British Regional Airlines

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British Regional Airlines
British regional airlines logo.svg
IATA ICAO Callsign
THBRTBRITISH
Founded1996
Ceased operations2002
Operating bases Manchester Airport
Belfast City Airport
Southampton Airport
Cardiff Airport
Inverness Airport
Edinburgh Airport
Glasgow Airport
Fleet size56
Parent company BRAL Group
Headquarters Manchester Airport
Key people Michael Bishop (Chairman)
Terry Liddiard (MD)

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.

Contents

British Regional Airlines held a United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority Type A Operating Licence, It was permitted to carry passengers, cargo and mail on aircraft with 20 or more seats.

History

British Regional Airlines can trace its history back to March 1991 when Manx Airlines created Manx Airlines Europe in order to expand and fly routes within the United Kingdom. [1]

In 1995 Manx Airlines Europe became a franchise carrier for British Airways, operating some routes from its Manchester base under the British Airways Express brand. [2] In September 1996, Airlines of Britain Holdings which owned British Midland along with regional carriers Manx Airlines, Manx Airlines Europe, and Loganair, announced it would split the regional airlines into a separate grouping. As a result, the three regional carriers were spun off as the British Regional Airlines Group (BRAL). The UK based British Airways Express franchise operations of Manx Airlines Europe and Loganair now operated as a combined British Regional Airlines, while Manx Airlines continued to operate services from the Isle of Man. [3] At the same time, British Airways closed down its 'Highlands' division and transferred the routes to British Regional Airlines which would operate them as a British Airways Express franchise partner. [4]

In February 1997, BRAL announced an order for five Embraer ERJ-145 aircraft, the first of which was delivered in June that year. The aircraft replaced the BAe Jetstream 41 on services from Manchester and Southampton to Scotland. [5] [6]

In March 1997, Loganair was subject to a management buyout led by Chairman Scott Grier. The independent Loganair continued as a British Airways Express franchise partner and operated services in the Northern Isles with a fleet of six aircraft (one de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter and five Britten Norman Islanders). The main cross-border trunk routes remained with British Regional Airlines. [7]

In 1998 the British Regional Airlines Group floated on the London Stock Exchange. [8]

In March 2001 British Airways purchased the British Regional Airlines Group (holding company of British Regional Airlines and Manx Airlines) for £78m. [9] The airline was merged with Brymon Airways to create British Airways CitiExpress on 28th March 2002. Sister company Manx Airlines continued to operate as a stand-alone carrier until it too was merged in September 2022. [10]

Fleet

At the time of the merger with Brymon Airways, British Regional Airlines and Manx Airlines operated a large fleet of regional aircraft including: [11] [12]

AircraftBritish Regional AirlinesManx AirlinesTotal
BAe 146-100 11
BAe 146-200 213
BAe 146-300 11
BAe Jetstream 41 11112
BAe ATP 10313
ATR 72-200 11
ERJ-145 1919

See also

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References

  1. Wings of Mann, Kniveton G N
  2. 1995-02-01T00:00:00+00:00. "Pragmatic progress". Flight Global. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  3. 1997-03-05T00:00:00+00:00. "Regionals split from British Midland". Flight Global. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  4. 1996-09-04T00:00:00+01:00. "Manx takes over BA's 'loss-making' Scottish services". Flight Global. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  5. 1997-02-26T00:00:00+00:00. "Manx Airlines selects EMB-145". Flight Global. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  6. 1997-06-17T00:00:00+01:00. "BRA receives first Embraer jetliners". Flight Global. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  7. "Our Heritage | Loganair". www.loganair.co.uk. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  8. 1998-05-06T00:00:00+01:00. "British Regional gets ready for June flotation". Flight Global. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  9. Ex-footballer makes killing from British Regional Air Lines - The Independent
  10. 2002-11-05T00:00:00+00:00. "British Airways pushes ahead with UK operations reorganisation". Flight Global. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  11. "British Regional Airlines Fleet Details and History". www.planespotters.net. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  12. 2001-05-15T00:00:00+01:00. "British Airways forms CitiExpress from regionals". Flight Global. Retrieved 25 May 2023.