Stansted Airport History and Nostalgia
The fact that Channel Express operated scheduled services on "behalf" of other companies doesn't really count I don't think. It's just the same as Jet2 or Titan Airways operating flights on behalf of the Royal Mail, at the end of the day they were Royal Mail flights.
I won't add Channel Express to the list of former scheduled cargo airline's operating from London Stansted Airport based on the two flights STN-IST-STN as there have been many other examples that I could easily add if that we're the case.
I'll be re-editing the list accordingly.
I won't add Channel Express to the list of former scheduled cargo airline's operating from London Stansted Airport based on the two flights STN-IST-STN as there have been many other examples that I could easily add if that we're the case.
I'll be re-editing the list accordingly.
However most of the Channel Express flights were on Channex callsigns except the TNT which was "NITRO", and I don't remember the Royal Mail having their own AOC.
I've also remembered we did a weekly and sometimes twice weekly BA flight to Tel Aviv in 1997/8. BA callsign, and also STN-CGN-SHJ-LCA-STN for UPS 5 days a week in 2000/2001.
PS. Jet2 is Channex.
Last edited by dixi188; 6th Apr 2020 at 11:08. Reason: spelling
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Ford had quite a fleet at Stansted as I recall, three 1-11s and two or three Gulfstream 1s? Pilot published a good article about their ops a couple decades back.
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BAWC had quite a hub at Stansted in the 1990's
they used Gemini Air Cargo DC10's to South America on Mondays. all three African International DC8-54's on charter from Stansted to Africa all week and the Channel express flights as well. this then moved on to the three Atlas B747's which in turn became Global Supply Systems.
they used Gemini Air Cargo DC10's to South America on Mondays. all three African International DC8-54's on charter from Stansted to Africa all week and the Channel express flights as well. this then moved on to the three Atlas B747's which in turn became Global Supply Systems.
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another scheduled service cargo carrier at Stansted that has not been mentioned is MK Cargo with their DC8's and latterly the B747's. they moved to Stansted from Gatwick and If I recall correctly they moved to Manston before they went bust.
The G1's G-ASXT, G-AWYF and G-BRAL
Had a very good school mate who's dad was a Ford 1-11 Captain
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Remember Ford operating MD-87s into Stansted in the mid 90s, I think these were VP-BOP and VP-BOO . In those days , as I recall, if ATC didn't specify an airspeed restriction they reduced to about 140 kts 6 or 7 miles out,
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and they finished off with a couple of B737-700's which went to Southwest Airlines when they closed down. I believe the passengers then went from Southend on flightline
Thread Starter
MK Airlines Ltd was a cargo airline formed in Accra Ghana in 1990. The airline was founded by Michael C Kruger as MK Air Cargo d'Or. (MK stands for it's founders initials).
MK Airlines was operational between 1990 and 2010 concentrating on freight services to and from Africa and Europe as well as one off flights to North America.
Headquartered and registered in Ghana the airline had a network of cargo flights with hubs at Accra Kotoka International Airport and London Gatwick Airport. Initial operations was with a single DC8. In 1993 the MK Airlines branding was adopted.
Between 1995 and 1996, the headquarters of the airline were located in Nigeria. From 1999 onwards, MK Airlines expanded it's fleet with cargo configured Boeing 747-200. The last of the DC8's were withdrawn from service in 2006.
In September 2006 MK Airlines was issued a new airline license by the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority. The airline's headquarters were now based at Hartfield, East Sussex.
In November 2007, plans for a rebranding of the airline as British Global were announced. The company had it's airline code changed to BGB accordingly, but in March 2008 the rebranding was postponed indefinitely.
Due to financial problems MK Airlines had to suspend all flight operations on 10 June 2008 and went into administration. Following a reorganization of the airline's funding, bankruptcy administration could be left until 24 June 2009. Plans for an acquisition of more fuel-efficient aircraft of the Boeing 747-400 could not be realized.
On 09 April 2010, all operations of the company ceased with the surrender of the Air Operators Certificate to the UK CAA on the same day.
During it's lifespan MK Airlines operated the following aircraft
13 Boeing 747-200
6 DC8-50
5 DC8-60/70
IATA code 7G
ICAO code BGB
Callsign BRITISH GLOBAL
Operating bases,
Accra Kotoka International Airport
London Gatwick Airport "from 1990 to 2006"
Manston (Kent International) Airport "from 2006".
Luxembourg Findel International Airport
Ostend-Bruges International Airport
MK Airlines operated from and had headquarters at London Gatwick Airport from the time of it's start up in 1990 up untill the airline moved it's operating base to Manston Kent International Airport in 2006.
London Stansted Airport certainly saw quite a few flights from MK Airlines but the airline was never based at the airport and the flights were ad-hoc charters rather than fully fledged SCHEDULED cargo flights. MK Airlines flights from London Stansted Airport we're mostly flown on behalf of other airlines or operator's such as Astral Aviation, BAWC and Panalpina.
For example in the summer of 2009 BAWC were using MK Airlines on flights between London Stansted Airport and Bahrain under the flight code BAW3599.
After MK Airlines went bankrupt Astral Aviation commenced their own operations between Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and London Stansted Airport.
Another African cargo airline based in Nigeria was Flash Airlines which had a connection with MK Airlines in one way or another.
Flash Airlines was a short lived Nigerian cargo operator with five DC8-55F's operated charter operations in 1985 between Africa and Europe. The first two aircraft were leased from the Intavia Group which was owned by one of founders of MK Airlines.
Flash Airlines went bankrupt in 1989 and we're regular visitors on ad-hoc charters into London Gatwick Airport as well as infrequent visitors to London Stansted Airport.
MK Airlines G-MKBA Boeing 747-2BF at London Stansted Airport on 01 August 2008
MK Airlines DC8-55F TF-MKG at London Stansted Airport during 1999
Last edited by Sotonsean; 6th Apr 2020 at 23:44.
Thread Starter
BAWC operations
BAWC had quite a hub at Stansted in the 1990's
they used Gemini Air Cargo DC10's to South America on Mondays. all three African International DC8-54's on charter from Stansted to Africa all week and the Channel express flights as well. this then moved on to the three Atlas B747's which in turn became Global Supply Systems.
they used Gemini Air Cargo DC10's to South America on Mondays. all three African International DC8-54's on charter from Stansted to Africa all week and the Channel express flights as well. this then moved on to the three Atlas B747's which in turn became Global Supply Systems.
If possible could you include the destinations and possible schedules during this period.
Many photos online depicting the African International DC8-54F's as well as the Gemini Air Cargo DC10-30F's at London Stansted Airport during this time frame but I wasn't aware that they were flown on behalf of BAWC.
I was out of the country for the majority of the 1980/90's so I'm personally not totally aware of the BAWC operations at London Stansted Airport during this period.
Gemini Air Cargo DC10-30F N616GC at London Stansted Airport on 19 April 1999
African International DC8-54F at London Stansted Airport during 1999
Last edited by Sotonsean; 6th Apr 2020 at 23:37.
Thread Starter
It's your list after all.
However most of the Channel Express flights were on Channex callsigns except the TNT which was "NITRO", and I don't remember the Royal Mail having their own AOC.
I've also remembered we did a weekly and sometimes twice weekly BA flight to Tel Aviv in 1997/8. BA callsign, and also STN-CGN-SHJ-LCA-STN for UPS 5 days a week in 2000/2001.
PS. Jet2 is Channex.
However most of the Channel Express flights were on Channex callsigns except the TNT which was "NITRO", and I don't remember the Royal Mail having their own AOC.
I've also remembered we did a weekly and sometimes twice weekly BA flight to Tel Aviv in 1997/8. BA callsign, and also STN-CGN-SHJ-LCA-STN for UPS 5 days a week in 2000/2001.
PS. Jet2 is Channex.
Formed in 1978 at Bournemouth Airport as Express Air Services with a small fleet of Dart Herald's operating flights to the Channel Island's of Guernsey and Jersey. Those flights particularly took newspapers outbound and flowers and vegetables on the inbound flights. The company also operated overnight cargo flights to Europe and within the UK.
In the early 1980's Air Express secured post office contract's by the Royal Mail and changed it's name to Channel Express.
In 1983 Philip Meeson and his DART GROUP acquired Channel Express.
In 2002 the owners of Channel Express, the DART GROUP PLC formed it's own low cost airline Jet2 based at Leeds/Bradford Airport.
In January 2006 the Channel Express name was completely dropped and the company rebranded entirely to become Jet2.
Throughout the company's history the,
IATA code LS
ICAO code EXS
Callsign CHANNEX
And finally
Last edited by Sotonsean; 7th Apr 2020 at 05:25.
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There used to be a couple of UK registered G2s/G3s based with Fields at Heathrow, plus visitors either there or in the cargo area.
Shell Aviation had a 2 and later a 3, plus some HS125s.
Shell Aviation had a 2 and later a 3, plus some HS125s.
Thread Starter
As has already been pointed out the Fields Aviation Hangar area was a magnet for Gulfstreams back in the day and various examples were present including other business jets on any given day.
Business jet's were also to be seen in the cargo area's plus the apron where the Euro Hub pier was built between terminals 1 and 2.
Thanks for that, good to know the grey matter hasn't totally gone! I seem to remember that it resembled the then SAA livery. Yes, Fields with their hangar, and as noted with several biz jets in situ at any one time. Sorry to keep it LHR, but did the Fields hangar have a curved/arched roof ? My minds eye says yes, with the 'Fields' written large across it.
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https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-20211380
I also remember in early-mid 80's Tradewinds B707's departing to Lagos heavy unsettling noise sensitive locals.
I also remember in early-mid 80's Tradewinds B707's departing to Lagos heavy unsettling noise sensitive locals.
Thread Starter
Thanks for that, good to know the grey matter hasn't totally gone! I seem to remember that it resembled the then SAA livery. Yes, Fields with their hangar, and as noted with several biz jets in situ at any one time. Sorry to keep it LHR, but did the Fields hangar have a curved/arched roof ? My minds eye says yes, with the 'Fields' written large across it.
Thread Starter
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-20211380
I also remember in early-mid 80's Tradewinds B707's departing to Lagos heavy unsettling noise sensitive locals.
I also remember in early-mid 80's Tradewinds B707's departing to Lagos heavy unsettling noise sensitive locals.
Tradewinds Boeing 707-321C G-BNGH at London Stansted Airport in July 1986.
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Thanks Sotonsean. Missed post 89, must be be staying at home that's driving me mad !
Although not cargo related I couldn't find any post on this thread related to this tragic accident which occurred in October 1987, a few days after the hurricane strength winds.
https://assets.publishing.service.go...AST__08-88.pdf.
Although not cargo related I couldn't find any post on this thread related to this tragic accident which occurred in October 1987, a few days after the hurricane strength winds.
https://assets.publishing.service.go...AST__08-88.pdf.
Thread Starter
Thanks Sotonsean. Missed post 89, must be be staying at home that's driving me mad !
Although not cargo related I couldn't find any post on this thread related to this tragic accident which occurred in October 1987, a few days after the hurricane strength winds.
https://assets.publishing.service.go...AST__08-88.pdf.
Although not cargo related I couldn't find any post on this thread related to this tragic accident which occurred in October 1987, a few days after the hurricane strength winds.
https://assets.publishing.service.go...AST__08-88.pdf.
But thanks for posting the link to the incident, it must have been an horrific situation for all concerned.
