View source for Eastern Airways

{{Short description|British airline}}
{{About|the defunct UK company|the defunct US air carrier|Eastern Air Lines|the current US air carrier|Eastern Airlines, LLC}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox airline
| airline = Eastern Airways
| logo = Eastern airways logo.svg
| logo_size =
| image = G-MAJZ B.Ae Jetstream 41 Eastern Aws TLS 23SEP13 (9904086516).jpg
| caption = An Eastern Airways [[BAe Jetstream 41]]
| IATA = T3<ref name=iata>{{cite web|title=IATA – Airline and Airport Code Search|url=http://www.iata.org/publications/Pages/code-search.aspx|website=iata.org|access-date=13 April 2015}}</ref>
| ICAO = EZE
| callsign = EASTFLIGHT
| headquarters = [[Humberside Airport]]<br />[[Kirmington]], [[North Lincolnshire]]
| parent = 
| founded = {{Start date and age|1997}}
| ceased = 27 October 2025
| key_people = Richard Lake, owner, Orient Industrial Holdings
| bases            = {{ubl|class=nowrap
  | [[Aberdeen Airport|Aberdeen]]
  | [[Humberside Airport|Humberside]]}}
| fleet_size = 4
| destinations = 6<ref>{{cite web | title=Flight Destinations - Eastern Airways | url=https://www.easternairways.com/where-we-fly/ }}</ref> (as Eastern Airways)
| website = {{Official URL}}
| aoc = Air Kilroe Limited
| hubs = Aberdeen (ABZ), Humberside (HUY), Newquay (NQY), Amsterdam (AMS)
| focus_cities = 
| frequent_flyer = 
| lounge = 
| num_employees = 280
}}

'''Air Kilroe Limited''', [[Trade name|trading as]] '''Eastern Airways''', was a British [[regional airline]] headquartered at [[Humberside Airport]] near the village of [[Kirmington]], [[North Lincolnshire]], England.<!--Cited below--> The airline operated domestic, international and private charter flights.<ref name="FI">{{cite news | title= Directory: World Airlines | work= [[Flight International]] | page= 75 | date= 3 April 2007}}</ref> Around 1,300,000 passengers flew with the airline per rolling year including on services for KLM Cityhopper, charter operations,<ref>[http://www.eraa.org/airlinesdt.asp?AirlineID=39 ERAA] retrieved 12 May 2007 {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061008212210/http://www.eraa.org/airlinesdt.asp?AirlineID=39 |date=8 October 2006 }}</ref> and government subsidised [[public service obligation]] (PSO) services which would otherwise be commercially unfeasible. 

The airline had its own hubs at [[Aberdeen Airport|Aberdeen]] and [[Humberside Airport|Humberside]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.easternairways.com/|title=why fly any other way? {{pipe}} Eastern Airways|website=easternairways.com|access-date=10 March 2020|archive-date=31 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230331211147/https://www.easternairways.com/en-GB|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Air Kilroe held a [[Civil Aviation Authority (United Kingdom)|United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority]] Type A Operating Licence. It was permitted to carry passengers, cargo and mail on aircraft with 20 or more seats and was [[IOSA]] approved.<ref>[https://www.caa.co.uk/commercial-industry/airlines/licensing/licence-types/airline-licence-holders/ Airline licence holders]. www.caa.co.uk.</ref><ref>[https://www.iata.org/en/programs/safety/audit/iosa/registry/eastern-airways/4171/ IOSA Registry]. www.iata.org.</ref>

== History ==
=== Early years ===
Co-founded by Bryan Huxford and Richard Lake, the airline started operations in December 1997 with a scheduled route between [[Humberside Airport|Humberside]] and [[Aberdeen Airport|Aberdeen]] with a leased [[Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner|Swearingen Metro]], following [[KLM|KLM UK's]] withdrawal from the route. In February 1999, it purchased Manchester based '''Air Kilroe''', thereby acquiring an [[air operator's certificate]] and a fleet of two [[British Aerospace Jetstream|BAe Jetstream 32]] aircraft.<ref name="ai109p27">Goold ''Air International'' January 2009, p. 27</ref>

In 2002, the first [[British Aerospace Jetstream 41|BAe Jetstream 41]] entered the Eastern fleet,<ref name="ai109p27" /> the aircraft type which formed the majority of the fleet up until the airline ceased operations.

12 aircraft and their associated routes were transferred from [[BA Connect|British Airways CitiExpress]] on 30 March 2003. An [[Embraer ERJ family|Embraer 145 and 135]] were also [[Aircraft lease|wet-leased]] from [[City Airline]] in 2003, which were then replaced with [[Saab 2000]] aircraft, which peaked at 8 being operated by 2013 including acquisitions from [[Crossair]] and other European carriers.<ref name="ai109p28">Goold ''Air International'' January 2009, p. 28</ref>

In 2006, Eastern Airways wet-leased a [[Dornier 328]] from [[Cirrus Airlines]] for six months to operate a [[Newcastle International Airport|Newcastle]] to [[London City Airport|London City]] service before switching this onto the BAe Jetstream 41. Eastern Airways also purchased a Jetstream 41 [[Flight simulator|training simulator]].

As part of [[One NorthEast]]'s "Passionate People Passionate Places" campaign for [[North East England]], Eastern Airways had a Jetstream 41 painted in promotional colours. It also featured in the 2007 [[Sunderland International Airshow]]. A [[Saab 2000]] was also painted in a promotional 'Aberdeen City and Shire' colour scheme. The airline shut down its hub at the [[Isle of Man Airport|Isle of Man]] in August 2009, discontinuing routes to [[Birmingham Airport|Birmingham]] and [[Newcastle International Airport|Newcastle]] from the airport.<ref>[https://archive.today/20120804190403/http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/Eastern-Airways-to-withdraw-routes.5524279.jp Eastern Airways to withdraw routes]. Iomtoday.co.im (5 August 2009).</ref>

=== 2010s ===
In July 2010, the airline took delivery of an [[Embraer ERJ family|Embraer 135]] with 37 seats and signed a lease on a second, thus adding jet aircraft to their fleet for the first time since the acquisition to replace their previously operated Embraer ERJ aircraft. They were to be used mainly on charter services to central and Eastern Europe; however, they also offered increased flexibility on the airline's scheduled flights.<ref name="easternairways.com">{{Cite web |url=http://www.easternairways.com/latest-news/jet-aircraft-added-to-eastern-airways-flee.html |title=Jet aircraft added to Eastern Airways' fleet |access-date=2 July 2010 |archive-date=2010-11-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101122141833/http://easternairways.com/latest-news/jet-aircraft-added-to-eastern-airways-flee.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> In July 2010, the airline named one of their [[British Aerospace Jetstream 41|BAe Jetstream 41]] aircraft after the comedian [[Ken Dodd]] in celebration of the year anniversary of the start of their flights from [[Liverpool John Lennon Airport|Liverpool]] and Dodd's support shown in the region.

In September 2010, it was announced that Eastern Airways had bought [[Air Southwest]], however shut down the airline a year later following continued losses and changes in the growth of Flybe. 

In August 2012, Eastern Group purchased [[Manchester Airports Group]]'s 82% stake in [[Humberside Airport]], becoming the primary airline serving the airport.

In February 2014, [[Bristow Helicopters|Bristow Group]], a major helicopter operator serving the offshore oil and gas industry, acquired a 60% interest in Eastern Airways<ref name="Bristow">{{cite web |title=History |url=https://www.bristowgroup.com/about/history |publisher=Bristow Group |access-date=8 December 2020}}</ref> and in 2018 acquired the remaining 40%. The airline continued to operate under the Eastern Airways brand.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bristowgroup.com/bristow-news/bristow-in-the-news/2014/bristow-helicopters-invests-eastern-airways/|title=Bristow Helicopters invests in Eastern Airways|date=6 February 2014|access-date=8 February 2014|archive-date=9 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140209032723/http://bristowgroup.com/bristow-news/bristow-in-the-news/2014/bristow-helicopters-invests-eastern-airways/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Bristow also acquired a controlling interest in the Australian airline [[Airnorth]], another regional airline which operates fixed wing regional jet and turboprop aircraft. During this time, the airline's route network was focused on Aberdeen, providing service to the oil industry, as well as a smaller operation in Newcastle. The airline also commenced a number of French domestic routes in 2015, supported by [[public service obligation]] (PSO) subsidies.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Eastern Airways Route Map (2015) |url=https://www.pinterest.de/pin/461126449319815685/ |access-date=2023-10-29 |website=Pinterest}}</ref>

Facing increased competition from  growing low-cost airlines and the aggressive UK expansion of airlines such as [[Flybe (1979–2020)|Flybe]] and [[Widerøe|Wideroe]], the airline has significantly scaled back its schedule route network from Aberdeen, concentrating on contract and charter services for which Eastern Airways had become recognised as a market leader in delivering.

In March 2017, Eastern re-entered the [[Isle of Man]] with service to [[George Best Belfast City Airport|Belfast City]], [[Glasgow Airport|Glasgow]] and [[Newcastle International Airport|Newcastle]], following the collapse of local airline [[Citywing]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Isle of Man Government – Eastern Airways steps in to provide a continuation of Isle of Man Services |url=https://www.gov.im/news/2017/mar/13/eastern-airways-steps-in-to-provide-a-continuation-of-isle-of-man-services/ |access-date=2023-10-29 |website=gov.im}}</ref> The airline also took over PSO-funded service between [[Cardiff Airport|Cardiff]] and [[Anglesey Airport|Anglesey]], facilitating the opening of a base in Cardiff.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-02-18 |title=Cardiff to Anglesey flights secured for another four years {{!}} GOV.WALES |url=https://www.gov.wales/cardiff-anglesey-flights-secured-another-four-years |access-date=2023-10-29 |website=gov.wales}}</ref> The Isle of Man service was cancelled a year later, whereas the Cardiff service continued until the Welsh Government stopped providing funding in 2021.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-06-08 |title=Eastern Airways: Cardiff-Anglesey air link scrapped|publisher=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-politics-61733850 |access-date=2023-10-29}}</ref>

[[File:SAAB 2000.jpg|thumb|Eastern [[Saab 2000]] in [[British Airways]] livery]]

Eastern also operated flights from the Isle of Man to [[London City Airport]] on behalf of [[British Airways]] using [[Saab 2000]] aircraft.

==== Bristow Group ====
In September 2017, Eastern received its first of two new [[ATR 72]]-600. The aircraft operated on the Aberdeen – Scatsta route on behalf of Bristow Helicopters. With Bristow Group in financial difficulties, it sold the Eastern Airways group of companies back to one of its founders, Richard Lake, in May 2019.<ref name="EnergyVoice15052019">{{cite news |last1=Lammey |first1=Mark |title=Troubled Bristow sells Eastern Airways |url=https://www.energyvoice.com/other-news/199261/troubled-bristow-sells-eastern-airways/ |access-date=8 December 2020 |work=Energy Voice |publisher=D C Thomson Media |date=15 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022200321/https://www.energyvoice.com/other-news/199261/troubled-bristow-sells-eastern-airways/ |archive-date=22 October 2020 |location=Aberdeen}}</ref>

==== Eastern Airways and Flybe franchise ====
[[File:Flybe Franchise 2017.jpg|thumb|An Eastern [[BAe Jetstream 41]], operated for [[Flybe (1979–2020)|Flybe]]]]

It was announced on 21 September 2017 that Eastern Airways would enter a franchise with Flybe, starting on 29 October 2017. The franchise saw all scheduled flights operated by Eastern Airways carry BE (Flybe) flight numbers. Following Loganair's decision to end its partnership with Flybe, to remain on multiple markets flyBe announced a significant expansion onto routes also operated by Loganair using Eastern Airways to operate the services, largely targeting the [[Scottish Highlands]], including introduction jet service into [[Sumburgh Airport|Sumburgh]] for the first time as part of the operating plan flyBe contracted Eastern Airways to provide.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Times |first=Shetland |date=2017-06-06 |title=Flybe to go up against Loganair in direct competition for flights |url=https://www.shetlandtimes.co.uk/2017/06/06/flybe-go-loganair-direct-competition-flights |access-date=2023-10-29 |website=The Shetland Times}}</ref> The last of these new routes was dropped by the end of 2018, citing a lack of demand for two competing airlines given capacity had doubled on many with a static market size.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Merritt |first=Mike |date=2023-10-29 |title=Eastern Airways pulls out of Glasgow to Stornoway route battle with Loganair |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/scotland/article/eastern-airways-pulls-out-of-glasgow-to-stornoway-route-battle-with-loganair-v8f85cvcf |access-date=2023-10-29 |newspaper=[[The Times]]|issn=0140-0460}}</ref>

=== 2020s ===
On 5 March 2020, Flybe entered administration and ceased operations,<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Topham |first1=Gwyn |date=2020-03-05 |title=Flybe: airline collapses two months after government announces rescue|work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/mar/05/flybe-collapses-two-months-after-government-announces-rescue |access-date=2023-10-29 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> resulting in Eastern Airways resuming flying under its own brand.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Laister |first=David |date=2020-03-05 |title=Eastern Airways to emerge as an independent after Flybe collapse |url=https://www.business-live.co.uk/economic-development/eastern-airways-emerge-independent-operator-17865756 |access-date=2023-10-29 |website=Business Live}}</ref> Seeking to take advantage of Flybe's demise, the airline announced the opening of a base at [[Southampton Airport|Southampton]], where Flybe had operated 95% of the airport's flights, with new routes to [[Manchester Airport|Manchester]] and Newcastle, eventually being joined by Belfast City and [[Dublin Airport|Dublin]], along with pre-existing service to Aberdeen, [[Leeds Bradford Airport|Leeds Bradford]] and [[Teesside International Airport|Teesside]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Eastern Airways flights from Southampton resume {{!}} Southampton Airport |url=https://www.southamptonairport.com/news/media-centre/2020/eastern-airways-flights-from-southampton-resume/ |access-date=2023-10-29 |website=southamptonairport.com}}</ref> The routes from Manchester were subsequently cancelled.

In May 2021, Eastern commenced flying to [[Gibraltar International Airport|Gibraltar]] for the first time, with services from both [[Birmingham Airport|Birmingham]] and Southampton airports, however cancelled both routes a year later as international travel remained in slow recovery post Covid-19.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Eastern Airways Expands into Gibraltar from Birmingham and Southampton {{!}} Gibraltar International Airport |url=https://www.gibraltarairport.gi/content/eastern-airways-expands-gibraltar-birmingham-and-southampton |access-date=2023-10-29 |website=gibraltarairport.gi |archive-date=29 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231029165751/https://www.gibraltarairport.gi/content/eastern-airways-expands-gibraltar-birmingham-and-southampton |url-status=dead }}</ref> The airline also commenced service between [[Cardiff Airport|Cardiff]] and Belfast City, seeking to fill another gap left by Flybe's collapse, but suspended the route in early 2022 after the Welsh Government decided to permanently cancel the PSO service between Cardiff and Anglesey suspended during Covid-19, thus rendering the airline's Cardiff base unviable as a single route operation.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=John |date=2022-01-10 |title=Flights from Cardiff to Belfast suspended until March |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/travel/cardiff-airport-belfast-flights-suspended-22696761 |access-date=2023-10-29 |website=Wales Online}}</ref>

==== PSO contracts ====
Eastern Airways had previously operated the Welsh Government PSO service between Cardiff Airport and Anglesey Airport from 2015 until the government removed funding for the service in 2022 and did not reopen the north–south connection to the capital post Covid-19.

In December 2021, Eastern Airways was awarded the PSO contract to operate a service between [[Newquay Airport|Newquay]] and [[Gatwick Airport|London Gatwick]] which between 2021 and 2024 saw the growth of passenger volumes back to over 85,000 annually between Cornwall and London.

Additionally in April 2022 Eastern Airways were awarded another PSO contract in Scotland to operate services between [[Aberdeen Airport|Aberdeen]] and [[Wick Airport|Wick]]. The service was the only scheduled flight into Wick, operated by the Scottish Government / Transport Scotland via [[Highlands and Islands Airports]], with the aim of revitalising air travel from the remote region. 

Both these PSOs remain operated in 2025 on the ATR72-600 and BAe Jetstream 41 respectively supporting directly and indirectly over 80 jobs between the two services labelled as lifeline air services.

==== Oil and gas contract ====
In 2024, with over a decade of operating between Aberdeen and both [[Sumburgh Airport]] and [[Scatsta Airport]] in the [[Shetland Islands]] for multiple oil & gas sector clients, Eastern Airways were awarded a seven year contract extension in conjunction with Bristow Helicopters to support BP Oils in their shuttle flying between Aberdeen and Sumburgh on the BAe Jetstream 41 and ATR72 fleet types. 

==== KLM Cityhopper ====
In March 2024, Eastern Airways commenced an ACMI on behalf of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, taking over the operation of the [[Humberside Airport]] and [[Teesside Airport]] KLM services to the [[Amsterdam Schiphol|Netherlands]] with additional flying to [[Manchester Airport|Manchester]], [[Glasgow Airport|Glasgow]], [[Newcastle International Airport|Newcastle]] and [[Norwich Airport|Norwich]] on two 100-seat Embraer E190 E-Jets.

By October 2024 this had expanded to three Embraer 190 aircraft with the addition of [[Bristol Airport|Bristol]] as a base for KLM including operating to [[Southampton Airport|Southampton]] and Cardiff, and by March 2025 a fourth UK base had been added at Bristol with the addition of a fourth Embraer 190, bringing the airlines weekly seat capacity for KLM to 22,400 and over 1.15 million per year.

As this KLM Cityhopper and Eastern Airways ACMI relationship grew, ways of protecting the critical worldwide Amsterdam hub connectivity which is fundamental to regional UK economic prosperity was added aligned to the E-Jet fleet expansion of the carrier. KLM Cityhopper ceased the contract with Eastern Airways on 5 October 2025, just a few weeks before Eastern Airways ceased operations.<ref>{{cite web |title=KLM Concludes Leased Eastern Airways E190 Service in Oct 2025|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/251008-kloct25t3 |publisher=Aeroroutes |date=8 October 2025 |access-date=7 November 2025}}</ref>

==== Administration ====
On 27 October 2025, Eastern Airways filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators, which resulted in the suspension of all flight operations.<ref name="BBCadmin">{{cite web |last1=Mistry |first1=Pritti |last2=Browning |first2=Simon |title=Eastern Airways on brink of collapse with jobs at risk |website=[[BBC News]] |date=27 October 2025 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cd04vyg4x19o |access-date=27 October 2025}}</ref> On 31 October, the majority of Eastern Airways' staff were made redundant.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ford |first1=Coreena |last2=Keighley |first2=Tom |title=Majority of Eastern Airways staff made redundant as airline teeters on brink of collapse |date=31 October 2025 |url=https://www.business-live.co.uk/economic-development/majority-eastern-airways-staff-made-32786629 |work=[[Business Live]] |access-date=11 November 2025}}</ref> The company formally went into [[Administration in United Kingdom law|administration]] on 6 November 2025.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mistry |first1=Pritti |last2=Browning |first2=Simon |title=Eastern Airways goes into administration |website=[[BBC News]] |date=6 November 2025 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1e3jnn32q7o |access-date=7 November 2025}}</ref>

The administration resulted in the cancellation of the Aberdeen–Wick and Gatwick–Newquay PSO services.<ref name="bristolpost2025"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Hendry |first=Alan |title=‘They didn’t do their homework’: Loss of Wick flights will serve as ‘a harsh lesson’ |date=4 November 2025 |url=https://www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk/news/they-didn-t-do-their-homework-loss-of-wick-flights-will-s-418501/ |work=[[John O'Groat Journal]] |access-date=11 November 2025}}</ref> On 6 November, [[Cornwall Council]] announced that [[Isles of Scilly Skybus]] had been appointed as replacement operator for the Gatwick–Newquay route.<ref name="bristolpost2025">{{cite news |last=Haughey |first=Lauren |title=Skybus flights to connect two major UK airports from November 23 |date=11 November 2025 |url=https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/skybus-flights-connect-two-major-10634664?int_source=nba |work=[[Bristol Live]] |access-date=11 November 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=7 November 2025 |orig-date=6 November 2025 |title=Newquay to London flights set to resume as Cornwall Council agrees contract with Skybus |url=https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/council-news/transport-streets-and-waste/newquay-to-london-flights-to-resume-as-cornwall-council-agrees-contract-with-skybus/ |publisher=[[Cornwall Council]] |access-date=11 November 2025}}</ref>

== Corporate affairs ==
=== Headquarters ===
The head office is located at Schiphol House, on the property of [[Humberside Airport]], in [[Kirmington]], [[North Lincolnshire]].<ref>[http://easternairways.com/ Home page] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120104205125/http://www.easternairways.com/ |date=4 January 2012 }}. Eastern Airways. Retrieved on 29 December 2011. "Head Office Eastern Airways Schiphol House Humberside Airport Kirmington DN39 6YH"</ref>{{efn|The Registered Office is at Redhill Aerodrome, Kings Mill Lane, Redhill, Surrey.}}

=== Interline agreements ===
Eastern Airways formerly had [[Interline agreement]]s with the following airlines:<ref>https://www.easternairways.com/Travel-trade/</ref>
* [[Air France]]
* Hahn Air

== Fleet ==
[[File:Jetstream 41.jpg|thumb|Eastern Airways [[British Aerospace Jetstream 41|BAe Jetstream 41]]]]

Before ceasing operations these were the aircraft in the fleet:<ref>{{cite web | title=Search the G-INFO aircraft register &#124; UK Civil Aviation Authority | url=https://www.caa.co.uk/aircraft-register/g-info/search-g-info/# }}</ref>{{failedverification|date=October 2025}}

{| class="wikitable" style="border-collapse:collapse;text-align:center;margin:auto;"
|-
!Aircraft
!In service
!Orders
!Passengers
|-
|[[ATR 72-600]]
|4
|—
|70-72
|-
|[[British Aerospace Jetstream 41|BAe Jetstream 41]]
|7
|—
|29
|-
|[[Embraer E-Jet family|Embraer 170]]
|1
|—
|76
|-
|[[Embraer E-Jet family|Embraer 190]]
|4
|2
|100
|-
!Total
!16
!2
!
|}
== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

{{clear}}
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
* {{cite magazine |last=Goold |first=Ian |title=Full of Eastern pragmatism |magazine=[[Air International]] |date=January 2009 |volume=78 |issue=1 |pages=26–29 |issn=0306-5634}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
*{{Official website}}


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