British Airtours - UK based and routes

[Mooncrest]

BKT had its HQ at Gatwick, which I believe was also its main operational base, along with Manchester (somebody please correct me if I'm wrong). Did the company have any other British bases or outstations? In 1985, one of their TriStars rotated through LBA from and to Palma and their 737s were seen in subsequent years at LBA on W-patterns. Which other airports did BKT serve and with which aircraft? I remember seeing their 707s at Manchester on several occasions in the late 70s and early 80s; I don't know which routes they flew but I'd guess to certain Mediterranean and African destinations that the 737 couldn't quite reach.

Thankyou.

BTW, the title should read 'bases'.

[SWBKCB]

Originally Posted by Mooncrest

BKT had its HQ at Gatwick, which I believe was also its main operational base, along with Manchester (somebody please correct me if I'm wrong). Did the company have any other British bases or outstations? In 1985, one of their TriStars rotated through LBA from and to Palma and their 737s were seen in subsequent years at LBA on W-patterns. Which other airports did BKT serve and with which aircraft? I remember seeing their 707s at Manchester on several occasions in the late 70s and early 80s; I don't know which routes they flew but I'd guess to certain Mediterranean and African destinations that the 737 couldn't quite reach.

Thankyou.

BTW, the title should read 'bases'.

Decent history on Wikipedia (didn't know they wanted ex-AA B.707-123B's to replace the Comets before being "offered" the ex BOAC B.707-436's...). They had the 707's ten years before the 737's turned up

[ATNotts]

KT had 1 x 73A based at BHX for at least 1 season, I believe flying for Enterprise Holidays as prime charterer. I'll be able to check dates (and my memory) when I'm back in UK next week.

[tubby linton]

My father I believe was the sole KT B737 Captain at BHX. He seemed to spend most of the time driving to MAN or LGW.
As a family we flew on a KT B707 from LGW via Bangor to Tampa and the return was delayed as the aircraft which was in an Air Mauritius livery went tech.

[GBYAJ]

For what it’s worth I do t think they operated from many regional airports. Can only comment from
about 85 onwards when I don’t think there were any flights through Newcastle in particular. However, come 88 and Caledonian Airways there was a weekly Tristar to palma. Then in 1992 they based a 757 as they “helped” with the set up of Ambassador Airways.

[Hartington]

I was a travel agent back in the 70s when they first got the 707s. One friday afternoon we got a phone call asking if anyone wanted to go to Athens on Sunday. Just the flight there and back. I think it had been scheduled for a Comet 4B but then they got the 707s with more seats and had spare seats! Saw some friends on sunday evening and they were a bit surprised when I said I'd been to Athens and back for the day!

[77]

British Airtours Manchester

We had 14 crews based at Manchester from early 1981. Manchester based cabin crews. We also covered the services ex BHX with BHX based cabin crews. B737-200 although we also had leased in aircraft from outside. Two from Transavia one summer. As far as I remember no flight deck based at BHX. We also operated out of LBA. The aircraft did a W pattern but the crews only did two sectors, transport MAN to LBA either before or after. The Tristar also operated from Manchester but with LGW crews.

[77]

Manchester Routes Airtours 737

Manchester Routes----- Faro, Monastir,Alicante,Tenerife South,Gerona,Las Palmas,Reus,Corfu,Malaga, Rhodes,Ibiza,Palma,Venice,Heraklion,Tunis,Minorca,Malta,Pula ,Ibiza,Lourdes,Funchal, Lisbon,Minorca,Agadir,Tangier,Naples,Rimini,Kos,Munich,Veron a, Gibralter,Pisa.
All as there and back no night stops.

Birmingham routes...----Palma, Corfu, Ibiza, Las Palmas, Tenerife South, Faro, Athens

Some work out of East Midlands as well

Aircraft used Airtours B737-236 plus leased aircraft from Transavia and Air Europe

Hope that helps

[tubby linton]

I have a photo of my father in an Air Europe 737 G-BMSM on lease to KT taken in Malta.

[Matt995]

Birmingham

I know a B732 was based at BHX In 1986 and 1987, and for a few weekend flights in 1989, and also a Tristar flight from Mahon on Friday's in 1988 & 1989 on a W pattern from LGW/MAN

Destination - Day - ETD/ETA - A/C - Flight No - Year
Corfu - MON - 07:35 - 732 - KT 150 - 1986
Corfu - MON - 15:35 - 732 - KT 151 - 1986
Rhodes - WED - 09:30 - 732 - KT 152 - 1986
Rhodes - WED - 19:10 - 732 - KT 153 - 1986
Athens - SUN - 21:20 - 732 - KT 154 - 1986
Athens - MON - 06:15 - 732 - KT 155 - 1986
Heraklion - TUE - 22:15 - 732 - KT 156 - 1986
Heraklion - WED - 07:35 - 732 - KT 157 - 1986
Tenerife South - TUE - 10:15 - 732 - KT 162 - 1986
Tenerife South - TUE - 20:00 - 732 - KT 163 - 1986
Arrecife - THU - 09:00 - 732 - KT 164 - 1986
Arrecife - THU - 18:35 - 732 - KT 165 - 1986
Ibiza - WED - 23:15 - 732 - KT 168 - 1986
Ibiza - THU - 06:35 - 732 - KT 169 - 1986
Ibiza - SAT - 23:45 - 732 - KT 170 - 1986
Ibiza - SUN - 05:45 - 732 - KT 171 - 1986
Mahon - FRI - 07:30 - 732 - KT 174 - 1986
Mahon - FRI - 13:30 - 732 - KT 175 - 1986
Alicante - SAT - 07:20 - 732 - KT 176 - 1986
Alicante - SAT - 13:30 - 732 - KT 177 - 1986
Palma - MON - 16:35 - 732 - KT 182 - 1986
Palma - MON - 23:40 - 732 - KT 183 - 1986
Palma - TUE - 00:40 - 732 - KT 184 - 1986
Palma - TUE - 06:30 - 732 - KT 185 - 1986
Palma - FRI - 23:55 - 732 - KT 186 - 1986
Palma - SAT - 05:55 - 732 - KT 187 - 1986
Palma - SAT - 14:35 - 732 - KT 188 - 1986
Palma - SAT - 20:35 - 732 - KT 189 - 1986
Malaga - FRI - 14:45 - 732 - KT 190 - 1986
Malaga - FRI - 21:05 - 732 - KT 191 - 1986
Malaga - SUN - 07:20 - 732 - KT 192 - 1986
Malaga - SUN - 13:55 - 732 - KT 193 - 1986
Malta - THU - 22:40 - 732 - KT 198 - 1986
Malta - FRI - 06:30 - 732 - KT 199 - 1986

Corfu - TUE - 07:35 - 732 - KT 150 - 1987
Corfu - TUE - 14:40 - 732 - KT 151 - 1987
Rhodes - WED - 21:45 - 732 - KT 152 - 1987
Rhodes - THU - 07:25 - 732 - KT 153 - 1987
Athens - SUN - 22:00 - 732 - KT 154 - 1987
Athens - MON - 07:00 - 732 - KT 155 - 1987
Heraklion - TUE - 22:55 - 732 - KT 156 - 1987
Heraklion - WED - 08:25 - 732 - KT 157 - 1987
Kos - WED - 10:20 - 732 - KT 158 - 1987
Kos - WED - 19:40 - 732 - KT 159 - 1987
Almeria - MON - 08:30 - 732 - KT 162 - 1987
Almeria - MON - 15:05 - 732 - KT 163 - 1987
Arrecife - THU - 09:05 - 732 - KT 164 - 1987
Arrecife - THU - 18:35 - 732 - KT 165 - 1987
Ibiza - SAT - 23:00 - 732 - KT 170 - 1987
Ibiza - SUN - 05:00 - 732 - KT 171 - 1987
Reus - WED - 15:20 - 732 - KT 174 - 1987
Reus - WED - 14:05 - 732 - KT 175 - 1987
Alicante - SAT - 15:15 - 732 - KT 176 - 1987
Alicante - SAT - 21:25 - 732 - KT 177 - 1987
Alicante - TUE - 15:45 - 732 - KT 178 - 1987
Alicante - TUE - 21:55 - 732 - KT 179 - 1987
Alicante - FRI - 23:10 - 732 - KT 180 - 1987
Alicante - SAT - 05:20 - 732 - KT 181 - 1987
Palma - MON - 16:15 - 732 - KT 182 - 1987
Palma - MON - 22:05 - 732 - KT 183 - 1987
Palma - MON - 23:20 - 732 - KT 184 - 1987
Palma - TUE - 05:10 - 732 - KT 185 - 1987
Mahon - FRI - 15:10 - 732 - KT 190 - 1987
Malaga - FRI - 21:30 - 732 - KT 191 - 1987
Malaga - SUN - 14:25 - 732 - KT 192 - 1987
Malaga - SUN - 21:00 - 732 - KT 193 - 1987
Malta - THU - 21:10 - 732 - KT 198 - 1987
Malta - FRI - 05:00 - 732 - KT 199 - 1987
Palma - SUN - 07:25 - 732 - KT 7068 - 1987
Palma - SUN - 12:55 - 732 - KT 7069 - 1987

Mahon - FRI - 16:30 - L15 - KT 166 - 1988
Mahon - FRI - 14:15 - L15 - KT 167 - 1988

Munich - SAT - 15:00 - 732 - KT 100 - 1989
Munich - SAT - 20:10 - 732 - KT 101 - 1989
Heraklion - SAT - 23:00 - 732 - KT 110 - 1989
Heraklion - SUN - 08:30 - 732 - KT 111 - 1989
Kefalonia - SUN - 10:30 - 732 - KT 114 - 1989
Kefalonia - SUN - 18:50 - 732 - KT 115 - 1989
Mahon - FRI - 16:00 - L15 - KT 134 - 1989
Mahon - FRI - 13:30 - L15 - KT 135 - 1989

I always remember the callsigns too, they dropped the 1 and put a X on the end for Birmingham flights, so KT198 would have been "B'Tours 98 X-ray", I think the Manchester call signs had "Mike" at the end?

[N707ZS]

Flew on the Manchester to Heraklion my only ever 737-200 flight on school holidays, came back via Milan for fuel due to some technical reason.

[77]

Originally Posted by N707ZS

Flew on the Manchester to Heraklion my only ever 737-200 flight on school holidays, came back via Milan for fuel due to some technical reason.

Greek Islands and Canaries always a struggle for fuel, depending on wind with the 737-200. Pratt and Whitney JT9D if I remember. Re-fuelling stop quite common on BHX and MAN routes from those destinations

[77]

Originally Posted by tubby linton

I have a photo of my father in an Air Europe 737 G-BMSM on lease to KT taken in Malta.

G-BKBT & G-BLEA on lease from Transavia
G-BMEC, G-BMHG, G-BMOR, G-BMSM, G-BRJP, and G-DDDV on lease from Air Europe

Various seasons

[Mooncrest]

Thankyou everyone. I note some of the trips to Kos and Athens - evidently the 732 had a greater range than I thought. Were the crews all specifically employed by BKT or just seconded by British Airways ?

[77]

Originally Posted by Mooncrest

Thankyou everyone. I note some of the trips to Kos and Athens - evidently the 732 had a greater range than I thought. Were the crews all specifically employed by BKT or just seconded by British Airways ?

Initially at Manchester, following the procedure at LGW all staff employed by British Airtours except pilots on secondment from British Airways (originally of course BEA Airtours). All the Airtours staff contracts changed to British Airways as a result of privatisation.
Again initially at Manchester a few cabin crew on permenant contract. Most got an eight month contract. Manchester got quite a few cabin crew from the demise of Laker.
The eight month contract suited quite a few if nurses or teachers as the they got winter work bank nursing or supply teaching.

Re range...Athens not a problem. Greek Islands and Canaries..tech stop for fuel quite common. Flight deck had a book of prices for various airfields. EG Stuttgart £1,000 but if you could make say Ostend only £400.

[Mooncrest]

Very interesting, 77, thankyou. Do you know what the 707s got up to in their later years ? I know they operated concurrently with the TriStars in the early 80s but whenever I saw one at Manchester, it was seemingly parked for hours. I thought certain routes, like the longer Mediterranean trips, would have been ideal for the 707. I noted the previous post about going to Florida via Bangor.

[77]

Originally Posted by Mooncrest

Very interesting, 77, thankyou. Do you know what the 707s got up to in their later years ? I know they operated concurrently with the TriStars in the early 80s but whenever I saw one at Manchester, it was seemingly parked for hours. I thought certain routes, like the longer Mediterranean trips, would have been ideal for the 707. I noted the previous post about going to Florida via Bangor.

Don't remember the 707 much in the 80s at Manchester. The Airtours 737-200 basically operated at 54,000kgs, 130 seats so was quite efficient for the time. Loaded with pax it was about 40,000kgs leaving 14,000 kgs for fuel. Not quite enough sometimes Greek Islands or Canaries. Certainly not enough for Manchester to Banjul. That flight was 13th March 1985 via Faro for crew change and refuel. Short notice substitution for BCal.

Go anywhere, do anything those days. Unfortunately the 1985 crash at Manchester tainted the British Airtours name, hence the name change eventually to Caledonian in 1988.

[david120]

Originally Posted by 77

Greek Islands and Canaries always a struggle for fuel, depending on wind with the 737-200. Pratt and Whitney JT9D if I remember. Re-fuelling stop quite common on BHX and MAN routes from those destinations

77 - may seem picky but JT9D's would scrape the deck on 737, also thrust of approx 50,000 lbs - they were JT8D's at 17,000lbs

[Mooncrest]

One wonders if BKT might have benefited from a handful of 757s from the parent, before the CKT name. Reaching Greece and the Canaries just not an issue for the 757 , provided they had adequate aprons and runways! As I've already suggested, also easy enough for the 707, if a little more expensive to operate.

[77]

Originally Posted by david120

77 - may seem picky but JT9D's would scrape the deck on 737, also thrust of approx 50,000 lbs - they were JT8D's at 17,000lbs

Absolutely right, memory failure, along time ago. Lost the plot.