Intra Airways
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Airline |
| Founded | 1969 |
| Defunct | 1979 |
| Fate | Merged with Express Air Freight (C.I.) to form Jersey European Airways |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
Area served | United Kingdom, Continental Europe |
| Products | Passenger and freight charter and scheduled airline services |
Number of employees | 130 (1978) |
Intra Airways Limited was an independent British airline established in 1969, initially providing passenger and freight charter services from the Channel Islands to destinations within the UK and Continental Europe. The airline commenced scheduled operations in 1971, linking Jersey with Gloucester (Staverton) Airport. Additionally, it founded an engineering division based at Exeter Airport. In 1979, Intra Airways combined with Express Air Freight (C.I.) to create Jersey European Airways, which subsequently became part of Air Bridge Carriers (ABC), a subsidiary of the Field Aviation/Hunting Group. After Express Air Services separated from the group, Jersey European Airways operated independently.
History
Intra Airways Ltd was launched on 1 January 1969 by former employees of British United (C.I.) Airways to conduct passenger and cargo charter flights originating from the Channel Islands, initially utilizing a single Douglas DC-3. Ownership was predominantly held by Intra Holdings Ltd of Jersey, which controlled 90% of the shares. The airline also established a related engineering firm at Exeter Airport.
The Air Transport Licensing Board awarded Intra its inaugural scheduled service licence in early 1971 for the route between Jersey and Staverton, leading to the purchase of a second DC-3 aircraft. By 1974, the Civil Aviation Authority authorized up to 30 weekly passenger flights connecting Shoreham with Jersey and Guernsey, including an extension to Gatwick. These services were operated using Britten-Norman Islanders; however, cargo transport on these routes was not permitted.
By 1978, Intra Airways had expanded its scheduled passenger network to include connections between Jersey and several UK airports such as Cambridge and Gloucester. It also served French cities including Caen, Deauville, Dinard, St Brieuc, and Nantes, along with Belgian destinations Ostend and Brussels, as well as Düsseldorf in West Germany. The airline also operated scheduled all-cargo flights linking Jersey with Guernsey and Bournemouth, integrating these with its passenger routes.
In addition to its scheduled services, Intra continued to operate both ad hoc and regular charter flights until its merger. These included nightly newspaper cargo runs using DC-3 aircraft from Luton to Belfast Aldergrove and seasonal inclusive tour passenger charters from Gatwick to Dublin employing Vickers Viscount aircraft.
In January 1979, following the divestment of Intra Holdings’ shares, Intra Airways merged with Bournemouth-based Express Air Freight (C.I.) Ltd to form Jersey European Airways (JEA). JEA commenced operations on 1 November 1979 and was incorporated into East Midlands-based ABC within the Field Aviation/Hunting group. Subsequently, Express Air Services separated from JEA after acquiring Express Air Freight’s cargo division.
Jersey European Airways later developed into Flybe, which ceased operations on 5 March 2020 due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Flybe brand was briefly relaunched in April 2022 under a new corporate structure but terminated services again in January 2023.
Fleet
The fleet operated by Intra Airways included:
Fleet in 1969
As of April 1969, Intra Airways' fleet consisted of:
| Aircraft Type | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Douglas DC-3/C-47 Dakota | 2 |
| Total | 2 |
At that time, the company employed a workforce of eight individuals.
Fleet as of April 1978
By April 1978, Intra Airways' fleet had grown to encompass ten aircraft:
| Aircraft type | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Vickers Viscount 800 | 3 |
| Douglas DC-3/C-47 Dakota | 7 |
| Total | 10 |
The workforce had expanded to 130 employees, indicative of the company's growth.
Accidents and incidents
No accidents or incidents involving Intra Airways' planes have been documented.
See also
Notes
- Notes
- Citations
References
- (Various publications covering Intra Airways, 1969–1979)