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Old 21st Dec 2023, 18:41
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Airways Cymru International

Does anyone have any stories or memories of this airline ?

I remember seeing one of their early 737-300s at Manchester in Sunworld colours with matching Airways Cymru titles. I think it was G-PROC.

They leased one of their 1-11s, G-WLAD, to British Midland from autumn 1985 to spring/summer 1987. She moved on to BM's associate Manx Airlines afterwards and then I don't know what became of her.

The company was based at Cardiff but also flew extensively from Bristol. Manchester was another base. Probably Glasgow or Birmingham too. I remember Thomson Holidays was a major client but I expect there were others.

Any more to add ? Many thanks.
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Old 21st Dec 2023, 18:51
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Additional info here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airway...national_Cymru
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Old 21st Dec 2023, 19:38
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Thankyou SWBKCB. Wikipedia has the picture of PROC, just as I remember her. This site also states that leasing out one of its aircraft led to its downfall. I wonder if there were additional factors?

I'm sure I read somewhere that the ex-Britannia 737, G-BAZI, was infamous on account of reliability issues with her former owner. Perhaps this, plus the growing 767 fleet, made BAZI an obvious target for disposal. I don't know how well she behaved with Airways Cymru and any subsequent owners.
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Old 22nd Dec 2023, 07:07
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The Cardiff, Welsh and Bristol Airports' package holiday market has quite a lot of past history.

Airways Cymru International:
Set up by Red Dragon Travel/Tour Operator in 1984 to operate from BRS and CWL, plus other UK regional airports.
Previously, both Hourmont Travel and Cambrian Holidays using Cambrian Airways BAC 1-11's were the major local Tour Operators.

Airways International Cymru obtained a couple of Quebecair/ex British Eagle BAC 1-11's, plus leased in one more from BIA.
Their 2 own BAC 1-11's becoming rather fittingly G-YMRU (CYMRU = Wales) and G-WLAD (WLAD = Country in Welsh).
In 1985 Airways Cymru leased an ex Britannia Airways Boeing 737-204 G-BAZI.
The airline suffered more than their fair share of AOG's and summer ATC delays.
In 1986/87 their venture into expensive leases with 3 brand new 737-300's lead them to financial problems with winter subleasing in the USA, and they went under in early 1988.
Airways International Cymru was always an airline that operated on a rather shoestring budget.
The failure of a single lease agreement over just a couple of months, ultimately causing its failure, was indicative of this.

From the ashes, Red Dragon needed a new airline and so came Diamond Airways following the collapse of Airways International Cymru in the Spring 1988 but a month before their start-up the new airline was forced to rebrand as Amberair (Amber Airways) after a legal dispute with British Midland Airways over their own prestige ''Diamond Service''.
Amberair operated two Boeing 737-200s on holiday charter flights from many UK airports.
One of which was G-BAZI being ex Airways Cymru, but was registered G-BOSA so it would not get impounded.
Their other 737 was ex Orion, G-BKMS.
Despite having a good summer season the airline's owners and financiers were not happy to invest in expanding the airline and instead sold it to the new Bristol based Paramount Airways before the year was out.
This purchase was in part, due to Paramount being very unhappy with their MD-83 fleet, and of the Contract that Douglas had them bound into citing they could not operate any other type. Buying Amberair now allowed Paramount to gain access in operating the 737 which then saw them procure a new 737-300.
The airline's sudden collapse in 1989 is another very infamous tale, the history of which is well known.



Around the same time frame, another Welsh local Tour Operator Aspro Holidays (Owned by the Greek Cypriot Asprou family) set up their own airline, Inter European Airways who commenced operations in May 1987.
Initial plans were the leases from GPA of two new Boeing 737-300 aircraft, but in place of these a single 737-200 G-BNGK leased from GPA was used.
After operating during the Summer 1987 season, the aircraft was returned to GPA at the end of October and operations ceased for the winter.
The two new Boeing 737-300 series aircraft were then delivered in early 1988 - with a 3rd leased from Monarch, and then a 4th came in 1989 brand new from AWAS (G-IEAA)
The IEA fleet grew to a total of 12 aircraft, though their fleet at any time was 8 aircraft during 1992 & 1993.
Other aircraft operated included one Boeing 737-400, four Boeing 757-200 (two of which were brand new), and two new Airbus A320.
In June 1993 parent company Aspro Travel was acquired by the Airtours Group for Ł20m, and operations under the IEA name continued to the end of October 1993.


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Old 22nd Dec 2023, 07:35
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[QUOTE=Mooncrest

G-YMRU was repossessed 01.1988 and went to Dan-Air as G-BPNX.
Bought by Okada Air as 5N-MZE in 1991; saw service until WFU at Benin City some time in 2000 and became derelict.

G-WLAD after the MANX lease, was stored at Lasham in 1988 and then Southend in 1990.
To Okada Air as 5N-OVE in 1991. WFU at Benin City, Nigeria by 1997 and later scrapped.

737 G-BNCT new to Airways Cymru in 1987, is still flying cargo in Spain as EC-KLR Boeing 737-3Q8(SF) with Swiftair.

Last edited by rog747; 22nd Dec 2023 at 08:02.
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Old 22nd Dec 2023, 11:53
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Originally Posted by Mooncrest
I'm sure I read somewhere that the ex-Britannia 737, G-BAZI, was infamous on account of reliability issues with her former owner. Perhaps this, plus the growing 767 fleet, made BAZI an obvious target for disposal. I don't know how well she behaved with Airways Cymru and any subsequent owners.
Might be a myth! Flew 'ZI many times 1978-84. Only 1 tech incident (minor flap problem - easily resolved) according to my log book.
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Old 22nd Dec 2023, 13:20
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Originally Posted by Discorde
Might be a myth! Flew 'ZI many times 1978-84. Only 1 tech incident (minor flap problem - easily resolved) according to my log book.
Certainly a myth - BAL's maintenance was top notch. The company were experts on the type with many B737-200's being effectively almost re-built during heavy checks at LTN ( particularly after the Aloha 737 incident)
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Old 22nd Dec 2023, 19:52
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The wikipedia article referenced above has links to photos of all 7 aircraft operated. All 7 have a different livery!
That bears out what rog747 mentions about the airline being run on a shoestring - they certainly didn't splash out on paint.
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Old 22nd Dec 2023, 22:59
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Arrived at Palma in 1985, alongside was Airways Cymru One-Eleven G-WLAD. Tracing its details later, I found it was none other than onetime British Eagle aircraft G-ATPI, on which I made my first jet flight in 1968 on Liverpool to London, just weeks before Eagle went under.

Doing a Google search to see G-WLAD's actual dates, about the third entry was actually a thread here 9 years ago all about the aircraft, seemingly by the same participants (including self), so instead of recollecting it all again and likely being inconsistent I'll just link to it

G-WLAD British Midland and Airways Cymru - PPRuNe Forums

Airways Cymru never seemed to get any high-utilisation holiday flight series, and just worked with lesser sets of flights and ad-hocs. Regarding One-Elevens out of BRS/CWL, I think I recall in the early 1970s Cambrian were of course there, and also Court Line in 1973-4, in one of their less-common actual basings away from Luton, for Clarksons.
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Old 23rd Dec 2023, 05:40
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Originally Posted by WHBM
Arrived at Palma in 1985, alongside was Airways Cymru One-Eleven G-WLAD. Tracing its details later, I found it was none other than one time British Eagle aircraft G-ATPI, on which I made my first jet flight in 1968 on Liverpool to London, just weeks before Eagle went under.

Airways Cymru never seemed to get any high-utilisation holiday flight series, and just worked with lesser sets of flights and ad-hocs. Regarding One-Elevens out of BRS/CWL, I think I recall in the early 1970s Cambrian were of course there, and also Court Line in 1973-4, in one of their less-common actual basings away from Luton, for Clarksons.
Yes, Airways Cymru's 1-11's were both ex British Eagle TPH Salute and TPI Supreme.
(TPK went to Laker, and TPJ & TPL to Dan Air)


BRS/CWL saw plenty of BAC 1-11 IT Holiday ops from the late 1960's with Autair, Channel, and then with Court Line's 500 series, plus Cambrian Airways of course.
Clarksons had a large amount of package holidays offered from the 2 airports, sometimes the flights were a ''double-drop hop'' IE: CWL-BRS-PMI
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Old 23rd Dec 2023, 14:20
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Just to add that Airways Cymru International's callsign was "Welshair", if my recollection is accurate.
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Old 23rd Dec 2023, 15:58
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No-one's yet mentioned the crash landing of the PA31 in Jersey with the Airways International on-board bar takings being exported to France....

The leasing saga with the 737-300 to Sun Country was undoubtedly not a help but I'm not convinced AIC's entire downfall could be written up to that.

Between that and the Chairman of Paramount running off with the cash mid-way through the airline's summer season (after Amber Air had been merged into it), there were some interesting goings-on. And then Inter European was founded!
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Old 23rd Dec 2023, 18:17
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As a youngster I was really interested in AIC for some reason despite writing many times asking for some sort of memorabilia they never replied (most airlines did and sent all sorts in the 80’s).

however, in summer 88 they were due to open a base at NCL. Britannia had previously done all of the regional flying for Best Travel which included Grecian & Cypriana but AIC we’re going to take over from NCL.

Nationally BY were reducing their 737 fleet at the time so I remember the Thomson flight brochure showing AIC doing their flying from BRS and CWL as well.

So a few new 737’s were on their way. I assumed 737-300’s but they may have been 200’s.

the local paper, the evening chronicle had an advert for cabin staff and then a few months later the Journal had a front page story about AIC going bust and “jeopardising Geordie holidaymakers plans”.

anyway a Paramount md83 was based instead at NCL that year which was even more exciting than an AIC 737.

Some guy has done a series on You Tube called “grounded” and AIC is the subject of an episode (as is every airline mentioned above!)
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Old 23rd Dec 2023, 19:30
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Thanks all. I remember in about 1987/88 looking through a Thomson summer brochure and virtually all the Bristol and Cardiff flights were to be operated by 'YM' - Airways Cymru - having been Britannia hitherto. Similarly, all the Spanish flights to and from Leeds Bradford were handed to Hispania and their new 733s and 757s.

I too remember the 'Welsh Air' callsign.

I wish I could remember where I had read about BAZI's alleged dodgy serviceability record.
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Old 24th Dec 2023, 12:58
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If it might be of interest, here's the Airways International Cymru programme for Summer 1985 as constructed from that year's Airport Timetables UK publication. I'm not sure what leaves me more traumatised - the amount of positioning legs or the thought of trying to do Bristol-Athens on a Sunday night in a BAC1-11-300. Enjoy!

BAC 1-11-300 #1

Sat CYM199/200 CWL 0845 – PMI – 1405 CWL Global
CYM421P CWL 1500 – 1615 BRS Positioning
CYM421/422 BRS 1645 – AGP – 2150 BRS Enterprise / Twickenham Travel

Sun CYM377/378 BRS 0940 – RMI – 1500 BRS Cosmos / Global
CYM361/362 BRS 1545 – IBZ – 2105 BRS Cosmos / Enterprise / Twickenham
CYM417/418 BRS 2200 – ATH – 0630 BRS Sunmed / Twickenham Travel

Mon CYM197/102 BRS 0805 – MAH – 1240 CWL Global / Best
CYM101/198 CWL 1330 – MAH – 1950 BRS Global / Best
CYM198P BRS 2010 – CWL 2025 Positioning

Tue No flying

Wed CYM477P CWL 1330 – 1400 MAN Positioning
CYM477/478 MAN 1500 – PMI – 2030 PMI Global
CYM187/188 MAN 2130 – PMI – 0300 MAN Global

Thu CYM105/128 MAN 0600 – FAO – 1135 BFS Global
CYM127/106 BFS 1225 – FAO - 1925 MAN Global
CYM106P MAN 2000 – 2030 CWL Positioning

Fri CYM591/592 CWL 0735 – AGP – 1405 CWL Sunjet Holidays
CYM545/546 CWL 1445 – PMI – 2005 CWL Spanish Express
CYM103/104 CWL 2115 – IBZ – 0245 CWL Global

BAC 1-11-300 #2

Sat No flying

Sun CYM735/736 CWL 0815 – PMI – 1350 CWL Sunjet Holidays
CYM783/784 CWL 2200 – PMI – 0320 CWL Sunjet Holidays

Mon CYM141/178 CWL 0930 – CFU – 1800 BFS Global
CYM177/142 BFS 1900 – CFU - 0400 CWL Global

Tue CYM161/162 CWL 0615 – TFS – 1500 CWL Global / Best

Wed CYM131P CWL 0715 – 0730 BRS Positioning
CYM131/126 BRS 0800 – PMI – 1320 STN Global
CYM125/132 STN 1405 – PMI -1930 BRS Global

Thu CYM183/276 BRS 0945 – FAO – 1530 EXT Global
CYM277/184 EXT 1630 – FAO - 2310 BRS Aspro

Fri CYM121/122 BRS 0805 – IBZ – 1340 BRS Global
CYM363/364 BRS 1415 – MAH – 1950 BRS Global
CYM364P BRS – 1930 CWL Positioning
CYM577/578 CWL 2015 – AGP – 0220 CWL Global

737-200 #1

Sat CYM355/356 BRS 0800 – ALC – 1325 BRS Cosmos/Enterprise
CYM695/696 BRS 1430 – PMI – 1950 BRS Cosmos/Enterprise/Rank
CYM696P BRS 2010 – 2030 CWL Positioning

Sun CYM749/750 CWL 0825 – AGP – 1435 CWL Cosmos
CYM295/296 CWL 1515 – LCA – 0215 CWL Aspro

Mon CYM219/220 CWL 0600 – ZTH – 1430 CWL Aspro

Tue CYM241P CWL 0615 – 0630 BRS Positioning
CYM241/286 BRS 0700 – CFU – 1340 EXT Aspro (fortnightly)
CYM285/242 EXT 1445 – CFU - 2345 BRS Aspro (fortnightly)
CYM251/252 BRS 1345 – HER – 2315 BRS Aspro (fortnightly)
CYM242P BRS 2345 - 0015 CWL Positioning

Wed No flying

Thu CYM461P CWL 1015 – BRS Positioning
CYM461/462 BRS 1115 – ZTH – 1925 BRS Sunmed

Fri CYM325/326 BRS 0900 – TFS – 1800 BRS Cosmos / Enterprise
CYM485/486 BRS 1945 – CFU – 0405 BRS Sunmed
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Old 24th Dec 2023, 14:47
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Originally Posted by WHBM
Arrived at Palma in 1985, alongside was Airways Cymru One-Eleven G-WLAD..
Originally Posted by Flightrider
... Airways International Cymru programme for Summer 1985 ;;;

Sat CYM199/200 CWL 0845 – PMI – 1405 CWL Global
Yes, it was a Saturday daytime flight LGW-PMI I was on.

Surprising the other One-Eleven had not been sold on Saturdays, of all days in the week. Maybe it made some good money on ad-hoc subcharters.

Last edited by WHBM; 24th Dec 2023 at 15:46.
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Old 24th Dec 2023, 15:18
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That's a lot of work for two elderly 1-11s. By the end of the season, WLAD was wearing the British Midland Diamond colours and was on damp lease to this airline, based at Leeds Bradford to operate the Heathrow flights. Surplus to requirement at Cymru, I guess.









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Old 24th Dec 2023, 16:39
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Originally Posted by Mooncrest
That's a lot of work for two elderly 1-11s. By the end of the season, WLAD was wearing the British Midland Diamond colours and was on damp lease to this airline, based at Leeds Bradford to operate the Heathrow flights. Surplus to requirement at Cymru, I guess.
They'd only have been 18/19 years young so younger than the Jet2 737-300s that are in service today, and compared to many IT operations of the era they were pretty lightly raced with few overnight ops. meaning that there was some slack in the schedule to catch up delays.
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Old 24th Dec 2023, 18:57
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Originally Posted by ATNotts
They'd only have been 18/19 years young so younger than the Jet2 737-300s that are in service today, and compared to many IT operations of the era they were pretty lightly raced with few overnight ops. meaning that there was some slack in the schedule to catch up delays.
Fair point but the dynamic duo could well have been operating in a harsher environment than Europe. Lots of airframe deicing and surface decontamination in the bleak Canadian winters. Factors that don't exactly prolong an aeroplane's service life. Anyhow, 35 years later it's all rather academic.

Does anyone suppose British Midland had a choice in which 1-11 they were getting for the lease ?
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Old 24th Dec 2023, 19:18
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British Midland needed the extra capacity after European route licence “wins” - I think it was the Heathrow-Amsterdam licence - and put the 1-11 on Leeds Bradford-Heathrow as the shortest sector where the 1-11’s fuel burn versus the DC9 could do least damage (or so it was said!).

I don’t know if BMA had any choice but there were a few occasions when G-WLAD went tech and G-YMRU was sent in to take over and also went tech at LBA.
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