European Aviation Air Charter

European Air Charter BAC 1-11 (G-AVMH) at Faro Airport, Portugal in February 1994

In late 1989, European Aviation was formed when owner Paul Stoddart purchased two BAC 1-11 aircraft and three Falcon 20 business jets (and a large assortment of spare parts for both aircraft) from the Royal Australian Air Force's 'VIP Squad' (the Canberra-based No 34 SQN). Stoddart hired Trevor Whetter from British Aerospace as his Managing Director and sold the BAC 1-11 aircraft to Okada Air in Nigeria. European Aviation were based from Bournemouth Airport.[4]

In 1993, the company directors took the decision of changing European Aviation's name to European Aviation Air Charter, or EAC for short. That same year, twenty other BAC-111s were bought from British Airways following the British airlines absorption of Dan Air. This meant the airline could include tour groups among its charter clients.[5] By 2000, European Air Charter had acquired eight Boeing 737 aircraft formerly of Belgian Airline, Sabena. They would be in operation with the company until 2006, with brief leases to Palmair and OzJet.[6][7]

In 2001, European Air Charter had acquired seven Boeing 747 aircraft from British Airways. Later, adding an eighth from Cathay Pacific. Seven of the aircraft were utilised in long haul service to destinations such as New York City, Chicago and other United States and Canadian locations. Agreements were signed with Palmair, however by 2004 European Air Charter had disposed of their Boeing 747 aircraft.[8] During their ownership of the 747 aircraft, they were also utilised for servicing the Minardi Formula One Team now owned by founder, Stoddart.[9]

European Air Charter Boeing 747-200 (G-BDXH) at Manchester Airport in August 2003

In 2002, Stoddart was close to selling European Air Charter to the Bath Family who owned Palmair.[10][11][12] The deal was completed, and the Bath Family continued operating European Air Charter until 2004, when founder Stoddart bought the airline back. At the time of reacquisition, European was making losses of up to $60million.[13] Shortly after Stoddart's return, European Air Charter significantly cut aircraft numbers, and made 560 of its 600 staff redundant.[14][15][16]

In December, 2008 the airline ceased operations.[17]

Despite the charter airline business having folded in 2008, its parent European Aviation continues to trade with an extensive aircraft parts and brokerage business operating from Bournemouth Airport and Ledbury, Herefordshire. In 2018, European acquired ten Airbus A340 aircraft from Etihad Airways.[18] In 2020, the aircraft, and owner Stoddart, made the news in the UK during the Coronavirus pandemic in 2020. The Airbus A340 aircraft were used to transport PPE from China and Malaysia back to the UK.[19][20][21][22] These aircraft are now operated by a new UK airline, also owned by European, called European Cargo.[23][24]

European also developed a VIP aircraft conversion in 2018, based on Boeing 737 aircraft designed for non-stop flights to Dubai.[25]

European Aviation branding on the 2001 Minardi of Fernando Alonso

European Aviation were a regular sponsor across Formula One and Formula 3000 during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Initially with the Tyrrell team, and later Jordan Grand Prix and Arrows Grand Prix.[26][27][28] In 2001, European Aviation owner Paul Stoddart acquired the Minardi team. It became known as European Minardi, and ran with European branding on the cars alongside the engines being branded as 'European'.[29][30]

The European Aviation Air Charter fleet consisted of the following aircraft at the time of collapse:[31]

• List of defunct airlines of the United Kingdom

• Media related to European Air Charter at Wikimedia Commons