LHR - GCI 1970s

[PAXboy]

On behalf of others, I'm asking which carriers and equipment would have operated this route in the mid/late 1970s? They were a family going on holiday to stay with friends and used the route several years in a row.

I have not been on this route and have no idea who has worked it.

Thanks.

[GAXLN]

LHR-GCI 70's aircraft

Without any doubt, until March '79 I would expect it to have been a British Airways Viscount operated service on this route.

[PAXboy]

Ah! Many thanks GAXLN
Is that BA as we know them know or still BOAC - was the merger 72?

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

A Viscount would have been BEA.

[Jhieminga]

The merger between BOAC and BEA was in 1974, the ownership of the aircraft changed on April 1st.

[DaveReidUK]

BEA ceased to exist on 31st March 1974. BA Viscount operations to GCI continued until 1st April 1980.

[GAXLN]

You are correct - it was 1980 LHRGCI was operated until by BA - my error!

[dixi188]

British Island Airways flew this route in the 1970s using Handley Page Heralds.

[ATNotts]

Originally Posted by dixi188

British Island Airways flew this route in the 1970s using Handley Page Heralds.

From LHR? In my recollection it was an LGW service.

[xtypeman]

UK 102 LGW-GCI by Herald seams to stick in my mind from my days at LGW.

[PAXboy]

Many thanks folks. They did say LHR, so I'll go with the Viscounts. I recall using the Viscount on LHR-IOM around 1980/82 before Manx set up, but that's another story.

[Fokkerwokker]

Can confirm BIA operated from LGW to the Channel Islands except occasional newspaper/freight flights were operated from LHR ISTR. That may have been due to night runway maintenance at LGW.

I certainly remember downing a swift pint, in the loader's bar, before heading back to LGW by taxi!

[22/04]

IIRC Air UK did operate LHR-GCI subsequently though- anyone have dates?

[Richard Le page]

air Uk operated the GCI-LHR route from April 1980 until around the end of 1997, when they pulled out of the route. Not had a Guernsey Heathrow service since and probably never will.Used heralds until about 1983 then used F27s until 1988 then used the BAE 146 for a few years and then went back to using F27s and finally Fokker 50.

[scotbill]

BEA also operated Vanguards LHR - GCI in the early 70s

[kcockayne]

Yes, but not for long, & not very often.

[Richard Le page]

Vanguard operations into Guernsey were very few and far between, mainly freighters and used to clear backlog of passengers when there was fog. Think they were more common in Jersey though.
Don't think the authorities were keen on the additional weight on the runway and limited there operations here.
Never recall ever seeing a vanguard at Guernsey , although I was very young I loved planes and clearly remember spotting regularly at the airport with my dad in the early seventies.

[kcockayne]

RLP

The Vanguards operated for a couple of years, summer only. I think it was once a day on Thursdays & Saturdays. They were listed on the BA timetables. But, as you say, they were few & far between. Jersey had a regular, & long lasted service with them from Heathrow two or three daily year round. I flew in them twice- GAPEI both times !
As you say, the cargo flights with Merchantmen lasted a lot longer &, as far as Guernsey was concerned, much more frequently than the pax service.

[Flap40]

AirUK operated the GCI-LHR route from April 1980 until around the end of 1997, when they pulled out of the route. Not had a Guernsey Heathrow service since and probably never will.Used heralds until about 1983 then used F27s until 1988 then used the BAE 146 for a few years and then went back to using F27s and finally Fokker 50.

The last day of LHR-GCI was March 28th 1998. For most of that last winter G-UKJF (140-100) was used on the route and it was supposed to continue until the end but it operated its final flight for AirUK LHR-GCI the day before (27/3/98) and we then ferried it to NWI to be returned to the Lessor. If it had flown the final days sectors the number of hours on the airframe would have left the company liable for a C or D check (I can't remember which) so another aircraft was used for the last day.



'JF on the ramp in GCI.

[WHBM]

1979 summer schedule Heathrow to Guernsey, all BA Viscount 800s.

0915 - Daily - BA5302
1215 - Wednesdays - BA5306
1345 - Sat & Sun - BA5308
1510 - Daily - BA5310
1830 - Daily - BA5314