British United: Island & Ferry Divisions
Smaller elements of the BUA merger in 1960 included several small airlines operating regional services, especially in the Channel Islands and Isle of Man. It wasn't until 1968 that the three separate components were merged to form British United Island Airways but this new unit itself lasted only two years when it was sold following BUA's takeover by Caledonian (see BA Genealogy Part 2). The sold company became British Island Airways and operated a fleet of HP Heralds. In 1980 airUK was formed as a 'third force' airline by combining BIA with several regionals including the successful Air Anglia. Initially airUK was not a success but it grew to become a well established regional player with particularly strong links to the Netherlands. These links resulted in its gradual takeover by KLM and eventual rebranding, however in the face of strong competition (and an attempt at a low cost arm at Stansted using BAE-146s) KLM uk decreased in size until its remaining operations were merged with KLM's Dutch regional subsidiary KLM Cityhopper. The BIA name got a second chance in 1982 when airUK's charter operations were spun off. Though initially successful the new BIA was unable to weather the economic downturn in 1991.
Channel Air Bridge (part of Air Charter later part of BUA) & Silver City had been competing in the new field of cross-channel car ferry flights. Silver City was taken over by BUA and merged with Channel Air Bridge in 1962 to form BUAF. Gradually car ferry operations became less lucrative and were phased out in the 1970s by which time the airline (now British Air Feries) was no longer under BUA ownership. BAF purchased much of BA's Viscount fleet in the 1980s and operated various charter, freight and leasing contracts before rebranding as British World in 1993. Primarily operating old BAC One-Elevens the new airline continued until bankruptcy in 2001.
Channel Air Bridge (part of Air Charter later part of BUA) & Silver City had been competing in the new field of cross-channel car ferry flights. Silver City was taken over by BUA and merged with Channel Air Bridge in 1962 to form BUAF. Gradually car ferry operations became less lucrative and were phased out in the 1970s by which time the airline (now British Air Feries) was no longer under BUA ownership. BAF purchased much of BA's Viscount fleet in the 1980s and operated various charter, freight and leasing contracts before rebranding as British World in 1993. Primarily operating old BAC One-Elevens the new airline continued until bankruptcy in 2001.
