Manx Airlines was an English-owned, Isle of Man-based airline that existed between 1982 and 2002.[1] Its head office was located on the grounds of Ronaldsway Airport in Ballasalla, Malew.[2] An airline of the same name existed between 1947 and 1958.[3]
The new Manx Airlines was a joint venture founded by British Midland Airways (75%) and AirUK (25%).[1] The fleet comprised a pair of Fokker F27s, one each leased from the parent airlines, and a Vickers Viscount 810 leased from British Midland. Services commenced on 1 November 1982 with the first flight, JE601 from Isle of Man to Glasgow, operated by an Embraer Bandeirante wet leased from Genair.[7] The initial schedule from Isle of Man was three times daily to Liverpool, twice daily to Belfast, Glasgow, Heathrow, and Manchester, and once daily to Blackpool and Dublin. The airline also operated a twice daily service between Liverpool and Belfast. In 1983 services to Belfast moved from Belfast International to the newly opened Belfast City Airport.[7]
For summer 1983, Manx trialled a Shorts 330 leased from the manufacturer and later that year leased in a Shorts 360 from Air Ecosse. At the same time the daily return to Blackpool operated by an F-27 was replaced with a four times daily service operated by a PA-31 chartered from City Air Links. The Piper was replaced in late 1983 by a DHC-6 leased from Loganair. Following the trial of the Shorts 360 in late 1983, Manx purchased two models from Shorts Brothers at a cost of £5 million which were delivered as G-LEGS and G-ISLE in March 1984.[7]
In 1985 Manx was awarded a nightly postal service operating one of its Shorts 360s from Ronaldsway to Manchester, Luton, and Blackpool. For this service a third Shorts 360 was leased from Air Ecosse, G-RMSS. At the beginning of 1986 Manx took over the Liverpool to Heathrow route from parent British Midland, adding a fourth Shorts 360, G-WACK, to operate the service. Later that year the 360 was replaced with a leased Saab 340 registered G-HOPP and wearing "SkyHopper" titles.[7]
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 owned 100% of British Midland, Loganair, and Eurocity Express and retained control of 75% of Manx.[8] In June 1988 ABH acquired Air UK's 25% stake in Manx, making the airline a wholly owned subsidiary of ABH.[7]
In mid-1987 the airline announced plans to upgrade the Isle of Man to Heathrow service to all jet operation with DC-9 aircraft. Unable to acquire its own jets, a BAC 1-11 was leased from Airways International Cymru for the London route. Later in 1987 Manx acquired its first jet aircraft, a BAe 146-100 registered G-OJET leased from BAe, which entered service on the flagship Heathrow route replacing the BAC 1-11. Since its founding five years earlier, Manx had primarily operated the Heathrow route with Viscounts provided by parent British Midland or leased from other operators. With the introduction of jets in 1987 and the arrival of the first BAe ATP in 1988, the Viscounts were retired with Manx organising a series of 'champagne' flights around the island on 19 October. The final scheduled Viscount flight in to Heathrow operated that afternoon.[7] In 1989 a new £1 million maintenance hangar for the airline opened at Ronaldsway Airport which became a CAA approved facility for BAe ATP maintenance.[7]
Saab 340A "SkyHopper" at Liverpool on the Heathrow service in 1988A Manx Airlines BAe 146–200 at Faro Airport, 1995.Cabin interior of Manx Airlines Shorts 360 in 1992Manx Airlines BAe Jetstream 31 at Dublin Airport in 1993.
Expansion and sale
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. Two Jetstream 31 aircraft were obtained from BAe with services starting on 25 March 1991.[9][7][10] At a press conference on 27 March 1991, Manx announced orders for two of the larger Jetstream 41 aircraft following the rollout of the type at Prestwick that day.[7][11] The order was later increased to five aircraft, with the first aircraft G-WAWR delivered on 25 November 1992 and entering service in early 1993.[12][note 1] In 1993 a larger BAe 146-200 registered G-MIMA was leased to replace the BAe 146-100 which was returned to the manufacturer. Two additional ATPs and a second BAe 146-200 (G-MANS) were leased in early 1994 following the transfer of some routes from British Midland.[7]
In January 1994, Airlines of Britain announced a restructuring which saw Loganair's cross-border domestic trunk routes and international services transferred to Manx Airlines Europe. All of seven Loganair's ATP and three Jetstream 41 aircraft were transferred to Manx for these services.[13] In April 1994 it was announced that Loganair would become a franchise partner of British Airways, operating as British Airways Express in Scotland with its remaining fleet of Shorts 360, BN-2 Islander, and Twin Otter aircraft.[14] The restructuring was completed in July 1994.[15][16] Manx Airlines Europe then also became a franchise partner of British Airways in January 1995, operating some routes from its Manchester base under the British Airways Express brand.[16]
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. The new airline was renamed the British Regional Airlines Group (BRAL).[17] At the same time, British Airways closed down its own 'Highlands' division and transferred the routes to British Regional Airlines which would operate them as a British Airways Express franchise partner alongside its existing franchise routes.[18] Airlines of Britain Holdings also acquired Business Air in 1996 which was absorbed in to BRAL.[17]
A small Manx Airlines operation retained its own identity operating five aircraft on routes from the Isle of Man. The British Regional Airline Group thus contained Manx Airlines, British Regional Airlines, and Loganair whose name was retained for trading purposes.[17] The Loganair name later continued following a management buyout in 1997 which saw a smaller independent airline continuing to operate routes between Shetland and Orkney.[19] In 1998 British Regional Airlines Group floated on the London Stock Exchange.[20]
In late 1998, Manx changed its corporate identity and introduced a new livery featuring a dark belly and a new Triskelion tail canvas.[21]
In March 2001, British Airways purchased the British Regional Airlines Group, holding company of British Regional Airlines and Manx Airlines, for £78 million.[22] British Regional Airlines then merged with Brymon Airways to create British Airways CitiExpress, with Manx Airlines continuing to operate as a stand-alone operation.[23] In mid-2002 it was announced that Manx Airlines would also be integrated in to the new regional carrier.[24]
Manx Airlines BAe ATP (G-MANC) in the Triskelion livery, June 2002.
Between March 1999 and the date of closure, the fleet was as follows:[25]
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 CaptainPaul Quine, who was in command of ATP G-MANB, which landed at Ronaldsway at 20:10 GMT on Saturday, 31 August 2002.
Fleet
Manx Airlines operated the following types of aircraft:
^"World Airline Directory." Flight International. 26 March – 1 April 1997. 86. "Isle of Man (Ronaldsway) Airport, Ballasalla, Isle of Man, IM9 2JE, UK"
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