Southern International - a British Viscount operator

[Mooncrest]

Does anyone know if this company ever flew its aircraft into Leeds Bradford ? I don't remember but it is quite likely, given LBA's status as something of a Viscount hotspot from the mid-sixties up to the early nineties. Might have subbed for the likes of BA, BMA, Dan-Air and BAF.

Thankyou.

[HZ123]

A Viscount of theirs was at STN in 72 or 73 for a few weeks on crew training and ad-hoc charter but cannot recall who they operated for.

[oldandbald]

Although I cannot answer your question I did place a Lien on G-BBDK Southern Inernational Cargo and taped up the door late one night at Luton for unpaid debts in either '80 or '81. Freight was ready to be loaded. Problem finally solved but obviously a company with problems. Didn't make many friends that night :-)

[Bigt]

As suggested above both CSZA and CSZB flew for Dan Air on numerous charters during their time in Southern International`s distinctive blue/green/white colours. A 700 series aircraft XY-ADH flew into Southampton and was broken up for spares. BBDK was the ex BAF Freightmaster

[dixi188]

IIRC G-BBDK went to BAF after Southern.
Can't get a production list on the web at the moment, but I think it was Aer Lingus originally, Oman Air Force until 1976, then Southern and then BAF.
It was one of the few with double doors at the front to allow cargo loading.

[DH106]

I was a regular in at LBA from the mid 70's onwards and don't recall either ZA or ZB visiting.
But then I wasn't there all the time ;-)

[Mooncrest]

I'm so far concluding that Southern never graced the LBA concrete. Perhaps that's a good thing.

On the other hand, Viscounts operating for Dan Air definitely passed through. 1979-1980,the two late-build 800s which they either damp leased or chartered from Fields/Air Bridge on the CI routes.

[Helen49]

My fading memory inclines me to think that both aircraft visited LBA??

[Mooncrest]

G-BGLC and G-BCZR were the two Fields/ABC Viscounts. I didn't do registrations at the time but I expect these are the ones.

[canberra97]

Around 1981 Southern International were supposedly interested in purchasing two MD83s so they could enter the IT market but the airline soon went into financial difficulties and ceased trading.

I liked their colour scheme of white with blue and green and I have fond memories of seeing their Viscounts at my local airport of Southampton.

[chevvron]

During my 4 week stint at Sumburgh in Sep/Oct 1972, the competitors for the Southern TV Sea Angling Competiton were delivered in a yellow and white Viscount; I cannot remember which airline it was but it only did charters so I was told.
A few days later when the anglers were due to depart, it all hit the fan. The airline with the yellow and white Viscount was no more; a rescue mission using a BMA Viscount was launched. We described the approach to runway 33 to him on the way in (a Spitfire type curved approach following a line of sodiums in order to avoid Sumburgh Head).
He only landed a little bit sideways after kicking off considerable drift on short final.
Would this Viscount have been Southern International?

[treadigraph]

Not Southern International Chevvron, they were later than that - Alidair perhaps?

[Herod]

IIRC, Alidair were still around in the late seventies.

[kcockayne]

Alidair would fit the bill. They had a couple of VC7s based at Aberdeen during the 70s & frequently visited Sumburgh. Moreover, the colour scheme was yellow & blue. I seem to remember that Southern International were around at the end of the 70s. We certainly saw their VC8 in Jersey at that time - 79/80, I think.

[Airbanda]

Air Britain website has picture of CSZB at Lydd/Ferryfield in full Dan Air colours.

https://abpic.co.uk/pictures/view/1203287

As alluded above it (and possibly others) were used on various DA Jersey routes, either scheduled or IT, in summers of 79/80. Never saw one on ground at LBA but ISTR seeing them on climb out mid afternoon Sunday when I'd usually be preparing to return to my digs in London

[jetstream7]

Would this Viscount have been Southern International?

No. Probably this one.

https://abpic.co.uk/pictures/full_size_094/1142483-large.jpg



Air International ceased operations in October 1972

[HZ123]

Recollect it was often at STN where it ceased trading and was parked for a short time?