Skyways (TV series)
| Company type | Television series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television production |
| Founded | 1979 |
| Defunct | 1981 |
| Fate | Ended |
| Headquarters | Melbourne , Australia |
| Products | Television soap opera drama series |
| Parent | Crawford Productions |
Skyways represents an Australian soap opera drama television series produced by Crawford Productions and broadcast on the Seven Network.
Production and casting
Broadcast between 1979 and 1981, the narrative takes place at the invented Pacific International Airport, centering on the personal and professional experiences of pilots, airline employees, and administrative staff. The majority of scenes were shot in a studio environment utilizing Colour Separation Overlay technology to create the illusion of airport operations, while outdoor sequences were filmed at Melbourne Airport.
The principal cast featured Tony Bonner portraying airport manager Paul MacFarlane, who was subsequently succeeded by Gary Doolan, played by Gerard Kennedy. Tina Bursill took on the role of assistant manager Louise Carter, and Bill Stalker appeared as Peter Fanelli, the head of airport security and a former detective. Notably, after Skyways concluded, Fanelli's character was carried over into Crawford's police drama Cop Shop, while Brian James' character George Tippett later appeared in Holiday Island.
Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan roles
Prior to achieving fame through Neighbours and their music careers, Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan made a joint appearance in a single episode portraying siblings.
Storylines
One of the early narratives involved a lesbian flight attendant (Judy Morris) who attempted to seduce a coworker (Deborah Coulls), who did not reciprocate her advances; subsequently, Morris' character was killed off in a murder mystery storyline.
International broadcast
From 1984 to 1986, the show was transmitted throughout Europe and the United Kingdom on Sky Channel, which was later renamed Sky One. Additionally, it aired on the UK’s Astra Satellite channel, Lifestyle, in 1990.
Syndication
In January 2006, WIN TV in Wollongong (South Coast NSW) re-aired the full series during early Thursday mornings as part of the Crawfords Classics programming block.
DVD release
On 4 November 2024, Crawfords revealed plans to release the series across seven DVD volumes.
| Title | Format | Episodes | Original Melbourne airdates | Discs | Region 4 (Australia) | Special Features | Distributors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skyways (Volume 1) | DVD | Episodes A-28 | 8 | 12 December 2024 | Episodes A&B on separate disc 27 February 2025 | Crawford Productions | |
| Skyways (Volume 2) | DVD | Episodes 29-57 | 7 | 27 February 2025 | None | Crawford Productions | |
| Skyways (Volume 3) | DVD | Episodes 58-85 | 7 | 14 April 2025 | None | Crawford Productions | |
| Skyways (Volume 4) | DVD | Episodes 86-113 | 7 | 6 June 2025 | None | Crawford Productions | |
| Skyways (Volume 5) | DVD | Episodes 114-141 | 7 | 6 August 2025 | None | Crawford Productions | |
| Skyways (Volume 6) | DVD | Episodes 142-169 | 7 | 6 October 2025 | None | Crawford Productions | |
| Skyways (Volume 7) | DVD | Episodes 170-188 | 5 | 5 December 2025 | None | Crawford Productions |
Main / regular
- Tony Bonner as Paul MacFarlane
- Tina Bursill as Louise Carter
- Ken James as Simon Young
- Bruce Barry as Douglas Stewart
- Bill Stalker as Peter Fanelli
- Brian James as George Tippett
- Joanne Samuel as Kelly Morgan
- Deborah Coulls as Jacki Soong
- Kris McQuade as Faye Peterson
- Bartholomew John as Nick Grainger
- Andrew McKaige as Alan MacFarlane
- Gaynor Martin as Mandy MacFarlane
- Gerard Kennedy as Gary Doolan
- Kerry Armstrong as Angela Murray
- Maurie Fields as Chas Potter
- Kylie Foster as Belinda Phipps
- Carmen Duncan as Elaine MacFarlane
- Fred Parslow as David Rankin
- Kit Taylor as Tim Barclay / Peter O'Neill
- Susanna Lobez as Janet Patterson
- Jeff Kevin as Geoff Goodwin
Recurring / Guest Appearances
| Performer | Character | Episodes |
|---|---|---|
| Alan Hopgood | Edward Fielding | 2 |
| Alex Menglet | Mikhail Gosenko | 1 |
| Anna Hruby | Sharon Webster | 1 |
| Anne Charleston | Wendy Stewart | 2 |
| Anne Phelan | Joan Hailey | 1 |
| Anne Tenney | Eileen | 1 |
| Barry Creyton | John Hunter | 13 |
| Barry Quin | Jeremy Drake | 1 |
(More recurring guest actors have been excluded for conciseness)