Manx Airlines
Encyclopedia
Manx Airlines was an 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.
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. The airline became part of the British Regional Airlines
Group in 1998 and lost its separate identity in 2002.
Manx Airlines operated the following types of aircraft:-
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. The BRAL Group (holding company for Manx Airlines and British Regional Airlines
) was bought out for about £72 million by British Airways
, and Manx Airlines ceased to exist.
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
based airline which existed between 1982 and 2002. Its head office was located on the grounds of Isle of Man Airport
Isle of Man Airport
Isle of Man Airport , also known as Ronaldsway Airport and, in Manx, Purt Aer Vannin, is the main civilian airport on the Isle of Man. It is located in the south of the island at Ronaldsway near Castletown, southwest of Douglas, the island's capital. Along with the Isle of Man Sea Terminal, it is...
in Ballasalla
Ballasalla
Ballasalla is a village in the parish of Malew in the south-east of the Isle of Man, close to the town of Castletown. The village was built mostly from the ruins of the nearby Rushen Abbey, a Cistercian abbey founded in the 12th century and dissolved in the 16th century.-Governance:The local...
, Malew
Malew
Malew is a parish in the Isle of Man. It is in the sheading of Rushen together with the neighbouring parishes of Rushen and Arbory.Malew parish covers an area from Langness Peninsula and Scarlett up to Foxdale, and includes the villages of Ballasalla, St Mark's and Derbyhaven. The area includes...
. An airline of the same name had existed between 1947 and 1958.
History
Manx Airlines started up on November 1, 1982. The first flight was JE601, flown from their base at Isle of Man AirportIsle of Man Airport
Isle of Man Airport , also known as Ronaldsway Airport and, in Manx, Purt Aer Vannin, is the main civilian airport on the Isle of Man. It is located in the south of the island at Ronaldsway near Castletown, southwest of Douglas, the island's capital. Along with the Isle of Man Sea Terminal, it is...
at Ronaldsway, by their Bandeirante
Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante
The Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante is a general purpose 15-21 passenger twin-turboprop light transport aircraft suitable for military and civil duties...
to Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
.
From 1985 until 1993, the airline had employed the Shorts 360
Shorts 360
The Short 360 is a commuter aircraft built by Short Brothers. The Short 360 seats up to 36-39 passengers and was introduced into service in 1981. It is a larger version of the Short 330.-Development:...
and the Shorts 330
Shorts 330
|-See also:-Bibliography:* Barnes C.H. and James Derek N. Shorts Aircraft since 1900. London: Putnam, 1989. ISBN 0-85177-819-4.* Donald, David, ed. The Encyclopedia of Civil Aircraft. London: Aurum, 1999. ISBN 1-85410-642-2....
. A Vickers Viscount
Vickers Viscount
The Vickers Viscount was a British medium-range turboprop airliner first flown in 1948 by Vickers-Armstrongs, making it the first such aircraft to enter service in the world...
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
Saab 340
The Saab 340 is a discontinued Swedish two-engine turboprop aircraft designed and initially produced by a partnership between Saab and Fairchild Aircraft in a 65:35 ratio...
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
BAe 146
The British Aerospace 146 is a medium-sized commercial airliner formerly manufactured in the United Kingdom by British Aerospace, later part of BAE Systems. Production ran from 1983 until 2002. Manufacture of an improved version known as the Avro RJ began in 1992...
. Eventually, the airline owned seventeen ATPs. The airline was successful in acquiring Business Air in 1991. The airline became part of the British Regional Airlines
British Regional Airlines
British Regional Airlines was a franchise partner of British Airways based in Manchester. They operated a large network of domestic and european services from many UK regional airports....
Group in 1998 and lost its separate identity in 2002.
Aircraft operated
- Vickers ViscountVickers ViscountThe Vickers Viscount was a British medium-range turboprop airliner first flown in 1948 by Vickers-Armstrongs, making it the first such aircraft to enter service in the world...
- Fokker Friendship
- Embraer EMB 110
- BAC 1-11
- BAe ATP
- Jetstream 31
- Jetstream 41
- BAe 146BAe 146The British Aerospace 146 is a medium-sized commercial airliner formerly manufactured in the United Kingdom by British Aerospace, later part of BAE Systems. Production ran from 1983 until 2002. Manufacture of an improved version known as the Avro RJ began in 1992...
- Series 100
- Series 200
- Series 300
- Britten-Norman IslanderBritten-Norman IslanderThe Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander is a 1960s British light utility aircraft, regional airliner and cargo aircraft designed and originally manufactured by Britten-Norman of the United Kingdom. The Islander is one of the best-selling commercial aircraft types produced in Europe. Although designed in...
- de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin OtterDe Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin OtterThe DHC-6 Twin Otter is a Canadian 19-passenger STOL utility aircraft developed by de Havilland Canada and currently produced by Viking Air. The aircraft's fixed tricycle undercarriage, STOL abilities and high rate of climb have made it a successful cargo, regional passenger airliner and MEDEVAC...
- Embraer EMB 110
- Embraer ERJ 145
- Fokker Friendship
- Piper PA-23
- Piper PA-31
- Saab 340Saab 340The Saab 340 is a discontinued Swedish two-engine turboprop aircraft designed and initially produced by a partnership between Saab and Fairchild Aircraft in a 65:35 ratio...
- Shorts 330Shorts 330|-See also:-Bibliography:* Barnes C.H. and James Derek N. Shorts Aircraft since 1900. London: Putnam, 1989. ISBN 0-85177-819-4.* Donald, David, ed. The Encyclopedia of Civil Aircraft. London: Aurum, 1999. ISBN 1-85410-642-2....
- Shorts 360Shorts 360The Short 360 is a commuter aircraft built by Short Brothers. The Short 360 seats up to 36-39 passengers and was introduced into service in 1981. It is a larger version of the Short 330.-Development:...
- ATR-72
- Vickers ViscountVickers ViscountThe Vickers Viscount was a British medium-range turboprop airliner first flown in 1948 by Vickers-Armstrongs, making it the first such aircraft to enter service in the world...
Manx's last days
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 BAe 146 The British Aerospace 146 is a medium-sized commercial airliner formerly manufactured in the United Kingdom by British Aerospace, later part of BAE Systems. Production ran from 1983 until 2002. Manufacture of an improved version known as the Avro RJ began in 1992... |
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)
London Gatwick Airport
Gatwick Airport is located 3.1 miles north of the centre of Crawley, West Sussex, and south of Central London. Previously known as London Gatwick,In 2010, the name changed from London Gatwick Airport to Gatwick Airport...
to Isle of Man Airport
Isle of Man Airport
Isle of Man Airport , also known as Ronaldsway Airport and, in Manx, Purt Aer Vannin, is the main civilian airport on the Isle of Man. It is located in the south of the island at Ronaldsway near Castletown, southwest of Douglas, the island's capital. Along with the Isle of Man Sea Terminal, it is...
(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. The BRAL Group (holding company for Manx Airlines and British Regional Airlines
British Regional Airlines
British Regional Airlines was a franchise partner of British Airways based in Manchester. They operated a large network of domestic and european services from many UK regional airports....
) was bought out for about £72 million by British Airways
British Airways
British Airways is the flag carrier airline of the United Kingdom, based in Waterside, near its main hub at London Heathrow Airport. British Airways is the largest airline in the UK based on fleet size, international flights and international destinations...
, and Manx Airlines ceased to exist.