Originally Posted by
Phileas Fogg
KLM had shares, and increasing shares, in Air UK long before the 1990's, even before the name change to 'KLM UK' KLM already owned Air UK 100%.
Your absolutely correct with your assessment of KLM and it's association with Air UK. But just to add to what you have already quoted.
Follow from the beginning of the gradual liberalisation of the European Union (EU) internal air market in 1987, Dutch flag carrier KLM, a long standing business partner of Air UK and it's predecessor Air Anglia acquired a 14.9% minority stake in Air UK's holding company. In 1995 KLM increased it's minority stake in Air UK to 45%. In 1997 KLM became Air UK's sole shareholder when it acquired B&C's (British and Commonwealth) stake in British Air Transport (Holdings). The following year Air UK was renamed KLM uk.
In 1997, KLM became the sole owner of Air UK. This resulted in the airline being rebranded KLM uk in January 1998 including the adoption of a new livery based on the KLM livery. The legal name changed from Air UK limited to KLM uk limited in April 1998.
in 2002 KLM decided to integate what was left of KLM uk into KLM Cityhopper, it's wholly owned Dutch based regional subsidiary. It also decided to sell BUZZ it's low cost airline that had taken over many of the former KLM uk routes to Ryanair the following year. This transaction constituted the final link in a long chain of events.
B&C (British and Commonwealth) had a long history in aviation being involved in many airlines up until 1998. Those included British United Airways, British United Air Ferries, British United Island Airways, which later became British Island Airways BIA in 1970 and Air UK after the merger of BIA with Air Anglia in 1980. B&C were also were also a major shareholder in Bristow Helicopters, acquiring full control in 1985.
For those of you who are interested in shipping which is my forte, British and Commonwealth shipping originally owned the iconic British shipping company the Union Castle Line. B&C withdrew completely from shipping in 1982. B&C was formed in 1955 and was liquidated in 1990 after running into financial problems.