Originally Posted by
bean
Started operations with Islanders 1973ish
I know that a lot of this has already been discussed by other posters but Brymon Airways was an airline that intrigued in the past. So apologies for any duplicate information that has already posted in this thread.
Brymon Airways was incorporated on the 26 January 1970 as Brymon Airways Limited operating as Brymon Airways.
The name was actually derived from it's curator's surnames, Bryce and Amon. Chris Amon was never involved in the day-to-day running of the airline and Bill Bryce resigned towards the end of 1984. After which, British Airways acquired a large minority shareholding in the company and appointed Charles Stuart as Chief Executive.
Brymon Airways first aircraft was a BN-2A Islander, G-BATG leased from Intra Airways. This aircraft initially served PLH to JEY. This aircraft remained with Brymon Airways until April 1972 when two examples were purchased, G-AXXJ in 1972 and a year later G-BADK.
The first De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter, G-BDHC joined the airline in April 1974.
Brymon Airways leased a HPR-7 Herald, G-ATIG from British Midland Airways in 1977 for a new route between Newquay and London Heathrow.
Brymon Airways was the first UK airline to start using the De Havilland Canada DHC-7 in 1981 when four aircraft were acquired. Two examples were based in Aberdeen flying for Chevron Oil. The two other examples were based at Plymouth. In December 1981 HPR-7 Herald, G-ATIG was returned to British Midland Airways and sold onto newly formed Janus Airways with the Newquay to London Heathrow link served by the new aircraft.
In June 1982, a Brymon Airways De Havilland Canada DHC-7 Dash 100, G-BRYA flew into Heron Quays in the London Docklands, paving the way for London City Airport. A further test flight took place the following year as part of a public enquiry. Brymon was the lead airline in the quest for the airport and made the first ever landing on the 26 October 1987. Together with it's new partner Air France, Brymon Airways introduced London City Airport's first services in November 1987.
During Brymon Airways history it's fleet consisted of the following aircraft.
3 Britten Norman Islander BN-2A
8 De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter
2 De Havilland Canada DHC-7 Dash 100
2 De Havilland Canada DHC-7 Dash 300
1 Handley Page HPR-7 Herald
Brymon Airways flew to various destinations throughout it's history including the following. (I'm sure that I have missed one or two).
Aberdeen
Birmingham
Belfast City
Belfast International
Bristol
Brest
Brussels
Cork
Exeter
Glasgow
Guernsey
Jersey
Lille
London City
London Gatwick
London Heathrow
Manchester
Morlaix
Newcastle
Newquay
Paris Orly
Plymouth
Scilly Isles
Southampton
Strasbourg
Unst (on behalf of Chevron oil)
Brymon Airways was founded on the 26 January 1970. Brymon Airways officially ceased operations on the 25 October 1992 when the airline merged with Birmingham European Airways to form Brymon European Airways.
After pioneering De Havilland Canada DHC-7 operations into London City Airport in November 1987, Brymon European Airways ceased operating the aircraft into the airport in March 1993.
Rog747 in post 7, as usual is on the ball when he states the airlines history from then on.
Off topic but fairly relevant to the subject being discussed.
Whilst researching this I was surprised that Air Southwest was founded 11 year's after the demise of Brymon Airways. If I hadn't read that fact I would have sworn that the airline was founded in the late 1990s.
Air Southwest was established in May 2003 to fill the void left by the withdrawal of British Airways from South West England. It's first hub was set up at Plymouth City Airport and operations began on the 26 October 2003, the day after British Airways withdrew from the market. The initial route was Plymouth-Newquay-London Gatwick followed by Plymouth-Bristol-Manchester, this was later extended to Jersey.