UK Charter Airline Genealogy Part 1
The UK has a rich history of independent airlines whose main business was operating international charters and trooping contracts as well as the odd domestic scheduled service. Their existence was tolerated by BOAC and the UK Government to varying degrees depending on the year and political leanings of the establishment. However those that got too big for their boots (British Eagle and Laker in particular) had their aspirations thwarted and eventually failed due to a combination of reasons not the least of which were political interference and anti-competitive behaviour by BOAC.
As the 1960s wore on and the British Empire contracted further the rise of package holidays offered a lifeline to the independent airlines though throughout the entire period startups were regular and failures just as regular. Even pioneers like Court Line were not immune. Airlines not directly associated with a holiday company were typically especially vulnerable to economic fluctuations whilst having a parent was itself no guarantee of survival (see Air Europe dragged under by its parent's failure). Of all the independent airlines only Monarch has survived the wild ride although it now faces an increasing struggle to compete against established low-cost competition and a much contracted package tour market.
As the 1960s wore on and the British Empire contracted further the rise of package holidays offered a lifeline to the independent airlines though throughout the entire period startups were regular and failures just as regular. Even pioneers like Court Line were not immune. Airlines not directly associated with a holiday company were typically especially vulnerable to economic fluctuations whilst having a parent was itself no guarantee of survival (see Air Europe dragged under by its parent's failure). Of all the independent airlines only Monarch has survived the wild ride although it now faces an increasing struggle to compete against established low-cost competition and a much contracted package tour market.
