United Airways Ltd was a British airline operating in 1935, ending as part of British Airways Ltd.
History Whitehall Securities Corporation was a wealthy investment company run by Bernard Clive Pearson. He was interested in aviation, and invested in Metal Propellers Ltd in 1925, and in Airwork Ltd in 1929. He also invested in Simonds Aircraft in 1928, renaming it Spartan Aircraft Ltd in 1930. Pearson then took a 50% share in Saunders-Roe (SARO) and combined the two companies to produce the Spartan Cruiser airliner. To promote the Cruiser Pearson founded Spartan Air Lines on 2 February 1933, which on 12 April started services from Heston Aerodrome to the Isle of Wight.
Meanwhile, Walter Thurgood was making good profits with Jersey Airways, and was starting another airline, Guernsey Airways. On 1 December 1934, Pearson, along with Great Western Railway and Southern Railway formed a holding company called Channel Islands Airways Ltd to control both airlines, with Whitehall Securities and Thurgood holding two thirds of the shares.
Wanting to expand northwards. Pearson then founded United Airways on 4 April 1935 through Channel Islands Airways, with Thurgood in charge. The fleet was to consist of several Spartan Cruisers from Spartan Air Lines, and newly-ordered de Havilland Dragon Rapides, all of which held six to eight passengers. There were also some pleasure-flying aircraft which would be particularly popular at Blackpool in the coming holiday season.
On 30 April United started services from Spartan’s base at Heston to Blackpool and onwards to the Isle of Man and Carlisle (Kingstown Municipal Airport), with a link by Northern & Scottish Airways (N&SA) from the Isle of Man to Glasgow. In May, Whitehall took a controlling interest in N&SA, and although United included its Western Isles routes as an associate airline, it was never formally part of United. In June 1935 United did take Highland Airways under its wing, but it retained its own identity and a degree of independence.
On 18 June United Airways operated daily services between Blackpool and Leeds, the Isle of Man and Liverpool, and Blackpool and Morecambe. United had taken over the lease of Blackpool's Stanley Park Aerodrome and were running it for the town's Corporation. They were also in talks with the independent Hillman's Airways to run services from London to Amsterdam and Berlin and possibly to Norway.
United Airways lasted less than five months, until 30 September 1935, when under Pearson’s command, Spartan and United along with Hillman's Airways, all combined into one new company, Allied British Airways. That itself only lasted one month, as it was renamed British Airways Ltd on 29 October, and it became a public company on 11 December.
Routes United Airways routes as in timetable dated 18 June 1935. "In conjunction with Northern & Scottish Airways" and "Connections available with Isle of Wight and Jersey air services".
Heston — Blackpool — Isle of Man (twice daily) Isle of Man — Blackpool — Liverpool (thrice daily) Isle of Man — Blackpool — Morecambe (twice daily) Blackpool — Leeds (daily) Isle of Man — Carlisle (daily, twice on Saturdays) Isle of Man — Glasgow (N&SA - daily) Glasgow — Campbeltown — Islay (N&SA - daily)
Fleet list + United Airways Ltd fleet, 1935TypeRegistrationFromToFateNotesArmstrong Whitworth Argosy IIG-AACJJuly 19351 October 1935Transferred to BALThe last remaining Argosy, ex Imperial Airways City of Manchester. Used mainly for pleasure flights at Blackpool. Withdrawn from use by December 1936de Havilland DH.60G Gipsy MothG-AAYY5 July 19351 October 1935Transferred to BALProbably used jointly with Spartan AL as instrument trainer. Impressed as MA939de Havilland DH.60GIII Moth MajorG-ACNS2 May 1935October 1935Transferred to BALSold to Airwork Ltd in 1937. Still registered in 2024de Havilland DH.89 RapideG-ADAE18 April 1935 1 October 1935 Transferred to BALDelivered new to N&SA with United Airways titles, registered to United in May 1935. Sold abroad in 1938DH.89 RapideG-ADBU29 April 1935 1 October 1935 Transferred to BALDelivered new. Later to N&SA. Withdrawn from use in 1936DH.89 RapideG-ADBX4 July 1935 1 October 1935 Transferred to BALDelivered new. Crashed at Ronaldsway 6 May 1936 and withdrawn from useSpartan Three-Seater IIG-ABTR27 July 1935October 1935Transferred to BALEx Spartan AL, sold by BAL April 1947, scrapped at Gatwick 1947Spartan Cruiser IIG-ACDX30 April 1935October 1935Transferred to BALEx Spartan AL. On a BAL ferry flight, written off in forced landing near Gosport 9 October 1935.Spartan Cruiser IIG-ACSMApril 1935October 1935Transferred to BALEx Spartan AL. Later to N&SA and Scottish Airways, impressed as X9433, scrapped April 1942Spartan Cruiser IIG-ACYLApril 1935October 1935Transferred to BALEx Spartan AL. Later to N&SA and Scottish Airways, impressed as X9431, struck off charge November 1941Spartan Cruiser IIG-ACZMMay 1935October 1935Transferred to BALEx Spartan AL. Later to N&SA and Scottish Airways, withdrawn from use at Renfrew January 1940, scrapped April 1942 Two further Rapides were originally registered to United Airways, G-ADBV and G-ADBW, but never delivered; they were diverted to Jersey Airways.
The fleet livery was plain silver or white with red markings.
Accidents and incidents There are no recorded accidents or incidents to United Airways aircraft.
See also List of defunct airlines of the United Kingdom
References