British United Airways
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| Founded | 1960 | ||||||
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| Ceased operations | 1970 (merged with Caledonian Airways) |
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| Hubs |
London Gatwick Airport London Stansted Airport (1960-1964) |
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| Alliance |
Aviation Traders (1960-1968), Channel Air Bridge (1960-1962), Morton Air Services (1960-1968), Bristow Helicopters (1960-1970), Gambia Airways (1960-1970), Sierra Leone Airways (1960-1970), Uganda Aviation Services (1960-1970), BUA (C.I.) (1962-1968), British United (Manx) Airways (1962-1968), Silver City Airways (1962-1963), British United Air Ferries (1963-1967), British United Island Airways (1968-1970) |
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| Fleet size | 20 jet aircraft as of November 1970 | ||||||
| Destinations |
British Isles, Continental Europe, East Africa, West Africa, Southern Africa, South America |
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| Company slogan | "Some have the one. Some have the other. Only British United Have Both These Second Generation Jets" "VC10s to Europe, East and Central Africa and South America. One-Elevens to Europe and West Africa." (mid-1960s) "The airline that has to be best." (late 1960s) |
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| Parent company | Air Holdings (1961-1968), BUA (Holdings) (1968-1970) |
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| Headquarters | Central London (1960-1968) London Gatwick Airport (1968-1970) |
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| Key people |
Sir Anthony Cayzer, Sir Nicholas Cayzer, Sir Myles Wyatt, Sir Freddie Laker, Max Stuart-Shaw, Alan Bristow, Alastair Pugh, Capt. Alan Hellary Capt. P.A. MacKenzie |
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British United Airways (BUA) was a private, independentBritish airline formed as a result of the merger of Airwork Services and Hunting-Clan Air Transport in July 1960, making it the largest wholly private airline based in the United Kingdom at the time. British and Commonwealth Shipping (B&C) was the new airline's main shareholder.
At its inception, BUA assumed the aircraft and operations of its predecessors. These included a fleet of 90 assorted fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters that continued to operate mainly non-scheduled services. Gatwick became BUA's main operating base while Stansted was the main base for trooping flights until 1964. An order for ten BAC One-Eleven jet aircraft in May 1961 launched BUA's fleet re-equipment programme in support of its long-term policy to develop primarily as a scheduled airline. This was also the first time a private British airline had placed a launch order for a new jet. In January 1962, BUA merged with British Aviation Services, the holding company of rival British independent airlines Britavia and Silver City Airways. This made BUA the largest unsubsidised airline outside the United States. Silver City's pre-merger status as the main independent provider of air ferry services in the UK also gave BUA a monopoly among UK-based air ferry operators. The subsequent takover of Jersey Airlines in May 1962 resulted in further growth, giving BUA a fleet of more than 100 aircraft and 6,000 staff.
A city centre check-in facility for BUA's scheduled passengers opened in London Victoria station in late-April 1962.
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