British Island Airways

British Island Airways (BIA) was the legal successor to British United Island Airways (BUIA). It commenced operations under that name in mid-1970. Ten years later it merged with Air Anglia, Air Wales and Air Westward to form Air UK, at the time the UK's biggest regional airline and its third-largest scheduled operator. The first British Island Airways had its head office at Congreve House (1970–1972) and Berkeley House (1973–1979), which are respectively located in Station Road and on the high street in Redhill, Surrey.

In 1982 British Island Airways was reconstituted by splitting off the charter operation Air UK had inherited from BIA at the time of its creation into a separate company.

The reconstituted BIA ceased operations in 1991.

History

Origin

British Island Airways was the new name BUIA, the regional affiliate of British United Airways (BUA), adopted in July 1970. At that time the airline adopted a new livery as well.

When in late November of that year Caledonian Airways acquired BUA from British and Commonwealth (B&C), the owner of both BUA and BUIA at the time, the latter's assets were not included in that deal. As a result, BUA's former parent company continued to own BIA.

Island Airways

Island Airways is a small passenger airline based in Charlevoix, Michigan. It provides services to Welke Airport and Charlevoix Municipal Airport.

The airline began in 1945 as McPhillips Flying Service. In 1975 Welke Aviation was started in competition with McPhillips. The two companies merged in 1983 and Paul Welke bought out his partners in 1989. In 2001 Welke was instrumental in the location and rescue of a family that had been on a charter flight that crashed on approach to Beaver Island. In 2013, the Michigan Aeronautics Commission gave Welke an award in recognition of Island Air's long history of service.

Fleet

Destinations

References