airways international cymru bac 1-11, paramount md83 perhaps?

iea actually started in 1987 with one 737-200 when the planned 2 x 737-300 fell through.

Following the demise of Laker Airways a 1-11 operation, Air Manchester, popped up but only for one season, meanwhile some ex-Laker management were involved in developing another 1-11 operation, a Castle Air based at EMA, around the time that was deemed never to start Sir Freddie put the group in contact with a Tony Clemo in Cardiff, Red Dragon Travel I, who had aspirations to become an airline entrepreneur, Air Cymru subsequently set-up and operated for a few years, going to a degree B737, before folding in, I think, 1988 before Amber Air started up with a single B737 for not so long before being bought out by Paramount Airways of Bristol, I believe, to enable Paramount to go B737 rather than stuck with them only able to operate MD products ... Tony Clemo subsequently served a prison sentence for tax evasion.

IEA was totally separate, Aspro Holidays was started from a corner grocer's shop in Cardiff and, as already mentioned, developed their in-house airline IEA in 1987, a single B737-200 for a summer only 1987 before going 2 x B737-300 for 1988 and it went from there.

As PF says -
IEA was totally separate, Aspro Holidays (owned by a Greek Cypriot family - Asprou) was started from a corner grocer's shop in Cardiff and, as already mentioned, developed their in-house airline IEA in 1987, a single B737-200 for a summer only 1987 before going 2 x B737-300 for 1988 and it went from there - with 737-400, 757-200 and A320.

We handled them at LGW - great outfit and lovely crews - Often went down route with them for the day out in case of any issues that may come up to lend a hand.

Airtours International bought Aspro Hols and IEA morphed into AIH.

Inter European B737’s spent time in Australia during late 1989 and early 1990, while the Ansett and Australian airline fleets due to the domestic pilots dispute.

Yes, two out of the fleet of four B737's were damped leased to Australian Airlines, I occupied some 4 months or longer in Oz ground-managing the operation.

Ah, proper aviation ... Bristol-Cardiff 7 mins? Fond memories of BOAC having to operate a Bahrain-Dhahran leg back in the day. Urban myth had it that there was an unofficial sweep each month amongst the VC-10 crews.
I believe I was on the winning flight one month (only as SLF) with a time of 12 minutes. But they did have to raise the undercarriage after departing BAH. Probably covered elsewhere in the annals of PPRuNe.

I joined IEA when they started up in 1987. We started with a737- 200. We flew mostly to Cyprus from Cardiff and Bristol along with some Spanish routes. At the of the Summer , the Airline stopped flying and restarted the following with two 737- 300’s. I was promoted to Captain the following spring. Thereafter the fleet increased with two A320 and a757. There are a lot of photos online. It was a great family company. I’m still in touch with most of the earliest pilots and crew.

That’s brilliant. Did you know Alan Dix? Did you stay on the 737 or go onto 757 or A320?

Sorry, just realised you are a certain pilot who made an excellent video on the Go 737, and you have flown all the aircraft I have mentioned. You share the same name as an airport on an Island in the Med! Capt Mahon.

Not forgetting VH-TAX, pictured here at BRS


https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....585f7b7e48.jpg

IEA was possibly one of the last true UK Independent's to enter the package holiday airline business in 1987.
IEA was bought by Airtours/AIH in 1993, who in turn merged with Thomas Cook - all now gone.

Orion, Air Europe, BIA were all gone by 1991, Dan Air followed soon after.
Sabre Airways started operations in 1994 and in 2000 was bought by the Cyprus owned Libra Priceright Holidays Group, seeing a name change to Excel Airways.

Some UK holiday airline trivia -
Britannia Airways was the first airline in Europe to get the 737-200 1968
Monarch Airlines was the first airline in Europe to get the 757 1983
Orion Airways took the 737th 737 1981, and also was the first airline in Europe to get the 737-300 1985
Air UK Leisure was the first airline in Europe to get the 737-400 1988
Sabre Airways was the first airline in Europe to get the 737-800 1998
Excalibur Airways was the first UK charter airline to get the A320 1992

IIRC they also operated W patterns out of Manston Kent to Palma and Heraklion (as well as Larnaca already mentioned) in summer 92/3. Would be great if someone did have a timetable they could publish on here?

Definitely some interesting routes back then.
Loved their livery too. Was certainly bold and stood out from the crowd back in the early 90’s.

Just looked on Manston’s Wiki page and it’s all on there.

Quote:

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UK airports of CWL, BRS, BFS, MAN, LGW, LTN, NCL, EMA, BOH, GLA and probably others that I have forgotten about,

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We went to see the Asprou brothers when they first got going as a tour operator (Aspro) to persuade them that Exeter Airport presented a unique opportunity to get ahead of the competition.

They agreed and set up some of their early packages from Exeter. I cannot recall which airline they used, or what the rotation was, or the frequency.........

But I do remember they were delightful to deal with, and infused the whole operation with their enthusiasm and courtesy, which was noticed and appreciated by their customers.

They did indeed. I drove down to Manston from STN once to take a look at an IEA 737 where the TE flaps by-passed on approach. Was a repetitive discrepancy. Found a #6 flap screw jack gearbox dry. Serviced it and off it went!

Sorry BAC1-11 ops was AirBelfast and MD80 was Paramount

Air Belfast was actually AB Airlines previously known as Air Bristol, yes Paramount of Bristol operated MD83's which would regularly pop in to CWL for a fuel stop en-route from BRS to the the Canaries.

Meanwhile back at Inter European Airways:


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....3818fc92db.jpg

Ahhh... IEA.

Enjoyed a few flights with them. Cabin service was good, aspired to be better than some of the other bucket and spade carriers.

From Bristol to Izmir in 1988 - realised that the captain looked a bit familiar - it was the Chief Pilot Robert Seed who was pictured in the inflight magazine. En route is mentioned the Battle of Britain as we returned to UK airspace
On arrival to BRS it took a little while for the ground handlers to get unloading going - he came out of the cockpit and tore into the handling agent. Whole plane fell silent...probably not the way to let your frustrations out...
The following year I flew from Cardiff to Zakinthos - there was an extra staff member on the flight - not cabin crew, not flight crew, but very interestested in what was going on. I realised later it was one of the senior guys with the airline - Sean/Shaun something or other.
Finally, in 1991 I flew from Cardiff again, this time to Tenerife. I knew the aircraft would have been used out of Cardiff a lot as 'CCFC forever' was scratched into the seat in front...

Aspro Holidays / IEA were great for the travel industry in South Wales / South West, as they would introduce new destinations ahead of other carriers.

I remember flying on holiday with Airways International Cymru too - Tony Clemo the owner who lived just up the road from me passed away last year

Ah yes, Capt. Bob Seed, a shrewd Scotsman, the hotel in Cyprus were economising on the liquor, Bob took one sip of his brandy sour before turning to the barman announcing "Try putting your hydrometer in to that" :)

Sharm el Sheik was another place where FTL hours for crews meant HOTAC and layover at SSH, especially for MAN DSA or GLA crews - Not enough hours for a there and back duty.

If flights were doing fortnightly holidays to LCA then obviously the a/c would not, or may not go back to origin that day - It would op say BOH-LCA-NCL for instance. Crew change at LCA as mentioned ----
2 weeks later it would op NCL-LCA-BOH - to pick the BOH inbounds and so on....That is how Tour Operators get the most out of their charter series contracts with airlines.

I was always puzzled why IEA got an A320..........

PF there is a new thread on AH&N right now about Dan Air's 727's and their Australian adventure during the TN pilot dispute. https://www.pprune.org/10867535-post17.html