Harry Goodman -Air Europe/ILG
Thread Starter
Harry Goodman -Air Europe/ILG
Harry Goodman, one of the most influential figures in the UK travel industry over the past 50 years, has died aged 79.
The founder of Intasun parent International Leisure Group, Goodman pioneered low- cost package holidays and created a number of iconic travel brands.
His airline Air Europe was widely seen as the forerunner of the budget scheduled airlines of today.
Goodman founded Sunair Holidays at the age of 24, and with it became the first major entrepreneur in a travel industry which until then had been regarded as dull and conservative.
In 1970 Goodman created and the built the business that came to define the package holiday market – Intasun, which eventually became the ILG.
The group spawned such famous tour operating brands as Skyworld and Club 18-30.
ILG became the second largest UK tour operator and pioneered the Florida boom in 1979, bringing mass-market travel to UK holidaymakers as never before.
In-house carrier Air Europe was the earliest low-cost airline, becoming the first pan European airline with bases in all major UK airports as well as Madrid; Palma, Italy, Germany and Scandinavia.
Goodman saw his empire crumble in 1991 as a result of the first Gulf war, but he left a legacy that included many of today’s leading travel bosses who worked under Goodman in the 1980s.
As the industry evolved Goodman continued to reinvent himself. In 1997 he founded TV Travel Shop which was the world’s first 24/7 TV channel selling holidays direct to the public and was sold in 2002 to IAC Corporation.
In 2005 he entered the cruise market, purchasing the Retail Travel Division of Page & Moy and founding Totally Travel whose major brand is 1st4cruising.
In tandem with an unparalleled career, Goodman raised significant money for charitable causes.
As Chief Barker of the Variety Club of Great Britain he raised more than £20 million for disadvantaged children in the UK.
Goodman will be remembered for inspiring and influencing many of today’s travel entrepreneurs and industry leaders, who regarded him as one of the sector’s true founding fathers.
The founder of Intasun parent International Leisure Group, Goodman pioneered low- cost package holidays and created a number of iconic travel brands.
His airline Air Europe was widely seen as the forerunner of the budget scheduled airlines of today.
Goodman founded Sunair Holidays at the age of 24, and with it became the first major entrepreneur in a travel industry which until then had been regarded as dull and conservative.
In 1970 Goodman created and the built the business that came to define the package holiday market – Intasun, which eventually became the ILG.
The group spawned such famous tour operating brands as Skyworld and Club 18-30.
ILG became the second largest UK tour operator and pioneered the Florida boom in 1979, bringing mass-market travel to UK holidaymakers as never before.
In-house carrier Air Europe was the earliest low-cost airline, becoming the first pan European airline with bases in all major UK airports as well as Madrid; Palma, Italy, Germany and Scandinavia.
Goodman saw his empire crumble in 1991 as a result of the first Gulf war, but he left a legacy that included many of today’s leading travel bosses who worked under Goodman in the 1980s.
As the industry evolved Goodman continued to reinvent himself. In 1997 he founded TV Travel Shop which was the world’s first 24/7 TV channel selling holidays direct to the public and was sold in 2002 to IAC Corporation.
In 2005 he entered the cruise market, purchasing the Retail Travel Division of Page & Moy and founding Totally Travel whose major brand is 1st4cruising.
In tandem with an unparalleled career, Goodman raised significant money for charitable causes.
As Chief Barker of the Variety Club of Great Britain he raised more than £20 million for disadvantaged children in the UK.
Goodman will be remembered for inspiring and influencing many of today’s travel entrepreneurs and industry leaders, who regarded him as one of the sector’s true founding fathers.
This chap is testimony to the fact that there is often the slimmest of fine lines between resounding success and failure. It was a very sad day when Air Europe stopped flying. RIP Harry.
Air Europe was my first airline. Great company with top trainers and a real atmosphere (while it lasted) of growth and success. Thanks Harry, I learned a lot and and had a great time!
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: East Sussex
Age: 86
Posts: 276
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Air Europe was also my first civil line. I have since flown for a number of others. None of than came close to AR. Then standard of airmanship, management and staff involvement were without peer. I wish all of or airline managements from their example. RIP Harry (and his first chief pilot Geoff Baldock).
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Essex,Uk
Posts: 184
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I met Harry once bringing him back from Crete in Air 2000 days.The F/o was ex Air Europe and when Harry asked to come to the flight deck,he bowled in and said,"you two used to work for me then"?.True to say he was a character and we had a good chat.
My condolences to the family.
Max.
My condolences to the family.
Max.
Of course, without Harry, there would have been no Air Europe. Most aircrew here will associate their very happy times with the airline within which many made friends lasting through today. Harry was the quintessential entrepreneur who deserved all of his successes for defining the title. We, ordinary AE employees hitched our wagons to this economic star and, in most cases, faired very well indeed. Indeed, RIP Harry and condolences to those closest to you, now left grieving.
TUBBY ; Excellent post.
PONTIFEX: Geoff was very much alive & well at the AE re-union of April 2016. Although many thought that both he & I were long gone. Scared the life out of several !
TUBBY ; Excellent post.
PONTIFEX: Geoff was very much alive & well at the AE re-union of April 2016. Although many thought that both he & I were long gone. Scared the life out of several !
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Sussex
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
AE Chief Pilots
Air Europe was also my first civil line. I have since flown for a number of others. None of than came close to AR. Then standard of airmanship, management and staff involvement were without peer. I wish all of or airline managements from their example. RIP Harry (and his first chief pilot Geoff Baldock).
had the pleasure of looking after AE for a few years until the end at LGW
lovely airline and nice people
the major holiday companies i recall were sunair intasun and lancaster holidays
lovely airline and nice people
the major holiday companies i recall were sunair intasun and lancaster holidays
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: UK
Posts: 0
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Rog, looks as though you didn't look after it to well then eh ? "the end at LGW" saw most of us walking the streets. Harry was long gone at the end, doing other things.
Maxboost- see Gordomac's post. Geoff was fine two years ago. Don't know about here & now though.
Maxboost- see Gordomac's post. Geoff was fine two years ago. Don't know about here & now though.
Described by his closest family as an enormous risk taker, he was the archetypal east end barrow boy. He was excellent at hiring good people and backing innovation, but with a reputation for being lets say a bit flexible on the financial side. The spectacular growth of Air Europe was hugely underfinanced. The company had virtually no assets and when it folded it owed hundreds of millions. I have only heard good things about Air Europe operationally, but as with Air Berlin more recently the other side of the story should not be glossed over.
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Monrovia / Liberia
Age: 63
Posts: 757
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Air Europe - some of the best years of my life! 
Air Europe achieved a number of 'firsts' - events that all involved could be, and indeed were, immensely proud of. E.g. It was the first charter airline to start off with brand new equipment; it was the first charter airline to provide a quality cabin service; the first new airline to be immediately profitable; the first airline to take advantage of airline competition policy in Europe; and the first airline to bring down business class fares within Europe; the first European airline to gain ETOPS approval for the B757 (albeit working in cooperation with Monarch Airlines, who actually operated the first ETOPS flight on 1st May 1988) ... and so the list goes on.
Harry, RIP
Air Europe achieved a number of 'firsts' - events that all involved could be, and indeed were, immensely proud of. E.g. It was the first charter airline to start off with brand new equipment; it was the first charter airline to provide a quality cabin service; the first new airline to be immediately profitable; the first airline to take advantage of airline competition policy in Europe; and the first airline to bring down business class fares within Europe; the first European airline to gain ETOPS approval for the B757 (albeit working in cooperation with Monarch Airlines, who actually operated the first ETOPS flight on 1st May 1988) ... and so the list goes on.
Harry, RIP
I caught the tail end of Air Europe. I was left with a brand new type rating and just a few yours. Took me ages to get another job. However, the training was excellent and that helped in the long run.
Agree with most of what has been said. Great fun company, excellent operation but aggressive expansion and the Gulf War contributed to its demise. However . . . the full story of that demise and how it actually happened has yet to be told!
One memory of 'Harry' that I will treasure. Sumptuous Christmas bash in London. Harry grabs the microphone and yells out:
"Are yer all enjoying yerselves?"
Several hundred crew go "mumble, mumble, mumble"
"I didn't hear yer!"
All shout "YES WE ARE!"
We could do with a few more Harry's to liven the place up!
Agree with most of what has been said. Great fun company, excellent operation but aggressive expansion and the Gulf War contributed to its demise. However . . . the full story of that demise and how it actually happened has yet to be told!
One memory of 'Harry' that I will treasure. Sumptuous Christmas bash in London. Harry grabs the microphone and yells out:
"Are yer all enjoying yerselves?"
Several hundred crew go "mumble, mumble, mumble"
"I didn't hear yer!"
All shout "YES WE ARE!"
We could do with a few more Harry's to liven the place up!
Nemo Me Impune Lacessit
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Derbyshire, England.
Posts: 4,091
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
AE were a great airline to work for, good training and management and a nice work ethic throughout. At a personal level I have a lot to thank them for. None of it possible without Harry. Rest in peace now.
