British Airtours was a UK charter airline with flight operations out of London Gatwick and Manchester Airport.
Originally established as BEA Airtours in 1969, it became a wholly owned subsidiary of then state-owned British Airways (BA) following the British European Airways (BEA) — British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) merger of the early-1970s.
British Airtours adopted the Caledonian Airways name when the newly privatised British Airways completed the acquisition of the rival British Caledonian (BCal) in April 1988.
Caledonian Airways was eventually sold to UK tour operator Inspirations in 1995, marking BA's exit from the mainstream inclusive tour (IT) market.
In 1999, Thomas Cook acquired Inspirations and merged Caledonian Airways with Flying Colours to form JMC Air Services, a forerunner of the UK arm of the present day Thomas Cook Airlines.
Read more about British Airtours: History, Aircraft Operated, Incidents and Accidents, Notes and Citations
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