skyways International 1946-1972 and Skyways Cargo Airline 1975–1980)
• Simons, Graham M. (1993). The Spirit of Dan-Air. Peterborough, UK: GMS Enterprises.
  ISBN 1-870384-20-2
  .
• Eglin, Roger & Ritchie, Berry (1980). Fly me, I'm Freddie. London, UK: Weidenfeld and Nicolson.
  ISBN 0-297-77746-7
  .
• "Airliner World (Skyways)". Airliner World. Stamford, UK: Key Publishing: 62–69. November 2011.
  ISSN 1465-6337. (Airliner World online
  )

External links

• Skyways at the Aviation Safety Network Database
• contemporary timetable images of Skyways Coach-Air and Skyways International
• Skyways C-47B Skytrain G-AMWW at Antwerp Deurne
• Skyways Avro 685 York C1 G-AHEY on the ramp at Berlin Tegel on 1 May 1961. The aircraft sports Skyways of London fuselage titles. This occasion marks the last visit of an Avro York to Berlin.
• Skyways Avro 748 Srs. 1/100 G-ARMV coming in to land at Biggin Hill on 4 May 1963. The aircraft sports Skyways of London fuselage titles.
• Stansted Airport Consultative Committee, Stansted - The Early Years (1942-1966), Flying Troops from Across the World