Remember Air UK?

[mrshubigbus]

I was just reminiscing this morning about my old company Air UK as I was reading an article about the success of VLM in Aircraft Illustrated.

Mid 1990s

A fleet consisting of 40 or so aircraft, ATR-72s, Fokker F27s, Fokker 50s, Fokker 100s, BAe146s, all being flown by over 400 highly motivated pilots!

2006

The Air UK name is just a distant memory and the remaining aircraft have been fully merged into KLM CityHopper with about 100 very demoralised pilots left!

So what happened?

Back to the mid 1990s

Stansted:-

Air UK was the major operator with its fleet flying to many UK and European destinations and a product, Sterling Service, that was very highly regarded. Airport growth was increasing significantly and passenger numbers were approaching the 5 million mark for the first time!

2006

The Stansted operation is now huge!!! A record 25 million passengers are forecast to pass through the airport this year. Many of the 160 or so routes are operated by airlines such as Ryanair, Easyjet and Air Berlin. Over 50 B737s / A319s etc are based at the airport. Passenger numbers have surpassed that of Manchester during the past few months and new routes to the USA have been launched.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_Stansted_Airport

Mid 1990s

London City:-

This up and coming airport was becoming a new "hub" for the company as several new routes were introduced. Its potential was very obvious to the company and much was invested into the airport. Routes were flown to the major cities of Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester, Amsterdam and Rotterdam.

2006

Two huge milestones have just been reached. 2 million passengers now fly in and out of LCY on nearly 40 routes! VLM have just announced that they have reached 100 flights a day in and out of the airport. The operation is huge and attracts the "Creme De La Creme" of business travellers willing to pay for the convenience of this "City Centre" Airport! There are no Low Cost Carriers here!!!

http://www.londoncityairport.com/index.php?mode=news&action=showStory&sId=992

http://www.londoncityairport.com/index.php?mode=news&action=showStory&sId=991

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_City_Airport

Air UK - Other Operations

Mid 1990s
Air UK had an established network of routes which covered the Channel Islands, East Coast, and Amsterdam. Major bases included Jersey, Guernsey, Norwich, Manchester, Leeds Bradford, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen.
These routes were all very successful and the company was well known and had an excellent reputation.

2006

All of these airports have seen very significant growth and are well served by a mix of full service and low cost carriers.

So what of Air UK and their growth throughout the rest of the 1990s and beyond?

The name does not exist anymore and the whole UK operation is now long gone! The company was taken over by KLM towards the end of the 90s and the remains of this once proud and growing carrier haven now been fully integrated with KLM CityHopper based at Amsterdam. The only remaining flights within the UK are feeders into Amsterdam. It goes without saying that Stansted and London City alone would have made the company an absolute fortune had they "stuck with it"!

What might have been! - If only!!!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AirUK

[barit1]

Only rode AirUK once (GLA-LGW, BAE146, late 80s) but the level of service to SLF was very impressive. If this (sample of one) was representative, they must have generated some considerable customer loyalty.

Pity we cannot find more than a few airlines today to emulate them. :ugh:

[wub]

Here's one of the fleet
http://www.pbase.com/glenns/image/48924596.jpg

[Mr_Grubby]

http://www.btinternet.com/~simon.gurry/Dadsphotos/GAVVZsmall.JPG
They have come a long way since this.
Crampton and Wrights C 172, Hemswell 1969.
Clint.

[zed3]

Happy memories over the North Sea from AMS to HUY and vv on standby tickets . Once accepted for a flight HUY to AMS on the jumpseat in a F27 with only 2/3 of the runway usable due works . PAX were limited but I got home bumping over the first 1/3 of unmade RWY - REAL professionals . Spent the rest of the flight discussing wine , with the RH seat guy handflying the a/c - management decision that the autopilot be disconnected for fuel economy !!!!!
Those were the days , I was younger too !!! Shame what happened next .

[h73kr]

Remember Air UK? Absolutely! Worked with them for may years, was a pretty decent company to work for I thought offering a very professional service to it's customers. I beleive customer loyalty was very high, especially on the London - Scotland routes where punctuality was consistently better than our major rivals. Heyday I thought was in early to mid 90's, operating as major user of Stansted as a hub, hell we even ran TV adverts for a while! However, I think it then became too big to have the benefits of a small company, but not quite big enough to have the benefits of a real major airline. Was quite excited at the prospect of the KLM take over and rebranding/investment, but it soon became clear that we were just being turned in to an Amsterdam feeder, and the end was indeed nigh, slowly but surely until the way it is now. Shame, shame, shame. Mind you, I'd guess that easyJet and Ryanair would have finished off Air uk eventually as it was. Happy memories. :D

[fradu]

I saw F-27 Friendships frequently when visiting relatives in Eastleigh during the 1980s and early 1990s. In fact, they were the most common type to visit!

[WHBM]

The owners decided that KLMs offer for the company was better than continuing standalone. They were probably right. The Amsterdam feeder routes continue successfully, they would not have done nearly as well as an independent operation.

I used Stansted to Edinburgh quite a bit as well. Fares 15 years ago about double what I pay Easyjet nowadays. It wouldn't have lasted.

Everything Stansted became Buzz, which eventually was bought by Ryanair for more than could have ever been made continuing as an independent operation. Ryanair of course continue very successfully at Stansted.

All the Air UK Leisure side was sold to Air 2000 and things like the the First Choice 767 operation came from here. This continues successfully.

London City - no LCY-based operator has ever succeeded. Before AirUK there were Brymon and London City Airways. After AirUK there was the same experience with FlyBe. It doesn't work for based airlines, only for inward operators. And they don't make a fortune there, demand is too peaky, midday flights operate with low loads and there's nothing profitable at weekends.

[simon niceguy]

Years ago I did an ATC Fam. Flt. from LBA-AMS-LBA in a UK F-27.

The captains name was Will Scarlet. I spent the whole trip wondering if the FO was call Little Jon or Robin Hood. I didn't have the b*lls to ask though as I expect he would have heard it before.

Good trip though.


S.

[BEagle]

Yuk-Air from Edinburgh to Naarch via Leeds Bradford in around 1982..

First problem was that the landing wouldn't retract on take-off - the LHS MLG was in the 'Grand Old Duke of York' position - neither up nor down. But, after the pneumatics had charged up, the wheels finally came up and on we pottered to LBA at a sedate pace. Round and round hoping for the fog to lift, then a diversion to Castle Donington Robin Hood East Midlands Derby and Joan International. About 3 passengers disembark, really looking forward to the bus journey back to Leeds...

Cabin crew look happy as it's now 2200 - it seems they've just clocked a minimum overtime payment. "Right then 2 large G&Ts, please" we ask - and a beaming stewardess duly serves them.

On the way to Norwich we get bounced by an F-4 from our own squadron - we apologise to the F-27 captain!

Happy Times!

[primreamer]

Flew with Air UK many times in the early nineties on the LGW-EDI/GLA routes. Crews were friendly and courteous, looked like they were enjoying their job instead of just going through the motions and coupled with good punctuality, the short flights were very pleasant.

[Bus429]

The owners decided that KLMs offer for the company was better than continuing standalone. They were probably right. The Amsterdam feeder routes continue successfully, they would not have done nearly as well as an independent operation.
I used Stansted to Edinburgh quite a bit as well. Fares 15 years ago about double what I pay Easyjet nowadays. It wouldn't have lasted.
Everything Stansted became Buzz, which eventually was bought by Ryanair for more than could have ever been made continuing as an independent operation. Ryanair of course continue very successfully at Stansted.
All the Air UK Leisure side was sold to Air 2000 and things like the the First Choice 767 operation came from here. This continues successfully.
London City - no LCY-based operator has ever succeeded. Before AirUK there were Brymon and London City Airways. After AirUK there was the same experience with FlyBe. It doesn't work for based airlines, only for inward operators. And they don't make a fortune there, demand is too peaky, midday flights operate with low loads and there's nothing profitable at weekends.

The Leisure 320s were a pain in the neck (crews were OK). I worked on them when employed by a major line maintenance organisation in Manchester mid-1990s. Do remember an incident when the girls at the back didn't disarm the slide - caused a few problems for us. Apparently - sounds like an understanding culture - cabin staff were disciplined for such an error and would not admit it. We had to strip the door; there was no fault apparent.

[IB4138]

The Leisure 320s were a pain in the neck

Leisure never operated Airbus aircraft, always Boeings.

[WHBM]

Leisure never operated Airbus aircraft, always Boeings.
No, they changed over from 737s to A320s. 3 of them, G-UKLJ, K and L, followed by 3 A321 G-UNID, E and F were used in the 1996-8 seasons, after which the operation was sold to Air 2000.

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0399583/M/

[Noah Zark.]

The first time I ever flew was in an Auster operating from Cleethorpes beach, flown by Jim Crampton, circa 1957, as I recall.

[AES]

Remember Air UK? Absolutely! Worked with them for may years, was a pretty decent company to work for I thought offering a very professional service to it's customers. I beleive customer loyalty was very high, especially on the London - Scotland routes where punctuality was consistently better than our major rivals. Heyday I thought was in early to mid 90's, operating as major user of Stansted as a hub, hell we even ran TV adverts for a while! However, I think it then became too big to have the benefits of a small company, but not quite big enough to have the benefits of a real major airline. Was quite excited at the prospect of the KLM take over and rebranding/investment, but it soon became clear that we were just being turned in to an Amsterdam feeder, and the end was indeed nigh, slowly but surely until the way it is now. Shame, shame, shame. Mind you, I'd guess that easyJet and Ryanair would have finished off Air uk eventually as it was. Happy memories. :D
--------------------
Didn't fly with them too much unfortunately (was living nearer to LGW than STN at the time) but on the few flts as SLC I thought them really good, standing up well against BCal to AMS for example.
But especially happy memories of doing my RR Dart course there, in the (not much) converted RAF Sick Quarters (where are you now "Tiny" Livingstone - and if by chance you're reading this, do you remeber "Black Angus" on the same course, must have been Autumn 1982 or '83 I think?).

Yup, happy memories h73KR, and (as an outsider) they seemed to be a pretty good outfit to work for at that time.

Cheers AES

[Tazzy]

I worked with them for about 6 years (Ground staff) at LHR and STN. It was the best job i ever had, just one big family. It was in the good old days when ground staff actually formed part of the Airline and therfore had pride in it, not like now when services are farmed out to the cheapest bidder.

If i could turn the clock back, i would. I would even be happy to be at Stansted waiting for tech AMS bound F100s returning to stand with all the problems of missed connections and dealing with the last Glasgow flight on friday evening being cancelled.

A passenger once picked up the domestic timetable and said to me "this is the greatest work of fiction ever".

But despite the problems, we all actually cared about the passengers.... not sure it is quite the same now.

[edinv]

:) travelled with Air UK:-
EDI/ABZ
EDI/HUY
EDI/AMS
EDI/STN
HUY/AMS
HUY/LHR
STN/CDG
STN/GLA
STN/INV
INV/AMS

[You want it when?]

Flew with Air UK often in the early 90's - I seem to recall that they had one of the best breakfasts going. Often fly out of LCY now on Air Frances 146's :=

[corsaman]

Very fond memories for me of trips back from BFS to LBA, to visit the family in Yorkshire. Air UK served full meals, even on the 'Shed',and it was a delight to be looked after by big Margaret, a very tanned hostie, with a wicked sense of humour. Air Uk always accepted my BD staff travel tickets, and treated me like a full-fare passenger. One time, the Shed was sick, and Celtic Airways subbed, on a 330. We got a hot dinner, from a polybox. The poor stewardess said she was doing 8 sectors on it that day!:eek:

[Midland 331]

Equally fond memories of staff travel MME-NWI circa 1990, being the only passenger to board at MME after all the ABZ inbounds had disembarked. I was escorted out to the aircraft like a VIP, but my company had only paid £5.50 for the ticket...

I understand that the F27 had some pneumatic systems (as befitted an aircraft built in the land of windmills, someone once quipped.), plus some had true "bells" rather than electronic cabin "chimes". Hence, sound effects on departure were akin to a tram, not an aircraft. - "dink-dink" for the cabin staff, "psssshhh" as the brakes came off.

The Darts poured what looked like cold milky tea across the nacelles, and one's tea cup had to be held on the tray table, such was the vibration.
I occasionally gave myself a personal "navex", and took a half-mil. map, tracing the journey.

The stewardesses thought I was some kind of nervous flyer. making sure that we did not end up in Cuba...

An airline with a keen sense of "family", so I understood. Occasionally cursed by regular business travellers for tech. problems, but generally liked. "KLM-ised" to their detriment in the mid 'nineties. So sad.

r

[Throat]

Flew with Air UK from the CIs on Hearlds, now they did make the F27 look good!

Was BIA at one time part of the Air UK group ?

[WHBM]

Flew with Air UK from the CIs on Hearlds, now they did make the F27 look good!

Was BIA at one time part of the Air UK group ?
Yes, British Island (all the oddball bits of British United after the merger into British Caledonian) and Air Anglia merged to form Air UK. The Air Anglia routes radiating from their Norwich HQ up and down the East Coast looked remarkably like what Eastern do nowadays, while BIA had rather a mish-mash centred a lot on seasonal routes to the Channel Islands and Isle of Man.

Among what got developed was a focus on serving Amsterdam from provincial points. This is what interested KLM in the company.

I would have thought the Herald (from BIA) and F27 (from Air Anglia) would be similar (same size, configuration, powerplants, etc). What was ropey about them ? Air UK carried on running both together for many years.

[Golf Charlie Charlie]

Strictly, Air UK was the result of the merger of four airlines : Air Anglia, BIA, Air Westward and Air Wales. The first two were much larger than the other two. Air Anglia operated F-28s, among other types. Did these last with Air UK ? - I don't think so but am not sure.

[WHBM]

No the F28s didn't last. Although they were only months old at merger time (Jan 1980) the two F28s were returned to Fokker in short order. Must have been on a very flexible arrangement, and as Fokker had lent them a couple of prototypes to tide them over before the ordered aircraft were built, not a very profitable one for the manufacturer.

IIRC they did Norwich-Amsterdam and Norwich-Aberdeen.

[Jerbourg]

Air UK are still missed here in Guernsey. The airline flew to LHR-SOU-STN-AMS-CWL-LBA-EXT using various aircraft types over the years, (EMB110-SH360-F27-ATR72-F50-146) A full cabin service was offered on all flights-something badly lacking nowadays. The crew were always proffesional & friendly. The KLM stake was the worst thing to happen to this airline, it was slowly but surely wound down to nothing but an AMS feeder as we all know. British aviation was & still is much the poorer for its passing.

[EGTE]

Were Air UK responsible for the birth of Flybe?

Back in the days when "all this was fields" BIA and then Air UK operated a range of daily services from Exeter to various parts of the British Isles. Gradually those services were reduced until only a Channel Islands service was operated on a couple of days a week. Along came Jersey European with a Shorts 330 and the Bandit to compete with, and finally replace, Air UK on the JER & GCI routes. The rest is history!

[Midland 331]

Jim French is ex-Air UK, IIRC.

I'd hazard that new management and focus, plus funding from Jack Walker eventually turned the airline around and started it off on gradual expansion.

This all seemed to coincide with Air UK changing focus, and looking at UK trunk routes (LGW-EDI/GLA, STN-EDI/GLA).

Hence, the gradual withdrawl from EXT, I'd guess.

There were loads of ex-Midland folks in reservations and commercial management, including a former colleague from MME who is now quite senior.

r

[rogerbucks]

I used the LGW-EDI/GLA services regularly in the early '90's. Loved the 146's and invariably friendly crews.
The highlight was one trip back to LGW one sunny afternoon- I asked the stewardess if there was any chance of a jumpseat ride for a PPL... Next minute, I was in the flight deck, quick safety briefing and plugged in.

The skipper's name was Warburton (I think), ex-Nimrod pilot and a 'character' you seldom see these days. As we were south downwind for 26L, ATC asked if we would like a visual approach; 'is the Pope a Catholic?' replied the Capt, and donned his leather flying gloves for the landing. Obviously a man still enthused with flying after all those years!!:)

[WHBM]

Obviously a man still enthused with flying after all those years!!
Aren't we all ? :)

[BYALPHAINDIA]

I miss Air UK, They served the small Airports well for a long time, Especially my local LBA.

There were upto 4 F27's based at LBA, I remember G STAN, G BAUR,
G BAKL & the G BHMW - Z mob!

Sad when they went.

Happy Days!;)

[oldlag53]

Oh well, I can't resist the nostalgia any more...I was one of the lucky people to be working at Air UK in their heyday (I was there from 1988 - 1997).

The hosties were a fabulous lot, and there were some real characters amongst the pilots too...I remember sitting at the holding point for departure from STN one sunny day. Suddenly the pilot comes on the pa and says: "looking at the grass out here, ladies and gentlemen, reminds me that I must mow my lawn when I get home..."

Everybody smiled - made my day.

Many of the - ahem - more mature pilots had amazing backgrounds. I remember one senior guy had flown Vulcans, and another Buccaneers. Mind you, towards the end of their life the F27s were a severe embarrassment. One of my colleagues used to describe them as 'a million rivets all rattling out of sync...'

[Midland 331]

A quick peek in the office revealed an "ergonomic environment" similar to a 1950's Foden Lorry, including a huge yoke.

Apparently, very few of their F27s were autopilot-equipped. Could they be trimmed out to some level of comfort?

r

[J-Man]

Oh the Air uk leisure days, and Air UK! i remember looking out of the cafe at leeds bradford and watching the sick boxes (shorts) taxi out. Also flying on the 734 to Malta i think it was when i was about 3 or 4. Never did get a chance to fly with the domestic air uk, only KLM UK where i got a fantastic breakfast on the STN-Milan linate route. Museli and a full english breakfast. Spot on! :ok:

[esa-aardvark]

I travelled with Air UK NWI-AMS and vv at least once a week
1985-1995, Glad to have retired when KLM took over.

[Akrotiri bad boy]

I flew with Air UK in the early '90's from MAN to Chambery, it must have been a "leisure" flight using a 146. I remember the approach to Chambery vividly, mountains on either side with a clear view forward through the flight deck door. A very friendly crew with pride in the service they provided.

[WHBM]

AirUK Leisure was actually a separate airline (separate AOC ? ) with 737s, 320s and 767s. The mainstream Air UK operation was 146s and F27s plus a few others by this time.

The Manchester to Chambery flight on a 146 would have been a charter by AirUK mainline, they did a few of these in spare time.

I recall checking in at Stansted one day for Edinburgh when a UK flight to Amsterdam, normally a 146, was for some reason being operated by an AirUK Leisure 737 as a subcharter. The pax checking in ahead of me for it were being told this by the gate agent that "this is being operated as a Leisure flight". Being two old ladies this was quite meaningless to them and the conversation then went downhill like a script from the Two Ronnies. I've always thought that if all pax had to be told then Leisure must have had a separate AOC.

[Cuillin]

First commercial job was in the RHS of an Air UK F27.

Some of the Captain's had 12000+ hours on type - all deaf as a post, for some reason!

A few of the Captain's were operating over the age of 60 and were ex Bomber Command - fascinating guys.

F27 was an aircraft that, as a pilot, you either loved or hated. The people that didn't like it were, generally, the ones that couldn't fly it very well.

No autopilot, no flight director, no master warning panel, bomb-proof engines and built like a brick-built ****-house. Had an engine problem that required a manual shutdown and the thing few beautifully. Mind you if you could fly the sim in Maastricht nothing after that would faze you.

On an early line flight, Leeds to Paris, one beautiful spring morning I was congratulating myself on the quality of my instrument flying when suddenly the nose pitched up and there followed much over controlling and nose-down trimming on my part to try and keep the aircraft within instrument flying limits. A few seconds later, with instantly sweaty armpits, I asked "What the (heck) happened there?"
"Oh", replied the Captain, nochalantly, "that was the duty-free trolley being taken from the front hold to the rear cabin".

Cannot speak highly enough of some of the people I worked with.

Southampton ground staff, Guernsey and Scottish cabin crew and turbo-prop trainers get a special mention.

Don't mention KLM - you will set me off again.

[Double Zero]

When with BAe on Harrier trials in Scotland, we SLF were 'supposed' to fly the BA Glasgow-H'Row shuttle.

This was a cock-up every time, BA always delayed us, and if returning on a Friday evening Heathrow road traffic is a nightmare of course - kiss a large chunk of the weekend goodbye.

I found we could transfer tickets & go Air UK to Gatwick, infinitely more sensible, much closer to Dunsfold...

The service was FAR better, as was the food.

I do remember the 146 once momentarily filling the cabin with vapour on start up, which might have provoked more reaction these days.

When the cabin crew found we were BAe, and the a/c being a 146, we were especially well treated and one of our newer team members who had never flown AT ALL before was instantly invited to the flight deck for an informative & friendly look around, have a feeling including watching landing.

My changing plans resulted in others - I was not under that dept - getting an undeserved rollocking, wheras whoever chose BA & Heathrow in the first place should have got it.

After a few more such changes, they caught on & we generally went Air UK.

I'd rather have flown with them in a Rapide than anything BA...

They could have taught BA a great deal about customer service & punctuality, hats off to any of you reading.

[WHBM]

I do remember the 146 once momentarily filling the cabin with vapour on start up, which might have provoked more reaction these days.
Well Air UK may have gone but the 146s roll on and, yes, they still do the "steaming" from the AC vents before departure in the right combination of external temperature and humidity. And you still get a PA saying not to worry.

Possibly being ex-BAe you can advise what the issue is :)

[Double Zero]

Not my dept, honest ! Was a tech' photographer on Harrier & Hawk.

I'll mention it to chums still in the business, but it's more likely someone on an airliner thread here can answer...

DZ

[Double Zero]

Sorry about the thread creep Mods, a quick reply;

WHBM I've asked a chum who while not employed on 146 directly has travelled on them a fair bit & is an ace engineer; he's always assumed that water simply collects in the air-con packs, and is 'blown out' on start up / reaching a certain temperature.

As I say a question on an airliner thread might get the definitive answer.

DZ