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Flying Colours (airline)

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Flying Colours was a charter airline in the United Kingdom that operated from 1996 until 2000.

Flying Colours Airlines
Boeing 757-200
IATA ICAO Call sign
MT FCL COLOURS
FoundedNovember 1995 (1995-11)
Commenced operations
6 March 1997 (1997-03-06)
Ceased operations
27 March 2000 (2000-03-27) (merged to form JMC Air)
Operating bases
HeadquartersManchester Airport

History

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Airbus A321 at Manchester on 7 November 1998
Airbus A320 in 1999.

The airline was estabilished in autumn 1996 and began unscheduled operations in March 1997 with a fleet of six Airbus A320, two Airbus A321 and eleven Boeing 757-200 aircraft[1]. Flying Colours had several operational bases outside of its Manchester Airport headquarters, including London Gatwick Airport and Glasgow International Airport. The airline quickly established a positive reputation in the charter industry, with a fleet of newly built aircraft and new features; Flying Colours were the first airline in the UK to have LCD TV screens in the cabins of their 757s, these would fold down from the interior ceiling of the aircraft.

In 1998, Sunworld, a Thomas Cook & Son subsidiary, acquired Flying Colours Leisure Group.[2][3] Subsequently, the in-house charter airline of Thomas Cook, Airworld, was integrated into Flying Colours.[4] [5] Shortly after the takeover two ex-Airworld Airbus A321s were returned to their lessor. The merged airline also maintained the Airworld operating base at Bristol.

In 1999 Thomas Cook completed the acquisition of Carlson Leisure Group, who operated the charter carriers Caledonian Airways and Peach Air.[6] This led to a complete rebrand by Thomas Cook of its growing tour operation. In September 1999, Thomas Cook estabilished it own charter airline, JMC Air,[7] which became operational in the following month of March[8]. Flying Colours had ordered two Airbus A330-200 aircraft to begin longhaul operations, these aircraft arrived after the JMC merger.

Fleet

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The fleet consisted of the following aircraft types in the five year of opertions:

Aircraft Total Remarks
Airbus A320 8
Airbus A321 2
Boeing 757-200 11 1 leased in

See also

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References

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  1. ↑ Wickstead, M.J. (2014). Airlines of the British Isles since 1919. Staplefield (West Sussex - U.K.): Air Britain (Historians) Ltd. p. 237. ISBN 978-0-85130-456-4.
  2. ↑ "Tour war hots up", Flight International, 24 June 1998
  3. ↑ Wickstead, M.J. (2014). Airlines of the British Isles since 1919. Staplefield (West Sussex - U.K.): Air Britain (Historians) Ltd. p. 237. ISBN 978-0-85130-456-4.
  4. ↑ "Flying Colours integrates Airworld", Flight International, 25 November 1998
  5. ↑ Wickstead, M.J. (2014). Airlines of the British Isles since 1919. Staplefield (West Sussex - U.K.): Air Britain (Historians) Ltd. p. 237. ISBN 978-0-85130-456-4.
  6. ↑ "Colour change for Caledonian", Flight International, 18 August 1999
  7. ↑ "JMC eyes 757-300 deal for 2001", Flight International, 24 November 1999
  8. ↑ Wickstead, M.J. (2014). Airlines of the British Isles since 1919. Staplefield (West Sussex - U.K.): Air Britain (Historians) Ltd. p. 237. ISBN 978-0-85130-456-4.
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