Air Kruise
Having left the RAF in 1946, Kennard turned to civilian
aviation. He formed Air Kruise Ltd at Lympne in Kent and
took delivery of his first aircraft (Miles Messenger G-AHZS)
in August which he used for pleasure and charter flying. The
business defied the gloomy post-war economics and blossomed,
leading the company to increase its fleet to four by the year-end.
During late summer of 1946 the company operated a 16-day
inclusive tour charter to Nice on behalf of Fourways, a leading
tour operator − such endeavours became the major source of
income for Air Kruise and its counterparts. The next few years
saw an expansion of its pleasure and charter business especially
with those flights to Northern France and Belgium.
On October 1, 1948 Kennard created a flying club at Lympne.
There had been such a club at Lympne since 1927 and, during
the war years, the resident Cinque Ports Flying Club became
part of the Civil Air Guard training programme. Despite
re-forming post-war it soon closed down and Kennard picked up
the pieces to form the Kent Coast Flying Club with a
variety of aircraft including Miles Hawk G-AKJX.
In the meantime, Air Kruise continued to expand
and in 1950 it was rebranded as Air Kruise (Kent)
Ltd after it was awarded a scheduled service licence between
Lympne and Le Touquet under an associate agreement with
BEA (British European Airways). Thrice-daily links began on
July 15 using the newly acquired de Havilland Dragon Rapide
G-AEWL − such was the demand for that a second example was
added the following year.
In June 1952 Kennard’s company took out a 21-year lease on
Ramsgate Airport, which had been the pre-war home of Hillman
Airways. His Auster Autocrat (G-AIZZ) was the first Air Kruise
aircraft to land there, however the official opening did not take
place until June 27, 1953. By then Air Kruise had become part of
the British Aviation Services Group (BAS), which operated out
of Lympne as Silver City Airways. Kennard continued to oversee
Air Kruise operations in addition to his appointment to the BAS
board. Scheduled operations soon expanded to include Ramsgate
and Ostend using additional Dragon Rapides carrying both Air
Kruise and Trans Channel Airways titles. However, with no
customs facilities at Ramsgate all services routed via Lympne.
Other Kennard enterprises in 1953 included the establishment
of aerial photography company Skyfotos and the re-formation
of the Ramsgate Flying Club, which was closed at the
outbreak of the war.B • Air Kruise
Dragon Rapide
G-AESR is refuelled
at Ramsgate before
another cross-channel
service for Trans
Channel Airways.B • Hugh
Kennard’s first
aircraft was Miles
Messenger G-AHZS,
seen here at
Ramsgate in 1953.
A A
O I •
Hugh Kennard DFC.
A A
M B /
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