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ScotAirways

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ScotAirways is an airline based in Dundee, United Kingdom. It operates regional services within the UK and to the Netherlands. It also operates ad hoc corporate charters for business and sporting organisations.

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Code Data

IATA Code: CB
ICAO Code: SAY
Callsign: Suckling

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History

The airline was established in November 1984 and started operations in 1986. It was founded as Suckling Aviation by Roy and Merlyn Sucking, originally operating charter and air taxi services from a grass runway in Ipswich. Scheduled services began on 26 April 1986 from Ipswich to Manchester and Amsterdam using an 18-seat Dornier Do.228-200. In the winter of 1987, higher than average rainfall began to cause problems at Ipswich Airport, with the grass runway reportedly being damaged by the Suckling Dornier. The damage was particularly acute at the ends of the runway where the aircraft would make its turn. Region Air, a flying school based at Ipswich, complained vocifourously that the Dornier was churning up the runway, and in February 1988, Suckling was forced to temporarily relocate to RAF Wattisham, before finding a more permanent home at Cambridge.

Modest expansion followed the airline's move to Cambridge, and the airline upgraded to the larger Fairchild Dornier 328. Services to Edinburgh began, as well as a parallel service from Norwich to the city. By 1999 the airline was carrying 110,000 passengers on its fleet of Dorniers and had started services from London City Airport to Dundee and Glasgow.

It was during that year that investment was secured from Brian Souter, founder and chairman of the Perth-based transport group Stagecoach. Souter purchased a 90% stake in the airline for £5m and announced its rebranding as ScotAirways, despite the fact its headquarters would remain in Cambridge. The Suckling family would remain in charge of the day to day management of the airline, while Souter became chairman. The aircraft were repainted with a red tartan tailfin, still using the previous sa logo. A rather ambitious expansion programme began, establishing a hub at London City with services to Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Inverness and Paris, and also from Inverness and Southampton to Amsterdam.

Shortly after the September 11th terror attacks in the United States, the airline found itself in the midst of the crisis surrounding the aviation industry. Cutbacks were required for ScotAirways’ survival, and the services from Inverness, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Paris, Norwich and Cambridge were axed, some only a matter of months since their launch. With the abandonment of Cambridge Airport, Dundee effectively became the base for the carrier’s operations and maintanence.

During 2004, the airline managed to mark its recovery by recording its first profit in several years. Frequencies on the remaining routes have been increased, with Southampton – Amsterdam and Dundee – London City operating 4 times daily and Edinburgh – London City 10 times daily. The airline carried over 200,000 passengers in 2004, achieving a far higher figure on just three routes than the previous larger network. In the face of heavy competition from British Airways on the Edinburgh to London City route, ScotAirways introduced its first jet aircraft, the 80-seat British Aerospace 146, onto the route on 9th May 2005. Code share arrangements are also in place with Flybe on the Edinburgh service and KLM Cityhopper on the Amsterdam route.

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