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Trans European Aviation was a British charter airline which operated from 1954 until closure in 1963. With the introduction of the larger 
Lockheed Constellation
The Lockheed Constellation ("Connie") is a propeller-driven, four-engined airliner built by Lockheed Corporation starting in 1943. The Constellation series was the first civil airliner family to enter widespread use equipped with a pressurized cab ...
to its services, the airline name was changed in 1961 to Trans European Airways.
History
The airline was formed in early 1954 to operate charter flights fromSwansea Airport
Swansea Airport () is located in the middle of Fairwood Common on the Gower Peninsula to the west of Swansea, Wales.
Operations
Swansea Airport has a CAA Ordinary Licence (Number P867) (currently suspended) that allows flights for the publ ...
with two de Havilland Dragon Rapide
The de Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide is a 1930s short-haul biplane airliner developed and produced by British aircraft company de Havilland. Capable of accommodating 6–8 passengers, it proved an economical and durable craft, despite its outd ...
aircraft. In early 1960 the operations base was transferred to Coventry Airport and a Bristol Freighter
The Bristol Type 170 Freighter is a British twin-engine aircraft designed and built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company as both a freighter and airliner. Its best known use was as an air ferry to carry cars and their passengers over relatively s ...
, previously owned by Air Condor, was acquired in October that year. This larger aircraft was used to operate both freight and passenger charter flights.
In 1961 the airline decided to enter the inclusive-tour market when it tried to acquire a Lockheed Constellation from Cubana. The deal fell through but in May 1961 it took delivery of the first of three Constellations, which were based at London Gatwick Airport
Gatwick Airport , also known as London Gatwick Airport (), is the Airports of London, secondary international airport serving London, West Sussex and Surrey. It is located near Crawley in West Sussex, south of Central London. In 2024, Gatwic ...
. The airline operated charters and inclusive tour flights from London and other major United Kingdom airports to Mediterranean resorts. It also operated inclusive tour flights from West Berlin
West Berlin ( or , ) was a political enclave which comprised the western part of Berlin from 1948 until 1990, during the Cold War. Although West Berlin lacked any sovereignty and was under military occupation until German reunification in 1 ...
. In August 1963 the airline ceased operating.Merton Jones, p. 464
Fleet
*de Havilland Dragon Rapide
The de Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide is a 1930s short-haul biplane airliner developed and produced by British aircraft company de Havilland. Capable of accommodating 6–8 passengers, it proved an economical and durable craft, despite its outd ...
* Bristol Freighter
The Bristol Type 170 Freighter is a British twin-engine aircraft designed and built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company as both a freighter and airliner. Its best known use was as an air ferry to carry cars and their passengers over relatively s ...
* Lockheed Constellation
The Lockheed Constellation ("Connie") is a propeller-driven, four-engined airliner built by Lockheed Corporation starting in 1943. The Constellation series was the first civil airliner family to enter widespread use equipped with a pressurized cab ...
See also
* List of defunct airlines of the United KingdomReferences
* {{Airlines of the United Kingdom Defunct airlines of the United Kingdom Airlines established in 1959 Airlines disestablished in 1962