Airways International Cymru

{{Infobox airline

| airline = Airways International Cymru

| logo =

| logo_size =

| fleet_size = 7

| destinations = 23

| IATA = AK

| ICAO = CYM

| callsign = WELSHAIR

| parent = Red Dragon Travel

| company_slogan =

| founded = 1984

| ceased = 1988

| headquarters = File:Flag of Wales 2.svg Cardiff, Wales

| key_people =

| bases = Cardiff

| secondary_hubs =

| focus_cities =

| frequent_flyer =

| lounge =

| alliance =

| website =

}}

Airways International Cymru was an airline based in Cardiff, Wales formed by Red Dragon Travel, at the time a leading Welsh travel agency and tour operator. It commenced operations in early 1984, and ceased all operations in early 1988 after financial difficulties arising from the lease of an aircraft to an American airline.

History

File:Airways International Cymru BAC 111-432FD One-Eleven Aragao-1.jpg of the airline at Faro Airport]]

File:Airways International Cymru Boeing 737-200 Freer.jpg of the airline in 1986]]

The airline commenced operations in 1984 offering flights to popular European holiday destinations. It was based in Cardiff, Wales and started operations with a single British Aircraft Corporation BAC One-Eleven (BAC 1-11-300) G-YMRU purchased from Quebecair of Canada. For the first summer season of operations it also leased a BAC 1-11-400 G-AXMU from British airline British Island Airways. Later in 1984 it introduced a further BAC 1-11-300 G-WLAD purchased from Quebecair as a replacement for the British Island Airways aircraft.

In 1985 it introduced an ex Britannia Airways Boeing 737-200 G-BAZI leased from GPA.

In 1986 it received its first Boeing 737-300 G-PROC, and this was used to expand destinations to popular holiday spots throughout Europe.

In 1987 it received a new Boeing 737-300 G-BNCT. Additional contracts saw the lease of a further Boeing 737-300 G-PROK for the summer of 1987. After the European summer season, this Boeing 737-300 was leased to an American airline, SunCoast Airlines. Difficulties regarding the contract, and a lack of payment for the lease led to financial difficulties, and in early 1988 the airline's aircraft were repossessed by their lenders.

Throughout the airline's history, the operational fleet was reduced during the winter months by leasing out of aircraft to other operators. These included Air New Zealand, Aer Lingus, British Midland Airways and Manx Airlines.

Destinations

File:Boeing 737-3Q8, Airways International Cymru AN0313127.jpg of the airline in 1987.]]

Airways International Cymru served 20 destinations across Europe (during operations).

Austria
Salzburg – Salzburg Airport
France
Paris – Orly Airport
Germany
Düsseldorf – Düsseldorf Airport
Hanover – Hanover Airport
Netherlands
Rotterdam – Rotterdam Airport
Italy
Milan – Milan Malpensa Airport
Portugal
Faro – Faro Airport
Spain
Girona – Girona-Costa Brava Airport
Gran Canaria – Gran Canaria Airport
Palma de Mallorca – Palma de Mallorca Airport
Tenerife – Tenerife South Airport
Switzerland
Basel – EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg
Geneva – Geneva Cointrin Airport
United Kingdom
Aberdeen - Aberdeen Airport
Birmingham – Birmingham Airport
Bristol – Bristol Airport
Cardiff – Cardiff Airport, base
Derby/Leicester/Nottingham – East Midlands Airport
Edinburgh - Edinburgh Airport
Exeter – Exeter Airport
Glasgow - Glasgow Airport
London – Gatwick Airport
Southend-on-Sea – Southend Airport

Fleet

File:Boeing 737-3Q8, Airways International Cymru JP25275.jpg at Faro Airport, Portugal (1986)]]

class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto;" \|+ Airways International Cymru fleet before closure
style="background-color:lightblue;" \| Aircraft ! style="background-color:lightblue;" \| Total ! style="background-color:lightblue;" \| Routes ! style="background-color:lightblue;" \| Registration ! style="background-color:lightblue;" \| Notes
BAC One-Eleven-304AX \|1 \|Short haul \|G-YMRU[http://www.airliners.net/photo/Airways-International-Cymru/BAC-111-304AX-One-Eleven/0313129/M/?width=1050&height=717&sok=keyword_%28%27+%22G-YMRU%22%27_IN_BOOLEAN_MODE%29%29_&sort=_order_by_year_desc_&photo_nr=5&prev_id=0230321&next_id=0410253 G-YMRU Picture] \|YMRU meaning Cymru (Wales in English) Scrapped
BAC One-Eleven-304AX \|1 \|Short haul \|G-WLAD[http://www.airliners.net/photo/Airways-International-Cymru/BAC-111-304AX-One-Eleven/0350938/M/?width=1600&height=1072&sok=keyword_%28%27+%22G-WLAD%22%27_IN_BOOLEAN_MODE%29%29_&sort=_order_by_photo_id_DESC_&photo_nr=6&prev_id=0362803&next_id=0290705 G-WLAD Picture] \|GWLAD meaning GWLAD (Country in English) Scrapped
BAC One-Eleven-432FD \|1 \|Short haul \|G-AXMU[http://www.airliners.net/photo/Airways-International-Cymru/BAC-111-432FD-One-Eleven/0313131&tbl=photo_info&photo_nr=7&sok=keyword_%28%5C%27%2B%5C%22G-AXMU%5C%22%5C%27_IN_BOOLEAN_MODE%29%29_&sort=_order_by_photo_id_DESC_&prev_id=0403818&next_id=0280272 G-AXMU Picture] \|Scrapped
Boeing 737-204 \|1 \|Short-Medium haul \|G-BAZI[http://www.airliners.net/photo/Airways-International-Cymru/Boeing-737-204-Adv/1340798&tbl=photo_info&photo_nr=1&sok=keyword_%28%5C%27%2B%5C%22G-BAZI%5C%22%5C%27_IN_BOOLEAN_MODE%29%29_&sort=_order_by_photo_id_DESC_&prev_id=&next_id=1203251 G-BAZI Picture] \|Scrapped July 2006 whilst with LAN Express as CC-CSP
Boeing 737-3Q8 \|1 \|Short-Medium haul \|G-PROC[http://www.airliners.net/photo/Airways-International-Cymru/Boeing-737-3Q8/0419198&tbl=photo_info&photo_nr=3&sok=keyword_%28%5C%27%2B%5C%22G-PROC%5C%22%5C%27_IN_BOOLEAN_MODE%29%29_&sort=_order_by_photo_id_DESC_&prev_id=0799609&next_id=0396529 G-PROC Picture] \|Painted in Sunshine Scheme Joined Piedmont Airlines/USAir and retired from Southwest Airlines as N663SW in 2016
Boeing 737-3Q8 \|1 \|Short-Medium haul \|G-PROK[http://www.airliners.net/photo/Airways-International-Cymru/Boeing-737-3Q8/0006050&tbl=photo_info&photo_nr=2&sok=WHERE__%28reg_%3D_%27G-PROK%27%29_&sort=_order_by_photo_id_DESC_&prev_id=0334936&next_id=NEXTID G-PROK Picture] \|Withdrawn from use at Victorville Southern California Logistics Airport whilst with Southwest Airlines as N695SW
Boeing 737-3Q8 \|1 \|Short-Medium haul \|G-BNCT[http://www.airliners.net/photo/Airways-International-Cymru/Boeing-737-3Q8/0313127&tbl=photo_info&photo_nr=3&sok=keyword_%28%5C%27%2B%5C%22G-BNCT%5C%22%5C%27_IN_BOOLEAN_MODE%29%29_&sort=_order_by_photo_id_DESC_&prev_id=0336719&next_id=0121143 G-BNCT Picture] \|Leased from ILFC Now flying with Swiftair as EC-KLR (converted to cargo)

class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto;"

|+ Airways International Cymru fleet before closure

style="background-color:lightblue;" | Aircraft

! style="background-color:lightblue;" | Total

! style="background-color:lightblue;" | Routes

! style="background-color:lightblue;" | Registration

! style="background-color:lightblue;" | Notes

BAC One-Eleven-304AX

|Short haul

|G-YMRU[http://www.airliners.net/photo/Airways-International-Cymru/BAC-111-304AX-One-Eleven/0313129/M/?width=1050&height=717&sok=keyword_%28%27+%22G-YMRU%22%27_IN_BOOLEAN_MODE%29%29_&sort=_order_by_year_desc_&photo_nr=5&prev_id=0230321&next_id=0410253 G-YMRU Picture]

|YMRU meaning Cymru (Wales in English)
Scrapped

BAC One-Eleven-304AX

|Short haul

|G-WLAD[http://www.airliners.net/photo/Airways-International-Cymru/BAC-111-304AX-One-Eleven/0350938/M/?width=1600&height=1072&sok=keyword_%28%27+%22G-WLAD%22%27_IN_BOOLEAN_MODE%29%29_&sort=_order_by_photo_id_DESC_&photo_nr=6&prev_id=0362803&next_id=0290705 G-WLAD Picture]

|GWLAD meaning GWLAD (Country in English)
Scrapped

BAC One-Eleven-432FD

|Short haul

|G-AXMU[http://www.airliners.net/photo/Airways-International-Cymru/BAC-111-432FD-One-Eleven/0313131&tbl=photo_info&photo_nr=7&sok=keyword_%28%5C%27%2B%5C%22G-AXMU%5C%22%5C%27_IN_BOOLEAN_MODE%29%29_&sort=_order_by_photo_id_DESC_&prev_id=0403818&next_id=0280272 G-AXMU Picture]

|Scrapped

Boeing 737-204

|Short-Medium haul

|G-BAZI[http://www.airliners.net/photo/Airways-International-Cymru/Boeing-737-204-Adv/1340798&tbl=photo_info&photo_nr=1&sok=keyword_%28%5C%27%2B%5C%22G-BAZI%5C%22%5C%27_IN_BOOLEAN_MODE%29%29_&sort=_order_by_photo_id_DESC_&prev_id=&next_id=1203251 G-BAZI Picture]

|Scrapped July 2006 whilst with LAN Express as CC-CSP

Boeing 737-3Q8

|Short-Medium haul

|G-PROC[http://www.airliners.net/photo/Airways-International-Cymru/Boeing-737-3Q8/0419198&tbl=photo_info&photo_nr=3&sok=keyword_%28%5C%27%2B%5C%22G-PROC%5C%22%5C%27_IN_BOOLEAN_MODE%29%29_&sort=_order_by_photo_id_DESC_&prev_id=0799609&next_id=0396529 G-PROC Picture]

|Painted in Sunshine Scheme
Joined Piedmont Airlines/USAir and retired from Southwest Airlines as N663SW in 2016

Boeing 737-3Q8

|Short-Medium haul

|G-PROK[http://www.airliners.net/photo/Airways-International-Cymru/Boeing-737-3Q8/0006050&tbl=photo_info&photo_nr=2&sok=WHERE__%28reg_%3D_%27G-PROK%27%29_&sort=_order_by_photo_id_DESC_&prev_id=0334936&next_id=NEXTID G-PROK Picture]

|Withdrawn from use at Victorville Southern California Logistics Airport whilst with Southwest Airlines as N695SW

Boeing 737-3Q8

|Short-Medium haul

|G-BNCT[http://www.airliners.net/photo/Airways-International-Cymru/Boeing-737-3Q8/0313127&tbl=photo_info&photo_nr=3&sok=keyword_%28%5C%27%2B%5C%22G-BNCT%5C%22%5C%27_IN_BOOLEAN_MODE%29%29_&sort=_order_by_photo_id_DESC_&prev_id=0336719&next_id=0121143 G-BNCT Picture]

|Leased from ILFC
Now flying with Swiftair as EC-KLR (converted to cargo)