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Isles of Scilly Steamship Company Shipping Images
  1. The 35mm Film Archive
  2. Civil Aviation

Isles of Scilly Steamship Co - Skybus

Isles of Scilly Skybus was established in March 1984 by the Isles of Scilly Steamship Company and commenced operations in August 1984.

Isles of Scilly Skybus originated as an air charter operator at Land's End aerodrome which operated high frequency services to the Isles of Scilly.

Following the withdrawal of Brymon Airways routes to and from the Isles of Scilly Skybus stepped in, initially operating services to Plymouth.

This route was later dropped but with the addition of Twin Otter aircraft the route network expanded to its current make-up.
The airline is wholly owned by the Isles of Scilly Steamship Company which also runs the passenger ferry, Scillonian III, and freight services from Penzance to the Islands.
Skybus celebrated 25 years of service in June 2009, painting the aircraft tails with the 25 years mark.

An additional Twin Otter aircraft was sourced for the beginning of the 2013 season following the cessation of helicopter service operated by British International Helicopters to and from the islands.

Flights to Bristol Airport and Southampton Airport ceased at the end of the 2012 season to concentrate on services from Exeter, Newquay and Land's End.

Operations by BN2 8 seater islander planes are due to cease in March 2020 as the company focuses on operations using de Havilland Twin Otter aircraft.

The Isles of Scilly Steamship Company also owns Westerward Airways, former pleasure flight operator and owner / operator of Land's End Airport.
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  • Isles of Scilly Skybus - August 29, 1991

    Isles of Scilly Skybus - August 29, 1991

    BN Islander G-AXWP at St Mary's Airport.

  • Isles of Scilly Skybus - August 29, 1991

    Isles of Scilly Skybus - August 29, 1991

    BN Islander G-AXWP at St Mary's Airport.

  • Isles of Scilly Skybus - May 26, 1992

    Isles of Scilly Skybus - May 26, 1992

    BN ISLANDER G-AXWR at St Mary's Airport

  • Isles of Scilly Skybus - May 26, 1992

    Isles of Scilly Skybus - May 26, 1992

    BN Islander G-SSKY arriving at St Mary's Airport.

  • Isles of Scilly Skybus - May 26, 1992

    Isles of Scilly Skybus - May 26, 1992

    BN Islander G-SSKY arriving at St Mary's Airport.

  • Isles of Scilly Skybus - August 09, 1992

    Isles of Scilly Skybus - August 09, 1992

    Land's End Airport - by the 1990s the original airport building was home to a flying club owned by the associated Westward Airways. Cobham Air Routes started to plan the route linking the Isles of Scilly to the mainland in 1935. Cobham was subsequently acquired by Olley Air Service, whose subsidiary Channel Air Ferries developed the Land's End airport and started a service to the island of St Mary's on 15 September 1937, flying de Havilland Dragons. In 1938, Great Western and Southern Airlines took over Olley Air Service and Channel Air Ferries. It continued the service throughout World War II, during which it replaced the Dragons with de Havilland Dragon Rapides. On 1 February 1947, Great Western and Southern Airlines was nationalised becoming BEA. On 2 May 1964, BEA replaced the Dragon Rapides with a Sikorsky S-61 helicopter. On 1 September 1964, the helicopter service moved from Land's End to the new Penzance Heliport, although BEA occasionally chartered Britten-Norman Islanders to fly from Land's End when the helicopter was unavailable. Between 1966 and 1970, Scillonia Airways operated from the airport, flying Rapides. Westward Airways was founded at the airport in 1970 and operated a flying school there from 1971 to 2009. In 1984, Isles of Scilly Skybus started operations at the airport, initially freight and charter, then scheduled services from April 1987, flying Islanders and de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otters. On 9 April 2013, a new £1 million passenger terminal was officially opened. Work had begun in July 2012 and included new baggage handling and arrivals facilities and a new control tower. Up to 2014, all the airport's runways were grass. During the winters of 2012/13 and 2013/14 the airport closed for long periods when the runways became waterlogged, and flights were temporarily moved from Land's End to Newquay. In May 2013, ISSC and the Council of the Isles of Scilly submitted a bid for finance from the European Regional Development Fund for runway resurfacing at Land's End, together with various improvements at St Mary's. In May 2014, the European Commission gave its approval. The airport closed on 4 July 2014 for the asphalting of two runways, with Skybus flights diverted to Newquay, and it reopened on 29 July.

  • Isles of Scilly Skybus - August 09, 1992

    Isles of Scilly Skybus - August 09, 1992

    Hangars at Land's End Airport

  • Isles of Scilly Skybus - August 09, 1992

    Isles of Scilly Skybus - August 09, 1992

    BN Islander line up at Land's End Airport

  • Isles of Scilly Skybus - August 1993

    Isles of Scilly Skybus - August 1993

    BN Islander G-AXWR landing at Land's End Airport.

  • Isles of Scilly Skybus - August 1993

    Isles of Scilly Skybus - August 1993

    BN Islander G-AXWR landing at Land's End Airport.

  • Isles of Scilly Skybus - August 1993

    Isles of Scilly Skybus - August 1993

    BN Islander G-AXWR prepared to take off at Land's End whilst a Trinity House helicopter takes off with a suspended load bound tfor one of the local lighthouses.

  • Isles of Scilly Skybus - August 1993

    Isles of Scilly Skybus - August 1993

    BN Islander G-AXWP arriving at Lands End Airport.

  • Isles of Scilly Skybus - August 1993

    Isles of Scilly Skybus - August 1993

    BN Islander G-AXWP arriving at Lands End Airport.

  • Isles of Scilly Skybus - August 08, 1993

    Isles of Scilly Skybus - August 08, 1993

    Westward Airways Cessna 172 G-AWWU outside of the terminal building. The aircraft is still active but was sold by Westward in 1986. Its primary function was the operation of sightseeing flights.

  • Isles of Scilly Skybus - August 08, 1993

    Isles of Scilly Skybus - August 08, 1993

    BN Islander at Land's End Airport

  • Isles of Scilly Skybus - June 02, 1994

    Isles of Scilly Skybus - June 02, 1994

    DeHavilland Twin Otter G-BIHO at Land's End Airport.

  • Isles of Scilly Skybus - June 02, 1994

    Isles of Scilly Skybus - June 02, 1994

    On board Twin Otter G-BIHO

  • Isles of Scilly Skybus - June 02, 1994

    Isles of Scilly Skybus - June 02, 1994

    deHavilland Twin Otter G-BIHO at St Mary's Airport

  • Isles of Scilly Skybus - June 02, 1994

    Isles of Scilly Skybus - June 02, 1994

    deHavilland Twin Otter G-BIHO at St Mary's Airport

  • Isles of Scilly Skybus - June 02, 1994

    Isles of Scilly Skybus - June 02, 1994

    deHavilland Twin Otter G-BIHO at St Mary's Airport

  • Isles of Scilly Skybus - June 02, 1994

    Isles of Scilly Skybus - June 02, 1994

    deHavilland Twin Otter G-BIHO at St Mary's Airport

  • Isles of Scilly Skybus - August 07, 1994

    Isles of Scilly Skybus - August 07, 1994

    G-BIHO interior

  • Isles of Scilly Skybus - August 07, 1994

    Isles of Scilly Skybus - August 07, 1994

    de Havilland Twin Otter G-BIHO in the hangar at Land's End Airport on a Sunday.

  • Isles of Scilly Skybus - August 07, 1994

    Isles of Scilly Skybus - August 07, 1994

    de Havilland Twin Otter G-BIHO in the hangar at Land's End Airport on a Sunday.

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