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Defunct - W
Westair International
Westair International
1988 - 1989
Main base: Stansted (STN / EGSS)
IATA: -- ICAO: WIL
Callsign: WEATWAY
September 1988: Established at Norwich Airport leasing 2no. Handley Page HPR-7 Heralds (G-ATIG and G-BEYK) from Nordic Oil Services, and operating between numerous UK airports to Isle of Man, Brussels and Maastricht
September 1989: Ceased operations due to lack of work
November 1989: Company closed
September 1989: Ceased operations due to lack of work
November 1989: Company closed
Western Airways
Western Airways
1932 - 1978
Founded in 1932 by aircraft dealer Norman Wallace George Edgar, Western Airways was an airline based at Weston-super-Mare. Between 1932 and 1940, Western Airways transformed UK regional aviation. By offering low fares and high-frequency, short-hop flights, it held the title of the world's busiest airline for a brief period, operating up to 58 daily services.
v Tap for operational details & Fleet History v
v Tap for operational details & Fleet History v
Brief History
26/09/1932: Norman Edgar launched a twice-daily air service, utilising a de Havilland Fox Moth, between Bristol (Whitchurch) Airport and Cardiff (Splott) Airport, which became a popular route for Welsh miners on holiday.
With business booming, Edgar formed a new company, Norman Edgar (Western Airways) Ltd based at Whitchurch, operating a de Havilland Dragon.
In January 1933 Edgar approached the council of Weston-super-Mare to finance the construction of a new airfield, and construction commenced in February 1936. The terminal was constructed using a former WWI timber hospital.
1935: The airline expanded its network, offering continental services to Le Touquet and Paris, in addition to regional stops in Bournemouth and Birmingham.
May 1936: Weston Airfield officially opened on Locking Moor, with Western Airways managing the hub. By end of July 1936 the company had fully relocated to Weston and their fleet had expanded to cover both charter and pleasure flights.
January 1938: The Straight Corporation acquired a controlling share in Norman Edgar (Western Airways) Ltd and the company was renamed Western Airways Ltd. At this time, the company was operating 58 services a day, the highest frequency of flights of any airline in the world. The Cardiff–Weston air ferry had carried over 21,000 passengers alone.
10/08/1938: Norman Edgar left the company
1939: The Air Transport Licensing Authority granted Western Airways a monopoly for airline flights out of Cardiff. The fleet was further expanded.
1940: With the onset of World War II, The Air Ministry requisitioned Weston Airfield to create RAF Weston-super-Mare, bringing an end to the airline's peak pre-war expansion. The majority of their aircraft were impressed. The company diversified and rapidly expanded their Maintenance facilities to repair, maintain and modify a wide range of aircraft. Work also included manufacturing of aircraft components and the refurbishment and conversion of aircraft.
1946: Western Airways' airline operations restarted again in July 1946 with the Weston > Cardiff air ferry route, alongside Cambrian Airways. Western Airlines withdrew from the service at the end of the holiday season in 1949 to concentrate on their parts manufacturing operations, especially in the Bristol Freighter production.
Western would continue to operate Weston Airport and service and maintain a number of private aircraft. Pleasure flights were still popular. With activity declining, and the runway requiring resurfacing, the airport's licence was relinquished at the end of 1978. All Weston staff were made redundant.
26/09/1932: Norman Edgar launched a twice-daily air service, utilising a de Havilland Fox Moth, between Bristol (Whitchurch) Airport and Cardiff (Splott) Airport, which became a popular route for Welsh miners on holiday.
With business booming, Edgar formed a new company, Norman Edgar (Western Airways) Ltd based at Whitchurch, operating a de Havilland Dragon.
In January 1933 Edgar approached the council of Weston-super-Mare to finance the construction of a new airfield, and construction commenced in February 1936. The terminal was constructed using a former WWI timber hospital.
1935: The airline expanded its network, offering continental services to Le Touquet and Paris, in addition to regional stops in Bournemouth and Birmingham.
May 1936: Weston Airfield officially opened on Locking Moor, with Western Airways managing the hub. By end of July 1936 the company had fully relocated to Weston and their fleet had expanded to cover both charter and pleasure flights.
January 1938: The Straight Corporation acquired a controlling share in Norman Edgar (Western Airways) Ltd and the company was renamed Western Airways Ltd. At this time, the company was operating 58 services a day, the highest frequency of flights of any airline in the world. The Cardiff–Weston air ferry had carried over 21,000 passengers alone.
10/08/1938: Norman Edgar left the company
1939: The Air Transport Licensing Authority granted Western Airways a monopoly for airline flights out of Cardiff. The fleet was further expanded.
1940: With the onset of World War II, The Air Ministry requisitioned Weston Airfield to create RAF Weston-super-Mare, bringing an end to the airline's peak pre-war expansion. The majority of their aircraft were impressed. The company diversified and rapidly expanded their Maintenance facilities to repair, maintain and modify a wide range of aircraft. Work also included manufacturing of aircraft components and the refurbishment and conversion of aircraft.
1946: Western Airways' airline operations restarted again in July 1946 with the Weston > Cardiff air ferry route, alongside Cambrian Airways. Western Airlines withdrew from the service at the end of the holiday season in 1949 to concentrate on their parts manufacturing operations, especially in the Bristol Freighter production.
Western would continue to operate Weston Airport and service and maintain a number of private aircraft. Pleasure flights were still popular. With activity declining, and the runway requiring resurfacing, the airport's licence was relinquished at the end of 1978. All Weston staff were made redundant.
Fleet History
de Havilland DH.83 Fox Moth
G-ABYO September 1932 (Norman Edgar) > Weston September 1933 > 07/06/1935
de Havilland DH.84 Dragon
G-ACAO 08/07/1938 > 02/04/1940
G-ACJT 16/05/1935 > 09/02/1939
G-ACLE 18/05/1939 > 02/04/1940
G-ACMJ 01/07/1938 > 02/04/1940
G-ACPX 23/07/1938 > 02/04/1940
de Havilland DH.86B Express
G-AETM 18/05/1939 > 31/01/1940
de Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide
G-ACTU 01/11/1938 > 04/06/1940
G-ADBV 01/11/1938 > 12/01/1940
G-ADDD 01/11/1938 > 04/06/1940
G-AFSO 21/04/1939 > 04/01/1940
de Havilland DH.90 Dragonfly
G-AEDH 15/02/1939 > 08/03/1940
Percival Q.6
G-AFIX 18/11/1939 > 02/04/1940
G-AFVC 30/06/1939 > 10/05/1940
de Havilland DH.83 Fox Moth
G-ABYO September 1932 (Norman Edgar) > Weston September 1933 > 07/06/1935
de Havilland DH.84 Dragon
G-ACAO 08/07/1938 > 02/04/1940
G-ACJT 16/05/1935 > 09/02/1939
G-ACLE 18/05/1939 > 02/04/1940
G-ACMJ 01/07/1938 > 02/04/1940
G-ACPX 23/07/1938 > 02/04/1940
de Havilland DH.86B Express
G-AETM 18/05/1939 > 31/01/1940
de Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide
G-ACTU 01/11/1938 > 04/06/1940
G-ADBV 01/11/1938 > 12/01/1940
G-ADDD 01/11/1938 > 04/06/1940
G-AFSO 21/04/1939 > 04/01/1940
de Havilland DH.90 Dragonfly
G-AEDH 15/02/1939 > 08/03/1940
Percival Q.6
G-AFIX 18/11/1939 > 02/04/1940
G-AFVC 30/06/1939 > 10/05/1940
Westminster Airways
Westminster Airways
1946 - 1949
Westminster Airways was formed in 1946 by a group of MPs led by Air Commodore A.V. Harvey, to operate air charters. The company later acquired freighter aircraft to assist in the Berlin Airlift.
The company ceased flight operations towards the end of 1949, due to a reduced charter market
v Tap for operational details & Fleet History v
The company ceased flight operations towards the end of 1949, due to a reduced charter market
v Tap for operational details & Fleet History v
Brief History
05/06/1946: Westminster Airways was registered.
The company initially carried out light charter work from Heston aerodrome.
June 1946: The company acquired the first of several Airspeed Consuls, which were flown from Croydon airport. A maintenance facility had been set up at nearby RAF Kenley, which was also serving as their base.
1947: The company relocated to Blackbushe Airport and acquired 2no. Douglas DC-3s that would later be used in the Berlin Airlift.
1948: 3no. Handley Page Halton freighters replaced the DC-3s and subsequently operated as tanker aircraft to carry diesel fuel to Germany.
The company ceased flight operations towards the end of 1949, due to a reduced charter market as well as government policies and legislative restrictions imposed on air charter companies. Their fleet was gradually sold off.
They continued with engineering services having established Westminster Airways Servicing, specialising in conversion, maintenance and overhaul of aircraft. Aviation Servicing Ltd acquired Westminster’s facilities at Blackbushe a couple of years later and moved the business to Gosport. The company went into liquidation in December 1958.
05/06/1946: Westminster Airways was registered.
The company initially carried out light charter work from Heston aerodrome.
June 1946: The company acquired the first of several Airspeed Consuls, which were flown from Croydon airport. A maintenance facility had been set up at nearby RAF Kenley, which was also serving as their base.
1947: The company relocated to Blackbushe Airport and acquired 2no. Douglas DC-3s that would later be used in the Berlin Airlift.
1948: 3no. Handley Page Halton freighters replaced the DC-3s and subsequently operated as tanker aircraft to carry diesel fuel to Germany.
The company ceased flight operations towards the end of 1949, due to a reduced charter market as well as government policies and legislative restrictions imposed on air charter companies. Their fleet was gradually sold off.
They continued with engineering services having established Westminster Airways Servicing, specialising in conversion, maintenance and overhaul of aircraft. Aviation Servicing Ltd acquired Westminster’s facilities at Blackbushe a couple of years later and moved the business to Gosport. The company went into liquidation in December 1958.
Fleet History
Airspeed AS.65 Consul
G-AHMC 14/06/1946 > 12/12/1947
G-AIBC 29/07/1946 > 12/12/1947
G-AICZ 18/07/1946 > 12/12/1947
G-AIIN 31/10/1946 > 25/09/1947
G-AJLI 25/04/1947 > 10/12/1949
G-AJNG 27/06/1947 > 23/11/1948
Avro Nineteen Srs I
G-AHYO 10/08/1946 > 27/01/1947
DH.104 Dove I
G-AKET 21/08/1947 > 01/06/1949
Douglas C-47A Dakota
G-AJAY 13/01/1947 > 05/06/1950
G-AJAZ 13/01/1947 > 03/12/1948
HP.70 Halton 1/Halifax 8
G-AHDL 13/02/1949 > 01/04/1949
G-AHDM 15/11/1948 > 18/09/1950
G-AHDV 31/03/1949 > 01/01/1951
G-AJNW 27/04/1949 > 23/10/1950
Westpoint Aviation
Westpoint Aviation
Refer to British Westpoint Airlines
Whoosh
Whoosh
2007
Main base: Birmingham International (BHX / EGBB)
IATA: W2 ICAO: WEA
Callsign: ?
Flywhoosh, the trading name of BluArrow Aviation Ltd., was established at Birmingham Airport utilising the services and licences of White Eagle Aviation, a Polish charter airline based at Warsaw-Okecie Airport. An ATR 42 registered SP-KCN was operated.
29/05/2007: Scheduled services commenced to Dundee, Birmingham and Belfast City Airport.
07/12/2007: Flights suspended
29/05/2007: Scheduled services commenced to Dundee, Birmingham and Belfast City Airport.
07/12/2007: Flights suspended
World Airlines
World Airlines
1995 - 1996
HQ: London City Airport
IATA: W2 ICAO: WRD
Callsign: ECLIPSE
25/08/1995: World Airlines was incorporated for scheduled air transport.
13/05/1996: Operations commenced out of London City Airport with a 4 times a day service to and from Amsterdam.
Additional flights to Munich were subsequently introduced.
By the end of 1996, the airline had ceased operation.
24/03/2020: The company was officially dissolved.
v Tap for Fleet History v
13/05/1996: Operations commenced out of London City Airport with a 4 times a day service to and from Amsterdam.
Additional flights to Munich were subsequently introduced.
By the end of 1996, the airline had ceased operation.
24/03/2020: The company was officially dissolved.
v Tap for Fleet History v
Fleet history
BAE.146-200
BAE.146-200
G-OWLD 16/07/1996 > 08/11/1996
G-WLCY 26/03/1996 > 09/05/1997
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