British Eagle were the 2nd UK airline to introduce the BAC 1-11 in May 1966 for both Scheduled Domestic, and International services including Liverpool Newquay Glasgow Luxembourg Dinard La Baule Perpignan Gerona Ibiza Palma Pisa Rimini Tunis and Djerba, in addition to IT Package Holiday charter flights for Tour Operators, such as in-house Lunn Poly and Everyman.
Although they operated a total of 7 BAC 1-11's during their service at least 1 or 2 were out on leases to either KLM SAS or Swissair.
The company initially leased two new 79 seat Series 207AJs from Zambia Airways from May 1966 to December 1967 as G-ATTP and G-ATVH.
This pair did not have the Forward Airstairs option, unlike the rest of the new fleet.
Three new Series 301AGs G-ATPJ/PK/PL were soon to follow in June and July 1966 on lease from the Kuwait Finance Company, being built for Kuwait Airways but NTU.
G-ATPK was the first jet aircraft to fly into Innsbruck.
Two Series 304AXs G-ATPH/PI were ordered new by EG with 84 seat single class interiors and were delivered in April and May 1967, raising the fleet total to seven aircraft.
They all had names highlighting the BAC 1-11 Super Jet age -
G-ATPH - Salute
G-ATPI - Supreme
G-ATPJ - Stalwart
G-ATPK - Spur
G-ATPL - Superb
G-ATTP - Swift
G-ATVH - Serene
The 207AJ series were ordered and built for Central African Airways Corporation in Southern Rhodesia (that would eventually morph into Zambia Airways)
CAAC ordered the aircraft on 26th September 1962 but although completed in the company colours, they were not delivered following the Unilateral Declaration of Independence by Rhodesia on 11th November 1965.
This resulted in the refusal of an export licence following an international trade embargo.
The order was taken over by Zambia Airways Corporation Ltd. These were delivered in April 1966 but immediately leased to British Eagle International Airways Ltd after one of the aircraft was flown to Zambia for one week in May 1966 for a promotional visit.
On completion of the lease, the aircraft were repainted in full Zambia Airways colours and flown to Zambia in mid December 1967.
The aircraft were fitted with uprated Rolls-Royce Spey Mk.511-14 engines with provision for water injection, the only Series 200s so built for airline operation.
In 1968 the BAC 1-11 was possibly the most popular package holiday charter jet seen at European and Mediterranean Airports.
British United, British Eagle, Channel, Laker, and Autair international all flew the new Jets, together with Germany's Bavaria Flug.
Almost 20 years later Airways International Cymru would still be flying 2 of the above 1-11's.