Air Ferry Ltd
Operated from Jul 1962 to Oct 1968
Main Base – Manston
Founder/Director – W/C Hugh Kennard
As a director of Silver City, Wing Commander Kennard finally left the company at the end of 1960 and decided to go it alone. In 1961, he began formulating plans for his new operation and by July 1962, Air Ferry had been launched at Manston. His new airline spent much of 1963 and 1964 
heavily engaged flying mostly I.T tours to the Continent, while scheduled services were limited to Ostend and Le Touquet. At the end of 1964, the airline was bought up by the huge Air Holdings group and the Wing Commander again left to start another venture, namely Invicta Airways. Air Ferry meanwhile, retained its name and operations continued much as they had before, although by the summer of 1965 the company had commenced flying a small number of car-ferry services across the Channel with two Bristol 170s one of which had been leased from BUAF (G-ANVR); however, this service lasted just one season and was quickly withdrawn. Meanwhile the winter would see a number of SEN-OST services being flown by Air Ferry Vikings and C-54s on behalf of BUAF.
While the odd aircraft may have visited the airport, Air Ferry never operated its own aircraft from Southend, but did so by proxy. In December 1965, Air Ferry leased two BUAF Carvairs for use during the Rhodesian crisis and they remained in 
Zambia for a number of months before returning to the UK. The aircraft apparently operated on government missions that are still classified to this very day. However, it was in 1968 that Air Ferry would start to operate from SEN in earnest. In January it leased two Viscounts from Channel Airways: November Juliet departing for Manston on January 10th while Hotel Echo would leave a day later. Both aircraft would be put into service operating a large number of I.T charters from Gatwick, Manchester, Manston, Newcastle and Southend to many European destinations on behalf of Leroy and Lyons Tours. The Viscounts were returned in October and at about the same time, the decision was taken to absorb Air Ferry’s operations into BUA and thus by the end of 1968, this airline was no more.
Air Ferry fleet from 1962 to 1968
Vickers Viking
G-AHOW*– 4/64 to 11/66
WFU at Manston and B/U – 9/67
G-AIVD – 2/63 to 4/65
WFU at Manston and later B/U
G-AIVF* 2/63 to 4/66
Sold to Invicta Airways
G-AJBX – 4/64 to 5/65
WFU at Manston and later B/U
G-AOCH*– 8/63 to 4/66
Sold to Invicta Airways
Bristol 170
G-AMLL – 3/65 to 12/65
Leased from Handley Page
G-ANVR*– 1/65 to 3/65
Leased from BUAF
Douglas C-54
G-APYK – 2/63 to 6/67
Crashed into Mount Canigou, nr Perpignan, France 3/6/67
G-ASFY*– 3/63 to 11/68
Sold to International Aviation Development as N3454
G-ASOG – 1/64 to 1/67
Crashed on approach to Frankfurt Airport – 21/1/67
G-ARWI*– 6/67 to 10/68
Leased from Lloyd International
Douglas DC-6
G-APNO*– 12/65 to 1/69
Sold to Balair AG as HB-IBS
G-APNP*– 12/65 to 1/69
Sold to Balair AG as HB-IBT
ATL.98 Carvair
G-APNH*– 12/65 to 6/66
Leased from BUAF
G-ASKG*– 12/65 to 3/66
Leased from BUAF
Vickers Viscount
G-AVHE*– 1/68 to 10/68
Leased from Channel Airways
G-AVNJ*– 1/68 to 10/68
Leased from Channel Airways
Do you have any other, interesting snippets of information about this airline’s SEN history or indeed any that you would like to share? If so, then please contact us on saadinfomail@gmail.com
Many thanks from the SAAD Admin Team.
Operated from Jul 1962 to Oct 1968
Main Base – Manston
Founder/Director – W/C Hugh Kennard
As a director of Silver City, Wing Commander Kennard finally left the company at the end of 1960 and decided to go it alone. In 1961, he began formulating plans for his new operation and by July 1962, Air Ferry had been launched at Manston. His new airline spent much of 1963 and 1964 
heavily engaged flying mostly I.T tours to the Continent, while scheduled services were limited to Ostend and Le Touquet. At the end of 1964, the airline was bought up by the huge Air Holdings group and the Wing Commander again left to start another venture, namely Invicta Airways. Air Ferry meanwhile, retained its name and operations continued much as they had before, although by the summer of 1965 the company had commenced flying a small number of car-ferry services across the Channel with two Bristol 170s one of which had been leased from BUAF (G-ANVR); however, this service lasted just one season and was quickly withdrawn. Meanwhile the winter would see a number of SEN-OST services being flown by Air Ferry Vikings and C-54s on behalf of BUAF.
While the odd aircraft may have visited the airport, Air Ferry never operated its own aircraft from Southend, but did so by proxy. In December 1965, Air Ferry leased two BUAF Carvairs for use during the Rhodesian crisis and they remained in 
Zambia for a number of months before returning to the UK. The aircraft apparently operated on government missions that are still classified to this very day. However, it was in 1968 that Air Ferry would start to operate from SEN in earnest. In January it leased two Viscounts from Channel Airways: November Juliet departing for Manston on January 10th while Hotel Echo would leave a day later. Both aircraft would be put into service operating a large number of I.T charters from Gatwick, Manchester, Manston, Newcastle and Southend to many European destinations on behalf of Leroy and Lyons Tours. The Viscounts were returned in October and at about the same time, the decision was taken to absorb Air Ferry’s operations into BUA and thus by the end of 1968, this airline was no more.
Air Ferry fleet from 1962 to 1968
Vickers Viking
G-AHOW*– 4/64 to 11/66
WFU at Manston and B/U – 9/67
G-AIVD – 2/63 to 4/65
WFU at Manston and later B/U
G-AIVF* 2/63 to 4/66
Sold to Invicta Airways
G-AJBX – 4/64 to 5/65
WFU at Manston and later B/U
G-AOCH*– 8/63 to 4/66
Sold to Invicta Airways
Bristol 170
G-AMLL – 3/65 to 12/65
Leased from Handley Page
G-ANVR*– 1/65 to 3/65
Leased from BUAF
Douglas C-54
G-APYK – 2/63 to 6/67
Crashed into Mount Canigou, nr Perpignan, France 3/6/67
G-ASFY*– 3/63 to 11/68
Sold to International Aviation Development as N3454
G-ASOG – 1/64 to 1/67
Crashed on approach to Frankfurt Airport – 21/1/67
G-ARWI*– 6/67 to 10/68
Leased from Lloyd International
Douglas DC-6
G-APNO*– 12/65 to 1/69
Sold to Balair AG as HB-IBS
G-APNP*– 12/65 to 1/69
Sold to Balair AG as HB-IBT
ATL.98 Carvair
G-APNH*– 12/65 to 6/66
Leased from BUAF
G-ASKG*– 12/65 to 3/66
Leased from BUAF
Vickers Viscount
G-AVHE*– 1/68 to 10/68
Leased from Channel Airways
G-AVNJ*– 1/68 to 10/68
Leased from Channel Airways
Do you have any other, interesting snippets of information about this airline’s SEN history or indeed any that you would like to share? If so, then please contact us on saadinfomail@gmail.com
Many thanks from the SAAD Admin Team.