Air Safaris

Air Safaris
Founded 1959
Ceased operations 1962
Hubs London Gatwick Airport
Headquarters Old Terminal Building, Gatwick Airport South
Key people Alan Stocks (General Manager)

Air Safaris was a British scheduled and charter airline from 1959 to 1962.[1]

History

Air Safaris Hermes 4 at Manchester Airport in 1961

Air Safaris Limited was formed on 26 November 1959 equipped with four-engined Handley Page Hermes and twin-engined Vickers Viking airliners to operate scheduled and charter flights based at London Gatwick Airport.[1] Originally started as Meredith Air Transport in 1952 as a Dakota operator it changed name in November 1954 to African Air Safaris Limited and in 1956 bought a Handley Page Hermes from the British Overseas Airways Corporation. It acquired two Vikings in 1959 and with a move to Gatwick Airport became Air Safaris.

In 1960 the company acquired the transport division of Don Everall Aviation with its scheduled flights from Birmingham Airport and one Viking aircraft.[2] The airline opened an operating and maintenance base at Hurn Airport in 1961. The company operated charters from most British airports but by 1961 had ceased operating.[1][3]

When the company ceased operations on 2 November 1961 it had five Hermes and eight Vikings, the 200 staff were given formal notice that the company would close due to "money difficulties".[4] An official from the company announced that they were trying to save the company but the following week a receiver was appointed.[4][5]

At a meeting of creditors on 29 January 1962 the company had a total deficiency of £521,073, the failure of the company was attributed by the directors to insufficient capital and too rapid expansion, loss of income from aircraft under repair, high wage costs and large hire-purchase payments were also cited.[6] As the company's assets would just about cover the debts the company was handed over to the official receiver to liquidate.[6]

Aircraft operated

Air Safaris Hermes at Manchester (Ringway) Airport in 1961

See also

References

Notes
  1. 1 2 3 Merton Jones 1972, p. 15
  2. ↑ "Air Companies MergeMachine". Business and Finance. The Times (54934). London. 21 November 1960. col G, p. 18.
  3. ↑ "Airline to Suspend Operations". News in Brief. The Times (55229). London. 3 November 1961. col D, p. 8.
  4. 1 2 "200 of Air Company's Staff get Notice". News in Brief. The Times (55230). London. 4 November 1961. col B, p. 5.
  5. ↑ "Receiver Appointed for Air Safaris". Business Appointments. The Times (55240). London. 16 November 1961. col B, p. 23.
  6. 1 2 "Creditors of Air Safaris Meet". News. The Times (55302). London. 30 January 1962. col D, p. 4.
Sources
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