Manx Airlines

Manx Airlines

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IATA ICAO Callsign JE MNX MANX
Founded	1982
Ceased operations	2002
Hubs	IOM Isle of Man Airport
Frequent-flyer program	Club Sovereign
Fleet size	5 (2002)
Destinations	13
Headquarters	Isle of Man Airport Ballasalla, Malew, Isle of Man
Key people	Terry Liddiard
Website	N/A

Manx Airlines was an English-owned, Isle of Man-based airline which existed between 1982 and 2002. Its head office was located on the grounds of Isle of Man Airport in Ballasalla, Malew. An airline of the same name had existed between 1947 and 1958.

History

An earlier Manx Airlines had existed from 1953 until early 1958, based at Ronaldsway Airport and equipped with De Havilland Dragon Rapides and Douglas C-47 Dakotas.

The 1982 Manx Airlines was a joint venture founded by British Midland Airways and AirUK. Services commenced on 1 November 1982 and the first flight was JE601, flown from their base at Isle of Man Airport at Ronaldsway, by their Bandeirante to Glasgow.

From 1985 until 1993, the airline had employed the Shorts 360 and the Shorts 330. A Vickers Viscount 836 was operated from October 1983 until October 1988. Before retirement, the Viscount performed several 'champagne' flights, as it was the last to operate scheduled passenger services in the UK.

Manx flew a Saab 340 during 1987-88, which bore "City Hopper" titles when operating the Liverpool-Heathrow shuttle service. In October 1988, the airline collected their first BAe ATP, replacing the Viscount. Manx also flew the BAe 146. Eventually, the airline owned seventeen ATPs. The airline was successful in acquiring Business Air in 1991.

Aircraft operated

File:Manx Airlines Saab SF340A at Liverpool.jpg

Saab 340A "City Hopper" at Liverpool on the Heathrow service in 1988

Manx Airlines Vickers 836 Viscount at IoM Ronaldsway on Liverpool flight in June 1988

Cabin interior of Manx Airlines Shorts 360 in 1992

File:Manx Airlines (G-BSIW), Dublin, February 1993.jpg

Manx Airlines BAe Jetstream 31 at Dublin Airport in 1993.

Manx Airlines operated the following types of aircraft:

• Vickers Viscount
• Fokker Friendship
• Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante
• BAC 1-11
• BAe ATP
• Jetstream 31
• Jetstream 41
• BAe 146
  • Series 100
  • Series 200
  • Series 300
• Britten-Norman Islander
• de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter
• Embraer EMB 110
• Embraer ERJ 145
• Fokker F27 Friendship
• Piper PA-23
• Piper PA-31
• Saab 340
• Shorts 330
• Shorts 360
• ATR 72

Expansion and sale

In March 1991 Manx Airlines created Manx Airlines Europe in order to expand and fly routes within the United Kingdom. In 1994 Manx Airlines Europe became a franchise carrier for British Airways, its fleet flying in the colours of British Airways. In September 1996 Manx Airlines Europe changed its name to British Regional Airlines. In March 2001 British Airways purchased the British Regional Airlines Group (holding company of British Regional Airlines and Manx Airlines) for £78m. The airline was merged with Brymon Airways to create British Airways CitiExpress.

Manx Airlines ceased operations on 31 August 2002. Between March 1999 and the date of closure, the fleet was as follows:

Type	Registration(s)
BAe 146	G-MIMA
BAe ATP	G-MANA, G-MANB, G-MANC
Jetstream 41	G-MAJA

The last flight was planned to be flown by BAe 146 G-MIMA, from London (Gatwick) to Isle of Man Airport (Ronaldsway). However, due to technical problems, a sub-chartered aircraft was brought in to operate this service. Therefore, the honour of operating the last Manx Airlines flight (JE 818 Birmingham International to Ronaldsway) went to Manx-born pilot Captain Paul Quine who was in command of ATP G-MANB, which landed at Ronaldsway at 20:10 GMT on Saturday 31 August 2002.

References

Notes

Bibliography