Inclusive Tours
The next couple of years saw further expansion of Air
Kruise’s Inclusive Tour (IT) charters. These were now
to eight European destinations and demand resulted in
the purchase of two Douglas Dakotas (G-ANLF and
G-AOBN) in April 1955. In December two Bristol 170
Freighters, G-AHJI and G-AIFM, also joined the fleet.
By the end of the year all operations were transferred to the
newly open Lydd Ferryfield Airport with passenger numbers
rising to some 36,500.
Such was the growth in the IT market that 1956 saw three
additional Dakotas being transferred to Air Kruise from Silver
City. These were G-AMYV, G-AMYX, G-AMZB and they
were joined by Bristol 170 G-AIME. A fourth Bristol Freighter
(G-AIFM) was purchased from Air Outremer.
Air Kruise was now operating the most extensive IT services to
continental Europe of any British airline and was also providing
ad-hoc passenger and freights services. Furthermore, in
December 1956 two of the Dakotas took part in the Hungarian
Refugee airlift following the country’s invasion by Russia.
The carrier also introduced a ‘Blue Arrow’ coach–air–rail
service from London to the Cote d Azur, Milan, Turin, Costa
Brava and the French Alps and such was its popularity that in
1957 the package included First Class rail travel.
Another large contact was with Blue Cars (Continental)
Coach Cruises offering services to Barcelona, Madrid, Palma,
Venice, Salzburg and Jersey. With their best year to date
Air Kruise carried 68,750 passengers and some 783,989lbs
(355,617kg ) of freight.
During 1957 and 1958 the airline also operated services
from Blackbushe but by the end of the summer season all
services were transferred to Silver City Airways and the
name Air Kruise disappeared.
Hugh Kennard remained as the joint managing director of
Silver City Airways until his resignation in November 1960.
With an 18-month ‘restraint of trade’ clause in his contract he
returned to Ramsgate and formed Aviation Engineering and
Maintenance Ltd, which specialised in overhauling engine
gearboxes, hydraulic systems and instruments, whilst planning
his return to airline operations.Air Ferry Ltd
Hugh Kennard knew his life lay in aviation and following his
resignation from Silver City Airways he registered the name
Air Ferry Ltd as a subsidiary of Leroy Tours – the aim being to
operate charter and IT services from Manston Airport in Kent.
Having spent several months getting his team together and
obtaining the required licences his first four aircraft, two Vickers
Vikings (G-AIVD and G-AIVF) and two Douglas C-54As
(G-APYK and G-ASFY) arrived at Manston for pre-service
checks and repainting into their new blue and white livery.
Operations began on March 30, 1963 when C-54A G-APYKAIR Kruise introduced a
‘Blue Arrow’ coach–air–
rail service
Bristol Freighter
G-AIME parked
in the maintenance
area at Blackbushe
in July 1956.Douglas Dakota
G-AMY V at Lydd
on a sunny day in
1957 in the colours
of Air Kruise.B • Auster
G-AIZZ was the f irst
aircraft to land at
the newly reopened
Ramsgate Airport
in June 1952 and is
pictured at Lympne
in 1961 with the
Skyfotos logo.72 AIRLINER Classics 2018