Gill Airways

Gill Airways was a regional airline with its head office in New Aviation House on the grounds of Newcastle Airport in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England, United Kingdom.[1]

Gill Airways
IATA ICAO Callsign
9C GIL GILLAIR
Founded1969 (as Gill Aviation)
Ceased operations20 September 2001
Operating basesNewcastle Airport
HeadquartersNewcastle Airport, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England, United Kingdom
Key peopleMichael Gill (Founder)
Websitegill-airways.com

History
Gill Airways ATR 72 in 2001
Aircraft hangar at Newcastle Airport

Founded in 1969 by Michael Gill, the airline originally operated as Gill Aviation, mainly providing cargo and mail flights for various companies including the British Royal Mail. Following the acquisition of passenger aircraft in June 1989, the airline changed its name to Gill Air. The arrival of Fokker 100 aircraft in 1995 resulted in the airline entering into a codeshare agreement with Air France between Newcastle upon Tyne and Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport. The title of Gill Airways was adopted in 1995, to reflect the growing importance of passenger operations to the airline.

Administration and closure

After emerging from administration in 2000, the airline seemed to have a promising future ahead of it. However, following the September 11, 2001 attacks, the principal financier, the Bank of Scotland, withdrew funding.[2] The final day of operations was 20 September 2001, with the airline placed into liquidation and the loss of 240 jobs.

Revival and rebranding

On 1 September 2009, an application for a Civil Aviation Authority Type A Operating Licence was made by Gill Airways Ltd, of Birmingham.[3] However, in early 2010, the company rebranded as Cello Aviation, which later ceased trading.

Fleet

Gill Airways used to have the following types of aircraft:[4]

Aircraft on display
  • A Gill Airways Shorts 330 G-OGIL preserved in its original colours can be found at the North East Aircraft Museum, Sunderland, Tyne & Wear.

References
  1. "Contact Us." Gill Airways. 23 April 2000. Retrieved on 22 September 2010.
  2. http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12145473.display/
  3. http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/213/1916.pdf CAA
  4. "Gill Airways fleet information". 2 February 2001. Archived from the original on 31 March 2001. Retrieved 26 December 2010.
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