Pan Am and TWA Gatwick
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Pan Am and TWA Gatwick
Under Bermuda II, only two US carriers were designated to fly to LHR but only on some routes. When Houston-London was opened with Pan Am, they were forced to open this from LGW using TriStar 500s. I also know that TWA's St Louis service was also operated out of Gatters, but were there any more?
I know Pan Am moved MIA from LHR to LGW at the end but was that the totality of their non LHR London ops?
I know Pan Am moved MIA from LHR to LGW at the end but was that the totality of their non LHR London ops?
Both Pan Am and TWA operated regular charter flights into LGW from (I think) the late 60's with B707's - Mostly were affinity type charters, but I think MAC flights came in too (Troops)
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I think Panam also served Detroit from Gatwick for a short period. I recall the TWA St Louis was normally operated by the B767-200 which occasionally requested the easterly runway for take-off when the westerly runway was in use, due less obstacles on the climb out. It gave ATC a bit of a challenge !
TWA operated from LGW - JFK with daily with a Tristar in summer 1985 and possibly a couple of years beforehand - I would have to check old timetables.
Interestingly TWA operated positioning flights between LGW & LHR for the 747s operating the STL services, presumably for maintenance purposes.
I think that I saw three Pan Am charters at LGW on a Saturday in the 80s. The fourth PA flight was the scheduled L15 from IAH.
I think that People Express started transtlantic ops with a single 747 and they chartered a Pan Am 747 one day to cover for their plane going tech one day when I was on the viewing deck (interestingly handled by Gatwick Handling who handled PA rather than British airways who generally handled PE.) I don't know if this was a one off or happened more often.
As an aside, I remember seeing a United Airlines 747 on a charter from Chicago in the 80s, long before they regularly served the UK.
Interestingly TWA operated positioning flights between LGW & LHR for the 747s operating the STL services, presumably for maintenance purposes.
I think that I saw three Pan Am charters at LGW on a Saturday in the 80s. The fourth PA flight was the scheduled L15 from IAH.
I think that People Express started transtlantic ops with a single 747 and they chartered a Pan Am 747 one day to cover for their plane going tech one day when I was on the viewing deck (interestingly handled by Gatwick Handling who handled PA rather than British airways who generally handled PE.) I don't know if this was a one off or happened more often.
As an aside, I remember seeing a United Airlines 747 on a charter from Chicago in the 80s, long before they regularly served the UK.
Air Europe used to Dead Head (Yanks call it Commercialing) to Stateside using Pan Am, TWA and American around the time in discussion from Gatters . Full-Firm, FC was the order of the day (cripes, no wonder we went bust) but settling into me first JD & Coke I fell outa my seat when Skipper made his welcoming address (PanAm, I think) introducing himself as "Biff Edwards" and accompanied by First Officer "Punch Parker". Honestly. Biff & Punch on the Flt. Deck. Wonderful days.
