note
Privately held largest, at that time, regional airline in Great Britain formed by merger of Air Anglia, Air Wels, British Island Airways and Air Westward. Airline was based in Norwich in its beginning, but when new Stansted terminal opened in 1991, Air UK relocated its headquarters to Stansted. Maintenance was carried out in Norwich (former Air Anglia facilities) and Blackpool (BIAs facilities) but later was closed in 1981. In 1987 Air UK formed Air UK Leisure subsidiary to focus on charter market. BAC 111s were used in that division and Fokker F-27s formed backbone of its domestic fleet. Air UK Leisure eventually acquired Boeing 737s and 767s for its long-haul charter work. In 1987 Air UK ordered jet powered BAe 146s. In 1994 Fokker F100s were introduced. Airline served dense domestic network as well as scheduled flights to Amsterdam, Brussels, Dusseldorf and Rotterdam on the continent as well as Dublin in Ireland. After deregulation of European commercial aviation industry, KLM acquired initially 14% stake in Air UK in 1995. KLM gradually acquired a stake in Air UK until in 1997 it owned 100%. At this point the airline was renamed KLM UK. KLM UK was in 2003 integrated into KLM Cityhopper.
founded - demised (age)
January 1 1980 - 2003 (23)
headquarters
Stansted Airport, Stansted Essex
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base airports
related operators
current /stored fleet (0)
