Starways
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Starways was a British airline from 1948 to 1963.
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[edit] History
The airline was formed in 1948 to undertake freight and passenger charters from Liverpool (Speke) Airport. It also provided joyriding flights in a fleet of twin-engined Avro Anson aircraft.
The airline acquired a number of Douglas DC-3s in the early fifties to operate seasonal tourist charters and built-up a network of scheduled services from Liverpool including flights to continental European destinations (Lourdes, Biarritz).
In 1957 the airline purchased the larger four-engined Douglas DC-4 with another example purchased in 1958. The first DC-4 charter was flown on 8 January, 1958 between Liverpool and Southend with football supporters.
In 1959 the airline introduced the turbo-prop Vickers Viscount aircraft for use on inclusive tour flights. The refined livery of the aircraft (G-ARIR) - particularly the roundal near the nose, testifies to its previous French operator (F-BGNS).
The airline was taken over by British Eagle in October 1963.
[edit] Aircraft operated
[edit] Accidents and Incidents
On 28 March 1956 a Starways Douglas DC-3 G-AMRB was on a positioning flight from Liverpool to Glasgow to operate a charter the next day to Lourdes. The aircraft struck a hill at Largs while on approach due to lack of airmanship. No passengers were carried and one of the three crew died.
[edit] References
- Merton Jones, T. (1972). British Independent Airline & Operators Since 1947. LAAS International. NONE.
