SKYWAYS AVIATION: United States (1967). Skyways Aviation, the FBO at Orlando, elects to begin a scheduled air taxi service in 1967. Employing a Cessna 310, the company duly inaugurates frequencies to local destinations; these cannot, however, be maintained through year’s end.
SKYWAYS CARGO AIRLINE, LTD.: United Kingdom (19711980). Formed in April 1967 as the Lympne Airport-based travel agency of Skyways Coach-Air, Ltd., the company is reformed in early February 1971 following the collapse of its parent on January 21. The new owner, Air Freight, Ltd., which had purchased three Douglas DC-3s from Skyways, Ltd. in 1970, now acquires the cargo portion of that airline.
Ownership is divided between Eric Rylands, Ltd., Sea Freight, Ltd., and Beauvais Transit, S. A. The new subsidiary begins all-freight operations on February 21. Exeter-based South-West Aviation, Ltd. is taken over in 1973.
Following the closure of Lympne Airport in November 1974, the base of operations is transferred to Lydd Airport, near Rye, Sussex. Air Freight, Ltd. is reformed and is renamed Skyways Cargo Airline, Ltd. in May 1975. Chairman Eric Rylands and Managing Director T. C. Bed-dowes now oversee a workforce of 150. The company’s five DC-3s continue to maintain scheduled frequencies to Antwerp and Beauvais. Two more Douglas transports join the fleet, making SCA the largest DC-3 operator in Europe.
Flights continue apace in 1976-1979; however, the carrier is unable to withstand the costs associated with the fuel situation in the latter year and must cease operations in 1980.
World History
