Mr. William O'BrienTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many new airlines have commenced flying operations in the United kingdom in the last two years; and if he will list the titles under which they operate. [7257]
§ Mr. Bowis[holding answer 3 December]The Civil Aviation Authority, which is responsible for licensing United Kingdom airlines, cannot determine from its records how many new UK airlines have actually commenced flying operations in the UK in the last two years. Since 1 January 1995, the CAA has granted 32 new operating licences to UK airlines. Of these, five are type A licences for larger operators—generally defined as operators of aircraft of more than 10 tonnes maximum take-off weight and/or with 20 or more seats—and 27 are type B licences for minor operators. The names of the airlines and, where known to be different, the names under which they trade, are as follows:
- Type A
- Airworld Aviation Limited (trading as Airworld)
- All Leisure Airlines Limited (trading as All Leisure)
- Community Express Airlines Limited1
- Sabre Airways Limited
- South Coast Airways Limited
- Type B
- Air Cavrel Limited
- Air Kilroe Limited
- Airlong Charter Limited
- Anglo American Airmotive Limited
- Atlanta Helicopters (Global) Limited
- CB Group Limited
- City Air Bus Limited1
- City Link Airways Limited
- Eurojet Aviation Limited
- European Airways Limited
- Execujet Limited1
- Executive Jet Charter Limited
- Imperial Air Charter Limited
- Keenair Charter Limited
- Kingair Limited
- Leeds Central Helicopters Limited
- London Executive Aviation Limited
- Lothian Helicopters Limited
- Macair Limited1
660 - Oxford Air Services Limited
- PLM Dollar Group Limited
- Poplar Aviation Limited
- Pritchard WGT (trading as Mayfair Dove)
- Solent Helicopters Limited (trading as Elite Helicopters)
- Stevenson Aviation Limited
- Surrey and Kent Flying Club (1982) Limited
- Widehawk Aviation Limited
- 1Ceased trading.
In addition to the above, two airlines which do not hold their own operating licences—Easyjet and Debonair—have commenced operations under the scope of the air travel organisers' licensing regulations, using services operated by another airline which holds a valid operating licence. Both Easyjet and Debonair have applied to the CAA for their own operating licences.