Air Ferry Limited
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Airline |
| Founded | 1961 |
| Founder | Wing Commander Hugh Kennard, Lewis Leroy |
| Defunct | 31 October 1968 |
| Fate | Ceased operations |
| Headquarters | Manston, Kent , United Kingdom |
Area served | United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Italy, Netherlands, Germany |
Key people | Wing Commander Hugh Kennard (founder) |
| Products | Charter flights, scheduled flights, cargo flights, vehicle ferry services |
| Parent | Leroy Tours (until 1964), then Air Holdings |
Air Ferry Limited was a British private airline that provided charter, scheduled, and dedicated cargo flights between 1963 and 1968.
History
Air Ferry Ltd was created in 1961 by Wing Commander Hugh Kennard—who previously founded Air Kruise and served as a director at Silver City Airways—and Lewis Leroy, the founder of Leroy Tours. Established as a subsidiary of Leroy Tours, the airline's purpose was to conduct general charter and inclusive tour (IT) operations.
Flight services commenced on 1 April 1963, operating out of Manston Airport near Ramsgate in Kent. The initial aircraft lineup consisted of two Vickers Vikings seating 40 passengers each, alongside two Douglas DC-4/C-54 piston-engine airliners with an 80-seat capacity. The Air Transport Licensing Board granted Air Ferry three A-type licences authorizing scheduled routes from Manston to Le Touquet, Ostend, and Verona. Starting in 1965, the airline introduced vehicle ferry and freight services connecting Manston with Le Touquet, Calais, Ostend, and Rotterdam.
Throughout its operation, Air Ferry expanded its fleet by adding a third DC-4, more Vikings, a Bristol Freighter, and two Douglas DC-6As—the airline’s first aircraft equipped with pressurized cabins.
In October 1964, following the acquisition of Leroy Tours by Air Holdings, ownership of Air Ferry transferred to Air Holdings. This parent company also controlled British United Airways (BUA), which was then the largest independent airline in the UK. Consequently, Air Ferry became affiliated with BUA. This acquisition reinstated British United Air Ferries’ monopoly over cross-Channel vehicle ferry services; British United Air Ferries was BUA’s sister company.
By 1968, the airline had leased two Vickers Viscount 800 aircraft and operated both scheduled and unscheduled passenger flights, car ferry routes, and cargo services from airports including Manchester, Bristol, London, and Manston. Air Ferry discontinued operations after completing its summer 1968 schedule, officially closing on 31 October that year.
Aircraft operated
Throughout its existence, Air Ferry utilized the following types of aircraft:
- Aviation Traders ATL-98 Carvair (leased)
- Bristol 170 Freighter
- Douglas DC-4/Douglas C-54 Skymaster
- Douglas DC-6
- Vickers Viking
- Vickers Viscount
Fleet in 1965
As of April 1965, Air Ferry's fleet consisted of nine aircraft:
| Aircraft | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Douglas DC-4 | 3 |
| Vickers Viking | 5 |
| Bristol 170 Freighter | 1 |
| Total | 9 |
Fleet in 1968
By April 1968, the number of aircraft had decreased to six:
| Aircraft | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Vickers Viscount 812 | 2 |
| Douglas DC-6A | 2 |
| Douglas DC-4 | 2 |
| Total | 6 |
Accidents and incidents
- On 21 January 1967, a Douglas C-54 Skymaster (registration G-ASOG) operating a cargo service from Manchester to Frankfurt collided with trees during a nighttime approach, resulting in the deaths of two crew members.
- On 3 June 1967, a Douglas C-54A Skymaster (registration G-APYK) on an unscheduled passenger flight from Manston to Perpignan crashed into Canigou mountain at an altitude of approximately 4,000 feet during descent. All 88 individuals aboard perished. The investigation concluded that carbon monoxide poisoning affecting the flight crew—caused by a malfunctioning cabin heater—was responsible for the accident.
See also
References
- (various editions concerning Air Ferry Ltd, 1961–1968)