Formed in Marcannonh 1969 by New Zealander William R. “Bill” Bryce and Ferrari racing team leader Chris Amon, Brymon Aviation, Ltd. begins Cessna 337 Super Skymaster flights from Plymouth, moving on to the airfield at Fairoaks in November, taking over Fairoaks Flying Service and its Cessna fleet.
In September 1970, the company begins nonscheduled passenger and cargo operations with a new Britten-Nornam BN-2.
Scheduled third-level Islander flights are inaugurated from Plymouth to Jersey and the Scilly Isles in May 1972 and a month later, on June 15, the company’s air transport division, operating from RAF St. Mawgan (later Newquay Civil Airport) is renamed Brymon Airways, Ltd. In October, a second BN-2 is purchased and, in November, all flights are concentrated on Plymouth Airport.
In 1973 service is extended to the Scilly Isles from Exeter and, beginning on November 2, four-times-weekly Plymouth-Morlaix.
The French service becomes twice daily in early 1974. In April, the company receives a new de Havilland Canada DHC-6-200, becoming
British launch customer for the Twin Otter. The new aircraft initiates frequencies from Exeter, Plymouth, and Newquay to St. Mary’s, Scilly Isles, and London (LGW).
During the summer, a third Islander is leased from Douglas Arnold Aviation, Ltd. In November, twice-daily Plymouth-Cardiff flights begin.
The Airwork FBO operation at Plymouth Airport is taken over on March 24, 1975. Meanwhile, a four-times-per-week route is opened from Plymouth to Cherbourg, along with service to Aldernay. In May, Intra Airways, Ltd. provides another Islander on a seven-month lease. During the summer, Plymouth to Cork flights begin.
A Handley Page Herald is acquired in 1976, at which point the fleet includes the larger aircraft plus 2 DHC-6-300 Twin Otters and 1 Cessna 337. Airline employment is 56. Passenger enplanements reach 53,400 in 1977.
In 1978, new routes are extended from Plymouth-London (LGW) and Birmingham and from Newquay to Aberdeen and Manchester. Passenger boardings increase 11% to 61,500.
Two DHC-7s are ordered in 1979, a third DHC-6 is delivered, and a route is opened from Plymouth-London (LHR). The workforce is increased by 25.4% to 89 and passenger boardings soar 58% to 92,000.
Operations continue apace in 1980 and in the fall of 1981 2 DHC-7s enter service on a long-term charter operation on behalf of Chevron Oil, from Aberdeen to Unst, Britain’s most northerly airport.
A third DHC-7 is acquired in 1982 as the carrier joins the British Caledonian Commuter network and begins flying under that banner from London (LHR) to Cork and the Channel Islands. Airline employment grows to 110 and the fleet now comprises 3 DHC-7s, 1 Handley Page Herald, and 5 DHC-6 Twin Otters.
In 1983, losses total ?2.8 million ($5.6 million). To save Brymon Airways from collapse, de Havilland-Canada takes a 75% controlling interest and places it under the operational control of former British Airways, Ltd. (2) executive Charles Stuart. Although DHC-7 service to the Scilly Isles had been planned, the refusal of the local authorities to improve the airport at St. Mary’s forces Brymon to halt services altogether.
Productivity increases in 1984, by which time the nonunion employee population reaches 170.
The British government announces in 1985 the upcoming creation of a STOL port in the Royal Docks area to be called London City Airport; Brymon will be the lead entrant.
On the year, 175,000 scheduled and 50,000 charter passengers are carried, but a $160,000 loss is suffered.
On January 1, 1986, six senior Brymon Airways executives with assistance from BA, led by CEO Stuart and collectively known as the Plimsoll Line, purchases the carrier from de Havilland-Canada; British Airways, Ltd. (2) takes a 14% minority interest. A DHC-7 is the first aircraft to overfly groundbreaking ceremonies for London City Airport, located in a Docklands site.
The fleet now includes 3 DHC-7s, 2 DHC-6s, and 1 Shorts 360, and the employee population totals 214. Destinations served now include Birmingham, London (LGW), Newquay, Aberdeen, the Channel Islands, and Bristol. Branch offices are established at Aberdeen and Newquay.
Although traffic figures are not released, a $1.4-million profit is generated.
In 1987, three more DHC-7s join the fleet and an office is opened at London City Airport. The first ever Dash 7 landing is made at the latter facility on October 14. Paris joins the route network and the weekly 465-mile nonstop DHC-7 roundtrip service is the longest route in the U. K. A $616,000 profit is reported for the year.
Enplanements in 1988 total 273,371, a 46% increase over the previous year, but a $1.37-million loss is posted. In early 1989, the company joins with British Airways, Ltd. (2) and Maersk Air, A. S. to acquire tripartite ownership of Birmingham Executive Airways, Ltd. They rename their new subsidiary Birmingham European Airways, Ltd. The Aberdeen office is now closed as 2 DHC-7-110s are withdrawn to make way for 2 DHC-8-102s.
Enplanements total 300,230 and a $233,000 net profit is created.
Airline employment in 1990 stands at 370 and the fleet now includes 1 DHC-6-310, 6 DHC-7-110s, and 2 DHC-8-102s are now delivered. CEO Stuart retires on April 1 and is succeeded by Malcolm Naylor. The company now flies to eight destinations from London City Airport.
New DHC-8-102 daily services are initiated in November from Bristol to Paris, Glasgow, and Edinburgh.
Passenger boardings climb 15.5% to 212,969. Revenues rise 26.3% to $43.4 million, but expenses grow quickly. As a result, the operating profit slides to $8.55 million and there is a net loss of $2.3 million.
The payroll is sliced 13.6% in 1991 and, in January, the company receives the 1990 “Market Development” award from Air Transport World magazine. The Twin Otter is withdrawn and replaced by 2 DHC-8-301s, the first of which arrives in March. Flights begin from Bristol to Jersey, Newcastle, and Aberdeen.
During the year, the company invests ?40 million to build up Bristol Airport as its European hub. Enplanements swell to 301,461.
The partnership between British Midland Airways, Ltd. and Sabena (Belgian World Airlines, S. A.) ends in January 1992 when the former challenges the latter’s income by introducing jetliner flights from London (LHR) to Brussels. Sabena Belgian World Airlines, S. A. switches its affiliation to Brymon, which introduces four-times-per-day turboprop flights into London City Airport. The second DHC-8-301 is received in April.
On May 1, the company significantly increases its services to Ireland. The new de Havilland is employed to launch regular services to Belfast and Cork. At the same time, the number of frequencies on company routes from Bristol to Glasgow and Edinburgh are increased.
Later in May, it is announced that the carrier will be completely merged in November by its owner, the TPL Group, with another subsidiary, Birmingham European Airways, Ltd., to form Brymon European Airways, Ltd. Managing Director Naylor resigns in July and for the remaining four months, Birmingham European Managing Director Mike Brenton also assumes the mantle of acting managing director. The union is completed on October 25.
BRYMON AIRWAYS, LTD. (2): Meridian, Worle Parkway, Worle, Weston Super Mare, England, PL6 8BW, United Kingdom; Phone 44 (01934) 523 600; Fax 44 (01934) 523 650; Http://www. brymon. com; Code BA; Year Founded 1993. In July 1993 , the merger between Brymon Airways, Ltd. (1) and Birmingham European Airways, Ltd. unravels, with the partners electing not to continue the Bry-mon European Airways, Ltd. operation. Unable to exist separately, both are acquired by larger airlines. The British Office of Fair Trading gives its approval for the breakup and British Airways, Ltd. (2) official Ray Sayer is seconded down to handle the disbandment.
Brymon Aviation becomes a wholly owned British Airways, Ltd. (2) subsidiary (along with Plymouth City Airport) in August and is allowed to function under its previous identity. Regional flights in support of the parent are undertaken with a fleet that includes 2 each de Havilland Canada DHC-8-102s and DHC-8-301s and 6 DHC-7-110s, including one leased from British Midland Airways, Ltd. All are painted in “British Airways Express” colors and markings. Enplanements total 325,527.
Two DHC-7-110s are withdrawn by the new managing director, Mike Jones, in 1994, but their removal has no impact on traffic. Through November, passenger boardings accelerate 28.9% to 419,494.
Airline employment stands at 180 in 1995. Again, through November, enplanements are up, by 10.2% to 462,420.
During the first four months of 1996, Brymon accepts delivery of 5 used DHC-8-301s from Bombardier Aircraft Trading Unit. These are employed to replace 3 DHC-7-110s and 2 DHC-8-102s.
Summer only roundtrips are inaugurated from Sheffield to Jersey in May.
In September, the carrier wins a five-year, $16-million contract from BP Exploration to transport oil workers from Aberdeen to the Shetland Islands. The subsidiary Brymon Offshore Air Charter, Ltd. is established and 2 of the former “British Airways Express”-dedicated DHC-7-110s are based at Aberdeen for the service. Both are repainted in a new “Flying Puffins Over the Ocean” color scheme.
Customer bookings for the whole year rise 6.4% to 524,568.
Airline employment increases 30.3% in 1997 to 430. Destinations visited include Aberdeen, Bristol, Cork, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Guernsey, Jersey, London (LGW), Newcastle, Newquay, Paris (CDG), Plymouth, and Southampton.
When British Airways, Ltd. (2) unveils its new “World Image” marketing and livery makeover on June 10, Brymon is ready to participate. The tail of one of the regional’s DHC-8-301s is repainted as “Colour Down the Side,” a depiction by artist Terry Frost of the light and landscape of Cornwall.
On October 28, British Airways, Ltd. (2) announces major changes to its services linking Aberdeen with Birmingham and Manchester. From July next, the de Havilland Canada DHC-8-301s of Brymon will replace the British Regional Airlines, Ltd. British Aerospace (BAe) ATPs currently employed. The new Brymon services are expected to create 100 new jobs within the BA organization, with 75 of them in Aberdeen.
Orders are placed at year’s end for eight additional DHC-8Q-300s. Customer bookings accelerate 23% to 567,000.
The first of the new Canadian-built turboprops enters service in April 1998. It is reported in the Aberdeen Press and Journal on April 6 that the carrier has also increased its staff at Aberdeen airport. Added are 18 pilots, 19 cabin crew, and 19 engineering and ground staff under the direction of Capt. Syd Fleet.
Frequencies from Aberdeen to Manchester in fact change hands on May 4 and are increased from four to six each day. Extra weekend services are also added. Those daily services from Aberdeen to Birmingham are started on June 8 and jump from two to three.
Passenger boardings accelerate 34.3% to 764,000.
By the start of 1999, airline employment has been cut back 47.7% to 225.
Just after landing at Plymouth on February 28 following a service from Bristol, the left landing gear of a DHC-8Q-300 with four crew and nine passengers, collapses; although no injures are reported, the turboprop cannot continue on to Cork. A replacement aircraft is brought in, to which the passengers are transferred.
Daily nonstop DHC-8Q-300 roundtrips commence on March 28 between Aberdeen and Oslo.
Weekend charters are inaugurated in early May from Jersey to the new Sheffield City Airport. British Airways, Ltd. (2), on May 28, places a $420-million order with Embraer for 21 ERJ-145 regional jets, which will be delivered to its subsidiary, Brymon.
Later in the year, a dedicated lounge is opened at Bristol International, a new flight information system goes on-line at Plymouth City Airport, and extra services are introduced to Southampton, Belfast, Newcastle, and Exeter. The airline completes a move to Weston Super Mare and opens a new training center at its head office where the recruitment of 160 new staff is completed.
Customer bookings accelerate 20.7% to 922,000. Revenues shoot up 29.9% to $147,563,000 while expenses climb only 26.3% to $133,920,000. There are healthy profits: $13,643,000 (operating) and $16,293,000 (net).
The workforce stands at 700 at the start of 2000, a 27.3% increase over the past 12 months.
Two of 7 new Embraer ERJ-145s ordered the previous year are received early in March. The first is placed into “British Airways Express” service from Birmingham to Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Munich on March 28. Express Jet flights from Glasgow and Edinburgh to Frankfurt and Brussels follow on April 5.
When Managing Director Gareth Kirkwood becomes the managing director of British Airways World Cargo on May 1, he is succeeded as Brymon’s managing director by Louise Fowler. The next day, Brymon moves the Northern Ireland end of the Newcastle-originating route from Belfast International to Belfast City Airport.
Employing the newly received, fifth ERJ-145, daily “British Airways Express” roundtrips are begun on October 11 from Bristol to Munich.
BRYMON EUROPEAN AIRWAYS, LTD.: United Kingdom (19921993). In May 1992, Brymon Airways, Ltd. (1) and Birmingham European Airways, Ltd. are merged by their owner, the TPL Group, to create this stronger regional carrier. Shareholding is divided between British Airways, Ltd. (2) and Maersk Air, A. S. (40% each), and Jim Harris Holdings, Ltd. (20%); Harris is chairman with Michael Brenton as managing director. Airline employment is 320 and the enlarged fleet now comprises 4 BAe (BAC) 1-11-400s, 3 BAe Jetstream 31s, 4 de Havilland Canada DHC-7s, 2 DHC-8-100s, and 2 DHC-8-300s. Schedules and personnel are gradually integrated.
At this point, Operations Manager Tony Auld and executive Brian Beal depart as Maersk Air, A. S. management places more of its own people into the airline. Unhappily, the new Danish leadership team has very little experience with U. K. operations.
Revenue flight operations officially commence on October 25, the day the union is completed. Destinations visited include Aberdeen, Amsterdam, Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Brussels, Copenhagen, Cork, Dublin, Edinburgh, Geneva, Glasgow, Humberside, Jersey, London (LCY/LHR), Milan, Newcastle, Newquay, Paris, Plymouth, and Stuttgart. Passenger boardings inch up 0.8% to 353,953.
Claiming the route is unprofitable, Brymon, which had pioneered the service, stops flying Dash-7s into London (LCY) in March 1993 and Brussels in April. Former Chairman/CEO Charles Stuart dies in May at age 64. The same month, Maersk Air, A. S., the A. P. Moller Group, and British Airways, Ltd. (2) enter negotiations designed to disband Bry-mon European as a way of ending its heavy fiscal losses. In May, a rescue plan worth ?6 million from each carrier is announced designed to bolster the TPL Group and save Brymon European’s 500 jobs.
The merger between the two regionals comes apart in July. With neither able to function alone, they are taken over by larger operators in August. Brymon Aviation becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of British Airways, Ltd. (2) while Birmingham European Airways, Ltd. is purchased by the Danish carrier Maersk Air, A. S. and reformed into Maersk Air U. K., Ltd.
World History
