Skyways (British airline)

Skyways was the name of several British airlines operating at different times, with the most significant being a major independent airline during the 1950s and 1960s.

The original Skyways Limited was formed in 1929, operating joyriding flights and air taxi services. This company was short-lived.

A new Skyways Limited was formed in 1946, initially focused on charter flights and cargo operations. It quickly expanded into scheduled passenger services, particularly serving British colonies and territories that were under-served by the state-owned British European Airways (BEA). Skyways became a significant player in the "coach-air" market, offering low-cost flights to destinations in Europe and beyond, often in conjunction with coach travel to and from airports.

Skyways' fleet included aircraft such as the Douglas DC-3, Avro York, Handley Page Hermes, and later larger aircraft like the Lockheed Constellation and Douglas DC-4. In the early 1960s, Skyways acquired Avro 748 aircraft to modernize its fleet.

The airline was acquired by British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) in 1962 and renamed Skyways Coach Air Limited. BOAC aimed to capitalize on Skyways' successful low-cost model.

Skyways Coach Air continued to operate under that name until 1971 when it was acquired by Dan-Air. The Skyways name disappeared from the British aviation scene at that point.

There have been subsequent attempts to revive the Skyways name, but none have achieved the scale or significance of the airline that operated during the mid-20th century. The legacy of Skyways lies in its pioneering role in low-cost air travel and its contributions to connecting Britain with its global territories.