Originally Posted by
Mooncrest
I always enjoyed seeing the 707 and 720 on charter and inclusive tour duty in the 70s and 80s. Laker, Monarch, JAT, Dan Air, British Airtours, Air Atlantis et al. And Aer Lingus too. Not necessarily operating on routes for which the aeroplane was designed but, in many instances, bought and well and truly paid for. Lovely aeroplane. And the 727 too.
The holiday brochures back then made a 'big thing' about flying you on your Summer holiday on a 707 or 720B to get you to book with them, rather than with a competitor with smaller aircraft.
Global Holidays used Caledonian Airways 707C's at summer weekends from LGW MAN & GLA to PMI ALC IBZ and TCI (flying quite a few 'W' patterns, ending with huge knock-on delays)
Lord Brothers Holidays used Laker's 707's from LGW and MAN
Cosmos announced Monarch's 720B purchase in 1971 as
''Look what we've bought for you!'' - flying these as far as St Lucia on package holidays.
Enterprise replaced the BEA Airtours Comets in 1971 with the ex BOAC 707-436's
Dan Air, Donaldson, and Lloyd International's 707's were often seen at PMI and TCI
Britannia Airways 707C's did not do a lot of work, but again were seen at PMI and TCI and flew long haul package holidays to Jamaica for Thomson Skytours to Montego Bay where they had built their own hotel.
BMA in 1982 refurbished their 3 707C's fitted with a new wide look cabin, new larger 757 exit doors, new seats and galleys and these were used on Med and Canary Islands IT's from BHX EMA and MAN, plus they subbed for other holiday airlines too, and also did Ski flights in the winter.
They also flew summer ABC Transatlantic charters from LGW and MAN to LAX JFK BOS YYZ and YVR.