Suckling Airways
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| Founded | 1984 | ||||||
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| Ceased operations | March 2013 | ||||||
| Parent company | Loganair | ||||||
| Headquarters |
Cambridge Airport Cambridgeshire, England, UK |
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| Website | sucklingairways.co.uk | ||||||
Suckling Airways was an airline that focused on ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance and Insurance) work and ad hoc air charters for business and sporting organisations. It had its head office at Cambridge Airport, Cambridgeshire. In 2013 it was integrated into its parent company Loganair.
The airline was established in November 1984 and started operations in 1986. It was founded as Suckling Aviation by Roy and Merlyn Suckling, originally operating charter services from a grass runway in Ipswich. Roy Suckling had been a flying instructor at Ipswich Flying Club, and his wife Merlyn was a lawyer. Scheduled services began on 26 April 1986 from Ipswich Airport to Manchester and Amsterdam using a single 18-seat Dornier Do 228. The service was distinguished by the friendly 'family' atmosphere engendered by both flight and ground staff.
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, the airport operating company, complained vociferously 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. Ipswich Airport has subsequently closed.
A prominent moment at this time was a lengthy feature about the airline on BBC television's "40 Minutes" which showed the introduction of the Dornier 228, and the in-flight meals being prepared in a private home kitchen, although by a professional chef.
Modest expansion followed the airline's move to Cambridge, and the airline upgraded to the larger Dornier 328. Services to Edinburgh began, as well as a parallel service from Norwich to the Scottish 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.
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Wikipedia