Transmeridian Air Cargo
Encyclopedia
Transmeridian Air Cargo was a British cargo airline that operated from 1962 until 1979 when it merged with IAS Cargo Airlines
to form Heavylift Cargo Airlines
.
. The airline was then based at Liverpool
and used the DC-4 for freight and passenger charters. A second DC-4 (both were ex-military Douglas C-54 Skymaster
) was bought and freight services to Dublin and Paris - Le Bourget Airport were begun.
At the beginning of 1965 the DC-4s were replaned by Douglas DC-7C
and a year later two more DC-7s were acquired. With the expansion in the fleet freight to the Middle East
and Africa
were begon. By the end of 1967 the company was taken over by Trans World Leasing and converted into a pure freight operation, with that the name was changed to Transmeridian Air Cargo.
In 1968 the Canadair CL-44
was introduced and eventually eight were in the fleet (all with folding tails). It was during this time that the base of operations was moved to London Stansted Airport
. Operations continued throughout the 1970s with 1975 being the year when a base was set up in Hong Kong
for freight flights to Australia
.
In 1977 the Trafalgar House Group bought 90% of Transmeridian and on 15 August 1979 merged it with IAS Cargo to form British Cargo Airlines, which later became HeavyLift Cargo.
IAS Cargo Airlines
International Aviation Services Limited, trading as IAS Cargo Airlines from 1975, is a defunct wholly privately owned, independentindependent from government-owned corporations British airline that was based at London Gatwick Airport in the United Kingdom...
to form Heavylift Cargo Airlines
Heavylift Cargo Airlines
For the former UK Cargo Airline see: Air Foyle HeavyLiftHeavylift Cargo Airlines Pty Ltd is a cargo airline headquartered in Sydney, Australia. It started operations in 2004 and operates scheduled and charter cargo services. Its main base is Brisbane Airport...
.
Company history
Transmeridian began operations under the name Trans Meridian Flying Service on 5 October 1962 and began operations on 1 November 1962 using a Douglas DC-4Douglas DC-4
The Douglas DC-4 is a four-engined propeller-driven airliner developed by the Douglas Aircraft Company. It served during World War II, in the Berlin Airlift and into the 1960s in a military role...
. The airline was then based at Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
and used the DC-4 for freight and passenger charters. A second DC-4 (both were ex-military Douglas C-54 Skymaster
C-54 Skymaster
The Douglas C-54 Skymaster was a four-engined transport aircraft used by the United States Army Air Forces and British forces in World War II and the Korean War. Besides transport of cargo, it also carried presidents, British heads of government, and military staff...
) was bought and freight services to Dublin and Paris - Le Bourget Airport were begun.
At the beginning of 1965 the DC-4s were replaned by Douglas DC-7C
Douglas DC-7
The Douglas DC-7 is an American transport aircraft built by the Douglas Aircraft Company from 1953 to 1958. It was the last major piston engine powered transport made by Douglas, coming just a few years before the advent of jet aircraft such as the Boeing 707 and Douglas DC-8.-Design and...
and a year later two more DC-7s were acquired. With the expansion in the fleet freight to the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
and Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
were begon. By the end of 1967 the company was taken over by Trans World Leasing and converted into a pure freight operation, with that the name was changed to Transmeridian Air Cargo.
In 1968 the Canadair CL-44
Canadair CL-44
The Canadair CL-44 was a Canadian turboprop airliner and cargo aircraft based on the Bristol Britannia that was developed and produced by Canadair in the late 1950s and early 1960s...
was introduced and eventually eight were in the fleet (all with folding tails). It was during this time that the base of operations was moved to London Stansted Airport
London Stansted Airport
-Cargo:-Statistics:-Infrastructure:-Terminal and satellite buildings:Stansted is the newest passenger airport of all the main London airports. The terminal is an oblong glass building, and is separated in to three areas: Check-in concourse, arrivals and departures...
. Operations continued throughout the 1970s with 1975 being the year when a base was set up in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
for freight flights to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
In 1977 the Trafalgar House Group bought 90% of Transmeridian and on 15 August 1979 merged it with IAS Cargo to form British Cargo Airlines, which later became HeavyLift Cargo.
Fleet details
- Douglas DC-3Douglas DC-3The Douglas DC-3 is an American fixed-wing propeller-driven aircraft whose speed and range revolutionized air transport in the 1930s and 1940s. Its lasting impact on the airline industry and World War II makes it one of the most significant transport aircraft ever made...
- Douglas DC-4Douglas DC-4The Douglas DC-4 is a four-engined propeller-driven airliner developed by the Douglas Aircraft Company. It served during World War II, in the Berlin Airlift and into the 1960s in a military role...
ex Douglas C-54 Skymaster - Douglas DC-7C Seven SeasDouglas DC-7The Douglas DC-7 is an American transport aircraft built by the Douglas Aircraft Company from 1953 to 1958. It was the last major piston engine powered transport made by Douglas, coming just a few years before the advent of jet aircraft such as the Boeing 707 and Douglas DC-8.-Design and...
- Short BelfastShort BelfastThe Short Belfast is a heavy lift turboprop freighter built by Short Brothers at Belfast. Only 10 were built for the British Royal Air Force with the designation Short Belfast C.1. When they were retired by the RAF, five went into civilian service with the cargo airline HeavyLift Cargo Airlines...
- Canadair CL-44D4-2Canadair CL-44The Canadair CL-44 was a Canadian turboprop airliner and cargo aircraft based on the Bristol Britannia that was developed and produced by Canadair in the late 1950s and early 1960s...
- Canadair CL-44-O GuppyCanadair CL-44The Canadair CL-44 was a Canadian turboprop airliner and cargo aircraft based on the Bristol Britannia that was developed and produced by Canadair in the late 1950s and early 1960s...
- Douglas DC-8-54FDouglas DC-8The Douglas DC-8 is a four-engined narrow-body passenger commercial jet airliner, manufactured from 1958 to 1972 by the Douglas Aircraft Company...
- Boeing 737-2B1(C)Boeing 737The Boeing 737 is a short- to medium-range, twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner. Originally developed as a shorter, lower-cost twin-engine airliner derived from Boeing's 707 and 727, the 737 has developed into a family of nine passenger models with a capacity of 85 to 215 passengers...