Air Safaris was a British scheduled and charter airline from 1959 to 1962.[1]
| Founded | 1959 |
|---|---|
| Ceased operations | 1962 |
| Hubs | London Gatwick Airport |
| Headquarters | Old Terminal Building, Gatwick Airport South |
| Key people | Alan Stocks (General Manager) |
History
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Air Safaris Limited was formed on 26 November 1959 equipped with four-engined Handley Page Hermes and twin-engined Vickers Viking airliners to operate scheduled and charter flights based at London Gatwick Airport.[1] Originally started as Meredith Air Transport in 1952 as a Dakota operator it changed name in November 1954 to African Air Safaris Limited and in 1956 bought a Handley Page Hermes from the British Overseas Airways Corporation. It acquired two Vikings in 1959 and with a move to Gatwick Airport became Air Safaris.
In 1960 the company acquired the transport division of Don Everall Aviation with its scheduled flights from Birmingham Airport and one Viking aircraft.[2] The airline opened an operating and maintenance base at Hurn Airport in 1961. The company operated charters from most British airports but by 1961 had ceased operating.[1][3]
When the company ceased operations on 2 November 1961 it had five Hermes and eight Vikings, the 200 staff were given formal notice that the company would close due to "money difficulties".[4] An official from the company announced that they were trying to save the company but the following week a receiver was appointed.[4][5]
At a meeting of creditors on 29 January 1962 the company had a total deficiency of £521,073, the failure of the company was attributed by the directors to insufficient capital and too rapid expansion, loss of income from aircraft under repair, high wage costs and large hire-purchase payments were also cited.[6] As the company's assets would just about cover the debts the company was handed over to the official receiver to liquidate.[6]
Fleet
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- Douglas Dakota (Meredith Air Transport)
- Handley Page Hermes
- Vickers VC.1 Viking
See also
editReferences
edit- Notes
- ^ a b c Merton Jones 1972, p. 15
- ^ "Air Companies MergeMachine". Business and Finance. The Times. No. 54934. London. 21 November 1960. col G, p. 18.
- ^ "Airline to Suspend Operations". News in Brief. The Times. No. 55229. London. 3 November 1961. col D, p. 8.
- ^ a b "200 of Air Company's Staff get Notice". News in Brief. The Times. No. 55230. London. 4 November 1961. col B, p. 5.
- ^ "Receiver Appointed for Air Safaris". Business Appointments. The Times. No. 55240. London. 16 November 1961. col B, p. 23.
- ^ a b "Creditors of Air Safaris Meet". News. The Times. No. 55302. London. 30 January 1962. col D, p. 4.
- Sources
- Merton Jones, T. (1972). British Independent Airline & Operators Since 1947. United Kingdom: LAAS International.
