INVICTA INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES, LTD.: United Kingdom (1964-1980). Invicta Airways, Ltd. is formed by Hugh Kennard at Manston Airport in November 1964. In February and March 1965, two Vickers 610 Viking IBs and two Douglas DC-4s are purchased for inclusive-tour work, the first of these flights being made on March 20 from Manston to Basel.
A Viking 1B with three crew fails its takeoff from Manston on August 2 and crashes; there are no fatalities.
Destinations throughout southern Europe plus the Canary Islands are flown during this first tourist season and 120,143 passengers are transported.
In April 1966, two more Vikings and three more DC-4s are delivered. The summer season begins on April 5 with charters from Manston and Glasgow (Renfrew) to the Dutch bulb fields. The company’s first scheduled route, Manston-Ostend, begins in May on a daily basis. Ad hoc and inclusive-tour charters range as far as Tokyo during the year. Similar flights are undertaken in 1967, during which time the company sells two Vikings and a Douglas.
In February and March 1968, two Vickers Viscount 755s are purchased. One is relocated to West Berlin to fly inclusive-tours for German tour agencies. Following completion of the annual Dutch bulb flights, the last two Vikings are sold in May and July. New inclusive-tour destinations in Scandinavia are visited during the summer.
With Invicta now controlled by the Minster Assets Group, which also controlled British Midland Airways, Ltd., plans were put in motion in January 1969 to merge the two carriers. As part of the arrangement, it is decided that BMA will fly only Viscounts; Invicta’s two Viscounts are turned over on January 13. The merger is an unhappy one and in June, Kennard purchases back the three DC-4s surrendered upon merger and establishes a new carrier—Invicta Air Cargo, Ltd.
Ad hoc all-cargo charters are now started from Manston Airport. Company Skymasters visit all major British airports during the next three years and stage flights into Europe and the Middle East from many of them.
In October 1970, a Vickers Vanguard freighter is purchased from Air Holdings, entering service in November and allowing sale of a DC-4 in February 1971. Two more Vanguards are purchased, in March and May, respectively. After being restored to passenger standard, they are placed in inclusive-tour service. At this point, the company name changes once again, to IIAL. Among the significant charters now undertaken are pilgrim flights from London (CTN) to Rome and Tarbes. Trooping flights are now also flown for the Ministry of Defence.
Another Vanguard is acquired in March 1972, allowing the number of passenger services to be increased. Ad hoc and inclusive-tour flights continue as in 1971, with the addition of a significant new series of inclusive tours to Austria a highlight. Low-fare Bristol-Basel and Munich frequencies are flown during the winter.
These cost-cutting services come to an end on January 16, 1973 when the entire Vanguard fleet is repossessed by Air Holdings due to delinquent payments. All IIAL services are now suspended. In February, the European Ferries Group purchases 76% majority control of the airline and repurchases on a delayed payment plan the Vanguards surrendered to Air Holdings the month before. Invicta International resumes operations in early March; however, tragedy strikes on April 4.
En route from Bristol with 6 crew and 139 passengers, mostly members of a women’s group from Axbridge, a chartered Vanguard 952 crashes into the Juru Mountains, near Hochwald during a heavy snowstorm while on its Basel landing approach (108 dead); this is the worst accident befalling the Vanguard type.
Air Holdings immediately provides a replacement aircraft. Inclusive-tour personnel and ad hoc cargo charters continue to various B-720-023B (B-720B) European destinations during the remainder of the year. A Boeing 720B is purchased in December.
Charters continue through 1974, with the Tarbes pilgrimages again proving quite rewarding. During the year, another Vanguard is purchased along with a Boeing B-720-023B that does not enter service, but is instead leased to Somali Airlines. The B-720B of 1973 flies only a few services for Invicta, spending most of the year and next under lease to Britannia Airways, Ltd. and Dan-Air/Dan-Air Services, Ltd.
The 1975 company schedule is filled with services similar to those of previous years, such as Tarbes pilgrimages, Algerian cargo flights, and replacement passenger services for Monarch Airlines, Ltd. On October 26, in the last flight by its type over the U. K., a Vanguard flies 100 enthusiasts on an hour-long final flight over London (CTN). The five remaining Vanguards are now sold. In December, Invicta is sold to Universal Air Transport Sales, Ltd., of which original Invicta founder Hugh Kennard is chairman.
Two Bristol Britannia 312s are leased from IAS Cargo Airlines, Ltd. in January 1976, allowing Invicta to resume operations on January 3. All-cargo flights are maintained between Manston and European and Middle Eastern destinations. In November 1978, Chairman/Managing Director Kennard oversees 85 employees. Unable to generate sufficient traffic to overcome expenses generated in a time of recession and much higher fuel costs, the carrier ceases operations two years later.
ION TIRIAC AIR, S. A.: Otopeni-Bucharest Airport, Bucharest, 71850, Romania; Phone 401 230-60-81; Fax 401 230-60-41; Year Founded 1997. Ion Tiriac is established at Bucharest in 1997 to offer executive and small group passenger charters throughout Europe, North Africa, and the Mideast. Operations Director Radu Ruse begins revenue services with a single Cessna 525 Citation. A Bell 206L LongRanger helicopter is also employed on domestic charters.
IONA NATIONAL AIRWAYS, LTD.: Ireland (1989-1994). Privately owned by the Cahill family, Iona is established at Airport Cloghran, County Dublin, in 1985 to offer scheduled freight services and passenger air charters throughout the Irish republic and the United Kingdom. Chairman Peter Cahill and Managing Director Hugh Cahill’s initial fleet comprises 2 Cessna 404 Titans, 3 Cessna 310s, 1 Cessna 208 Caravan I, 1 Handley Page Dart Herald, 1 Fokker Fairchild F-27F, and 2 Embraer EMB-110s.
A Cessna 414A joins the fleet in early 1986; in April, it flies VIPs to Liverpool for a horse race.
The company now begins to concentrate on its major business, which is contract service on behalf of UPS (United Parcel Service), Federal Express, and DHL Airlines. Neither traffic nor financial figures are released.
In 1990, the workforce numbers 40 and the fleet is increased by the addition of two Fairchild Hiller FH-227s and a Fokker Fairchild F-27J Friendship. In 1991-1993, services are provided throughout Ireland, the U. K., and northern Europe. The fleet is altered to include 2 Embraer EMB-110 Bandeirantes, 2 Cessna 404 Titans, 3 Cessna 414 Conquests, 1 Cessna 303, 2 Cessna 310s, 2 Cessna 172s, 1 Cessna 182, and 10 Cessna 152s.
Unable to achieve profits with them, the Bandeirantes are withdrawn in 1994. The move foreshadows increased economic difficulty, which forces Iona to shut down in December.
LOSHKAR-OLA UNITED AIR DETACHMENT: Ioshkar-Ola Airport, Man El, 424010, Russia; Phone 7 (83622) 54481; Fax 7 (83622) 98847; Year Founded 1995. Named for its airfield, this concern is established to undertake regional charters and aerial work. Flights begin and continue with a single Tupolev Tu-134 and several Mil Mi-8 helicopters.
IOWAAIR LINES: United States (1979). This small regional is set up at Spencer during the first month of 1979 to provide scheduled passenger and cargo services. Cessna 402 flights commence on February 1, linking the company’s base with Iowa City via Pocahontas and Des Moines, but cannot be maintained until year’s end.
World History
