Janes Aviation

Janes Aviation was a British cargo airline established by Andy Janes and Hilary Janes in December 1987. The company was based at Southend Airport, now London Southend Airport, and developed from a small contract operation into a broader freight carrier serving parcel, newspaper, mail, automotive and charter requirements. Although its early activity was centered on cargo, the airline held a United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority Type A Operating Licence. That licence permitted the carriage of passengers, cargo and mail on aircraft configured for 20 or more seats. Operations began in December 1987 with a leased Britten-Norman Islander flying between Blackpool and Belfast City for Lynx Express. The need for greater payload and operational capacity led Janes Aviation to acquire Douglas DC-3 freighters in 1988. The first of these aircraft entered service on 26 July 1988. The DC-3s enabled the airline to expand beyond its initial parcel contract and undertake additional charter and freight work, including flights arranged for Ford Motor Company between Cardiff, Cologne and Valencia. The company also operated periodic newspaper services between Manchester and Dublin and seasonal Christmas-mail flights linking Belfast with Gatwick. Janes Aviation continued to broaden its fleet in the late 1980s and early 1990s. A company-operated Short 330 turboprop entered the fleet in early 1989, improving reliability and increasing the airline's ability to handle scheduled and contract cargo work. A Britten-Norman Trislander was acquired for smaller consignments of up to approximately 1,500 kilograms. In late 1990, the first of two Handley Page Dart Herald freighters arrived. These aircraft assumed nightly services from Coventry and supported new freight contracts, including automotive-parts movements to Ostend and weekend newspaper flights between Glasgow and Southend. A further strategic shift began in November 1991 with the arrival of the first Hawker Siddeley 748. The 748 offered a more commercially useful combination of payload, range and operating flexibility than the airline's smaller aircraft. In July 1992, Janes Aviation purchased the remaining six-aircraft Dan-Air 748 fleet together with a substantial stock of spares. This acquisition increased the carrier's available capacity and gave it a more standardized fleet for regular freight contracts. The expanded operation helped Janes Aviation obtain recurring Royal Mail and Parcelforce work. These contracts included Royal Mail services connecting East Midlands and Belfast, as well as Parcelforce operations between Coventry and Glasgow. The move from ad hoc and specialist contracts toward regular postal and parcel networks represented the company's principal transition from a small regional cargo operator to a more substantial freight airline. In mid-1992, the company changed its name to Emerald Airways. Janes Aviation therefore represents the formative operating identity of an airline whose later activities were conducted under the Emerald Airways name. The available reference material does not establish a separate modern operating status, public listing, website, financial performance record or current corporate successor for Janes Aviation.

Janes Aviation Ltd. began operations in December 1987 after Andy Janes and Hilary Janes established the company as a cargo airline at Southend Airport. Its first operation used a leased Britten-Norman Islander on a Blackpool–Belfast City route flown under contract to Lynx Express. The initial aircraft was suitable for small consignments, but the airline soon required greater capacity for its expanding freight commitments. In 1988, Janes Aviation acquired two Douglas DC-3 freighters. The first entered service on 26 July, allowing the company to undertake a wider range of work. In addition to express freight, the airline operated Ford Motor Company charter flights between Cardiff, Cologne and Valencia, periodic newspaper services between Manchester and Dublin, and seasonal Christmas-mail operations from Belfast to Gatwick. These activities gave the airline a varied traffic base rather than dependence on a single route or customer. The fleet was progressively diversified. A Short 330 turboprop entered company service in early 1989, supporting improved reliability. A Britten-Norman Trislander was also obtained for smaller consignments, with a stated capacity of up to about 1,500 kilograms. In late 1990, Janes Aviation received the first of two Handley Page Dart Herald freighters. The Heralds took over nightly services from Coventry and were used for additional contracts carrying automotive components to Ostend and weekend newspapers between Glasgow and Southend. The airline's most important period of expansion began in November 1991 when its first Hawker Siddeley 748 arrived. The larger turboprop enabled more efficient operation of regular freight services. In July 1992, Janes Aviation purchased the entire remaining Dan-Air fleet of six 748 aircraft, together with a substantial spares inventory. This transaction provided a larger and more commercially viable operating platform. With the expanded 748 fleet, Janes Aviation secured regular contracts with the Royal Mail and Parcelforce. The reported services included East Midlands–Belfast flights for Royal Mail and Coventry–Glasgow flights for Parcelforce. These postal and parcel contracts marked a move toward dependable network freight operations alongside the airline's earlier charter, newspaper and specialist-cargo work. In mid-1992, Janes Aviation was renamed Emerald Airways. The name change ended Janes Aviation's use as the airline's principal operating identity, while the business continued into its subsequent phase under the Emerald Airways name. The available reference does not provide a later chronology for Emerald Airways, nor does it document a current successor, public listing, financial results or an active Janes Aviation brand.

• 1992

  Dan-Air 748 fleet acquired

  [1]Janes Aviationen.wikipedia.org

  Janes Aviation purchases Dan-Air's remaining six 748 aircraft and a substantial spares inventory, strengthening its ability to operate regular freight contracts.

• 1992

  Renamed Emerald Airways

  [1]Janes Aviationen.wikipedia.org

  In mid-1992, the company changes its name from Janes Aviation to Emerald Airways.

• 1991

  Hawker Siddeley 748 expansion begins

  [1]Janes Aviationen.wikipedia.org

  The first Hawker Siddeley 748 arrives in November, beginning the airline's transition to a larger and more commercially capable freight fleet.

• 1990

  Dart Herald freighters enter the fleet

  [1]Janes Aviationen.wikipedia.org

  The first of two Handley Page Dart Herald freighters arrives late in the year and takes over nightly Coventry services while supporting automotive-parts and newspaper contracts.

• 1989

  Short 330 added

  [1]Janes Aviationen.wikipedia.org

  A company-operated Short 330 turboprop joins the fleet, improving operational reliability and supporting the airline's expanding cargo work.

• 1988

  DC-3 freighter operations introduced

  [1]Janes Aviationen.wikipedia.org

  The airline acquires two Douglas DC-3 freighters; the first enters service on 26 July and supports expanded contract freight and charter activity.

• 1987

  Company founded and operations begin

  [1]Janes Aviationen.wikipedia.org

  Andy and Hilary Janes establish Janes Aviation Ltd. at Southend Airport. The airline begins flying a leased Britten-Norman Islander between Blackpool and Belfast City for Lynx Express.

A specialist British regional freight carrier focused on contract cargo, express parcels, postal traffic, newspapers and automotive logistics, with limited charter capability and a fleet adapted to short-haul operations.

• Air freight · 1987

  Contract cargo services

  Janes Aviation's core business was short-haul contract freight. The airline moved express parcels, mail, newspapers and industrial cargo for corporate and logistics customers, using aircraft ranging from small utility types to Hawker Siddeley 748 freighters.

• Postal logistics · 1987

  Postal and parcel flights

  The carrier operated services for Lynx Express and later secured regular work for Royal Mail and Parcelforce. Reported routes included East Midlands to Belfast and Coventry to Glasgow, reflecting its role in overnight and time-sensitive domestic distribution.

• Specialist air cargo · 1988

  Newspaper distribution flights

  The airline operated periodic Manchester–Dublin newspaper flights and weekend newspaper services between Glasgow and Southend. These operations used its short-haul fleet to support time-critical print distribution.

• Industrial air freight · 1988

  Automotive logistics flights

  Janes Aviation carried automotive-related freight, including car parts to Ostend. The airline also flew charter services for Ford Motor Company between Cardiff, Cologne and Valencia.

• 1992

  Fleet consolidation around the Hawker Siddeley 748Strategy

  Background

  The airline needed greater capacity and a more commercially viable fleet for regular freight work.

  Action taken

  Janes Aviation acquired the remaining six Dan-Air 748 aircraft along with a substantial spares inventory.

  Aftermath

  The expanded fleet supported regular Royal Mail and Parcelforce contracts and preceded the company's renaming as Emerald Airways.

  Source

• 1992

  Corporate name changed to Emerald AirwaysOther

  Background

  Following its growth from a small contract operator into a larger freight carrier, the company adopted a new corporate and operating name.

  Action taken

  Janes Aviation was renamed Emerald Airways in mid-1992.

  Aftermath

  Subsequent operations were associated with Emerald Airways rather than the Janes Aviation name.

  Source

1. 1Janes Aviationen.wikipedia.org