Westminster Airways

Westminster Airways was a British airline formed in 1946 to operate air charters. It later acquired freighter aircraft and was involved in the Berlin Airlift, but ceased operations shortly after.

History

The company was formed by a group of MPs led by Air Commodore A.V. Harvey, the first aircraft were seven twin-engined Airspeed Consuls.[1] The Consuls operated charter flights from Blackbushe and Gatwick airports.[1] Later in 1946 the company bought two Douglas DC-3s.[1] To help with the Berlin Airlift the company bought three four-engined Handley Page Haltons, which were converted wartime Handley Page Halifax heavy bombers.[1] A Halifax was also bought and converted into a bulk-diesel carrier for the airlift.[2] The company ceased operations at the end of 1949 when the board of directors decided to cease flying due to the restrictions imposed on air charter companies by United Kingdom government policies and legislation.[1][3]

Fleet

Accidents and incidents

On 1 April 1949 one of the airlines Haltons crashed at RAF Schleswigland during the airlift.[1][8]

Notes
  1. Merton Jones 1972, p 83
  2. Jackson 1972, p 244
  3. Flight 8 December 2008
  4. UK Civil Aviation Authority - Registration for Consul G-AHMC
  5. UK Civil Aviation Authority - Registration for DC-3 G-AJAZ
  6. UK Civil Aviation Authority - Registration for Halifax G-AJNW
  7. UK Civil Aviation Authority - Registration for Halton G-AHDL
  8. Aviation Safety Network entry for G-AHDL
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gollark: --radio connect
gollark: I mean, at current prices, and with these being fairly common elsewhere, I'll just go harvest one from the [REDACTED].
gollark: Oh, *5* kelvin?
gollark: Again?

References
  • Jackson, A.J. (1974). British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 2. London: Putnam. p. 382. ISBN 0-370-10010-7.
  • Merton Jones, A. (1972). British Independent Airlines since 1946, Volume One. UK: LAAS International.
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