Diamond Jubilee Today

[atuk]

Yes 05MAY62 saw Euravia operate it’s first ever flight to Palma on a Lockheed Constellation on behalf of Universal Sky Tours. Changing its name and fleet it become Britannia Airways and added a fleet of BristolBritanniaaircraft. The owner, Captain Ted Langton sold the airline and tour operator to The InternationalThomson Organisation, a Canadian media company with interests in newspapers, television, and at that time STV!

Britannia, as it was popularly known became a trend setter. Introducing the Boeing 737 in 1968 it was the first UK operator to fly the darling of the UK, and much of Europe, charter and scheduled airlines. Lufthansa was the first operator of the 737 albeit the series 100 aircraft.

Britannia flew for what was now Thomson Holidays but not exclusively. Over the years as the 737 morphed into theAdvanced 200 with longer range Cyprus, Smaller Greek islands and Turkey were added to the staples of Spain, Italy, Portugal and Alpine destinations. During the 1970s two 707’s were added for TransAtlantic affinity charters as well as the Canary Islands and Moscow.

In 1984 Britannia set a new standard being the first airline in the UK and in Europe to order and operate the 767-200. With twice the capacity of 2*737s they were issued on the densest routes freeing smaller 737s to concentrate on backfill on these routes as well as niche markets. MoD flights, charters to Italy for Pilgrim Air, holiday flights for Budget, OSL, Global and Ellerman accounted for just under 50% the balance being for Thomson. In fact OSL owned two 737s operated by Britannia in fleet colours.

The 767s allowed global operations to USA, Caribbean, Central America, Indian Ocean, Africa and Asian destinations to be added. Britannia was a late convert to the 757, introduced to the UK by BA in 1982 and Monarch in 1983. Why was that? Well the lessons ofCourt Line were learned. When the TriStar entered service it replaced 3*1-11s. Britannia avoided that capacity glut by displacing 130 seat 737s with a 274 seat 767. So charters were booked in blocks of 130. By the 1990s that model was becoming outdated and more flexibility required. So 757s replaced 737-200s as the tour operators and their airlines entered merger phases.Thomson bought Horizon and Orion Airways.

Time marches in and 767-300 then 787s entered the fleet along with a return to 737first -800s now MAX. On the journey into the 21st century Thomson merged withFirst Choice and Air 2000with, by now had become Thomsonfly with a short lived scheduled operation of737-300/500s at BOH, CVTand DSA.

Today Thomson is part of TUI with the airline rebranded as TUI. A trend setter, innovator, the first to fly GLA-LCA at one time it’s longest route.

So happy 60th birthday: Euravia,Britannia, Thomson,TUI.long May you continue to grace our skies and Glasgow Airport amongst many others.

[bill]

Good piece atuk, cheers for posting. I flew G-BADP in the jump seat (thanks to my mum's airport connections) back in the mid 1970's. From memory we went to Tarragona airport and back and it was some experience. Captain James (Jamie) Alderman. Legend.

[Allen McL]

Good stuff, my first jet flight was aboard a Britannia 732 in 1981 on a family holiday to Jersey and blimey, I don't think I've been on them or further incarnations ever since ! I still have the in-flight magazine from that trip which included a 3 year ahead preview of the incoming 767-200, which was represented by a picture of a scale model in the previous (then current) 70's-80's livery. A few years ago I picked up a 1:200 scale model of it in said previous livery. Funny to see the 737 story come full circle right up to the max, and with it being a common sight at GLA now. I guess if things had been different, those would still say 'Britannia' on the side.

[Sharpal7]

I have vivid memories of seeing Euravia connies G-AHEL and G-AHEN at Renfrew in the early 60s. Spectacular engine start ups with smoke and flames a regular sight. Aaaah nostalgia.