Cobham Air Routes
| Company type | Private company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Airline |
| Founded | 1935 |
| Founder | Sir Alan Cobham |
| Defunct | 1935 |
| Fate | Sold to Olley Air Service |
| Headquarters | Croydon , United Kingdom |
Area served | Croydon, Channel Islands (Guernsey) |
Key people | Sir Alan Cobham |
| Products | Passenger air transport |
Cobham Air Routes was a British airline established in 1935 by Sir Alan Cobham, created to provide air connections between Croydon and the Channel Islands. The company initiated a twice-daily service on 6 May 1935, linking Croydon with Guernsey. This route employed an Airspeed Courier for the leg between Croydon and Bournemouth, while a six-seat Westland Wessex operated the Bournemouth to Guernsey segment. Following a fatal crash involving a Westland Wessex aircraft on 3 July 1935, Sir Alan Cobham decided to sell the airline to Olley Air Service.
History
Cobham Air Routes Limited began its operations on 3 May 1935, focusing primarily on connecting Croydon with Guernsey to enhance regional air travel. The airline operated a combination of aircraft types, notably the Airspeed Courier and Westland Wessex, to serve passenger demand along this corridor. After a tragic accident in July 1935 that resulted in the death of the pilot and significant damage to company property, Cobham withdrew from the aviation business by transferring ownership to Olley Air Service.
Accidents and incidents
- On 3 July 1935, the Westland Wessex registered as G-ADEW suffered an engine malfunction during a flight from Guernsey to Bournemouth and was forced to ditch near The Needles in the English Channel. The pilot did not survive, but the single passenger onboard was rescued. An official investigation faulted the decision to continue flying with diminished engine power instead of opting for an earlier diversion.
Fleet
- Airspeed Courier
- Airspeed Envoy
- Westland Wessex (three aircraft)
Legacy
To mark fifty years since commercial flights began serving Guernsey, the Guernsey Post Office issued a commemorative stamp in 1973 depicting the Wessex G-ADEW, acknowledging Cobham Air Routes’ contribution to advancing regional aviation.