British Airtours - UK based and routes
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'. |
Originally Posted by Mooncrest
(Post 10891836)
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'. |
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.
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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. |
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. |
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!
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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.
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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 |
I have a photo of my father in an Air Europe 737 G-BMSM on lease to KT taken in Malta.
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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? |
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.
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Originally Posted by N707ZS
(Post 10892017)
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.
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Originally Posted by tubby linton
(Post 10891929)
I have a photo of my father in an Air Europe 737 G-BMSM on lease to KT taken in Malta.
G-BMEC, G-BMHG, G-BMOR, G-BMSM, G-BRJP, and G-DDDV on lease from Air Europe Various seasons |
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 ?
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Originally Posted by Mooncrest
(Post 10892055)
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 ?
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. |
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.
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Originally Posted by Mooncrest
(Post 10892084)
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.
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. |
Originally Posted by 77
(Post 10892051)
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
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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.
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Originally Posted by david120
(Post 10892128)
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
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