Another UK regional airline disappears….
On 25 October, the airline ceased trading and cancelled all flights. Let’s look at its history.
With an HQ and hub at HUY it operated domestic, international and private charter flights. Around 1.3m passengers year on year on services for KLM Cityhopper, charter operations and government subsidised services (PSO) which would otherwise be commercially unfeasible.
Air Kilroe, trading as Eastern Airways, held a UK CAA Type A Operating Licence. This allowed passengers, cargo and mail to be carried on aircraft with more than 20 seats. Purchasing Air Kilroe in 1999, Eastern also acquired 2 Jetstream 32. Further Jetstream 41 aircraft were added to the fleet. 12 aircraft and associated routes transferred from BA CitiExpress in 2003. Then an E135 and E145 were wet leased from City Airline in the same year. These were replaced by 8 Saab 2000 acquired from Crossair and other European carriers.
In 2006, a Dornier 328 was leased form Cirrus Airlines for 6 months to operate NCL-LCY route before switching to J41. At this time, Eastern also purchased a J41 training simulator. Various aircraft painted in special liveries to promote North East England and Aberdeen. The IOM hub closed in 2009, discontinuing routes to BHX and NCL. In 2010, 2 ERJ135 jets added to the fleet. These would be used mainly on charter services to central and eastern Europe, also to increase flexibility on scheduled flights. In the same year Eastern bought Air Southwest but closed it down a year later following continued losses and changes in the growth of Flybe. 2012 saw the purchase of Manchester Airport Group’s 82% stake in HUY, becoming the airport’s primary operator.
February 2014 saw Bristow Group acquired a 60% interest in Eastern Airways, then the remaining 40% in 2018. During this time, the network was focused on ABZ, providing support to the oil industry, with a similar operation at NCL. 2 ATR72-600 added to the fleet. They operated ABZ-SCS. The airline also commenced a number of French domestic routes in 2015, supported by PSO subsidies. As a result of vigorous competition from Flybe and Wideroe, the ABZ network was scaled back. Eastern then concentrated on contract and charter services, where it became a market leader. With Bristow Group in financial difficulties, it sold the Eastern Airways group of companies back to one of its founders in 2019.
Re-opening the IOM hub in 2017, services began to BHD, GLA and NCL, following the collapse of local airline Citywing. Eastern took over the CWL-VLY. IOM cancelled a year later, but CWL continued until Welsh Government funding ceased in 2021. The public airport at VLY also closed.
After entering into a franchise with Flybe in 2017, Eastern then took over routes previously operated by Loganair under their agreement with Flybe. After Flybe ceased operations, Eastern resumed flying under its own brand, some new routes were announced. In 2021, BHX-GIB and SOU-GIB started, only to be cancelled a year later due to the pandemic. CWL-LCY PSO route was suspended, rendering the CWL base unviable. Further PSO contracts were awarded in 2021, NQY-LGW. Followed by ABZ-WIC.
From 2024, Eastern continued to operate on behalf of KLM, taking over flights to AMS from HUY and MME. Additional support from MAN, GLA, NCL, NWI, SOU and CWL using 4 E190 aircraft. However, the KLM contract was recently cancelled. A number of top flight UK football teams also booked charter flights with Eastern.
It will be interesting to see who steps in to operate flights especially ABZ-WIC. Another victim of the airline’s collapse is SEN, where Eastern’s NQY route was proving very popular.
In other news –
Condor – the German leisure carrier said goodbye to more of its 757-300 fleet recently, including the special livery Wir Lieben Fliegen. Sadly, they were flown to DGX for dismantling although parts may be for sale very soon!
In keeping with its distinctive livery, the airline has now added black and white stripes to one of its A321 aircraft, supporting German football team Eintracht Frankfurt. It was recently seen departing a paint facility at NWI. Has anyone spotted it yet?
And finally –
Qantas – Tuesday 4 November marks the 15th anniversary of QF32 and the amazing outcome from the uncontained engine failure shortly after the A380 left SIN. The fact that there were no fatalities that day remains a testament to the aircraft, flight crew, cabin crew, passengers and outside services who all worked together to secure a satisfactory outcome.
Information courtesy of Flight Global, Condor
Images courtesy of BBC, Simple Flying
©TPSC, LadyJet2 and photo/diagram suppliers