Airlines Remembered

KLM uk

Photos © R.Leeuw

Homebase: Norwich & London-Stansted, UK
Founded: 1980
ICAO callsign: UKAY
Flightnbr prefix: UK / UKA
Operations: passengers

KLM uk ceased to exist on 30Mar03 as by that date it was merged into KLM Cityhopper (KLC).

Fokker 100 G-UKFM (cn1126) is seen here landing at Amsterdam IAP in March 2000. The fleet consisted purely of Fokker manufactured F.50s and F.100s

Fokker 50 G-UKTI (cn20279) is seen departing to a destination in the UK, during Feb.2001.

The "KLM uk"-titles have been replaced by "KLM Cityhopper" on G-UKTH (cn20277); it is seen here parked on the maintenance side of Amsterdam IAP ("Schiphol East") on 18May03. During 2003 all G-numbers would be revised to PH-numbers. The UK-radio callsign was terminated as well (though the UKA ICAO prefix was reserved for "Buzzaway" in 2003).

British Island Aws, Air Anglia and Air Westward merged and formed on 16Jan80 Air UK. The carrier was a subsidiary of British Air Transport Holdings, in which British and Commonwealth Shipping Group had a 90% shareholding. Fokker F.27s were the main type in Air UK's fleet abd by mid-19980 it was Britain's 3rd largest airline.
KLM acquired a 14.9% stake in Air UK and later increased this to 45%. In 1997 KLM took over the remaining shares and after a reorganisation within KLM Group, Air UK became KLM uk and a revised colourscheme was applied to the aircraft.
Since 01Nov02 KLM uk was operating as KLM Cityhopper UK, though that was not revised on the aircraft. On the British registered aircraft was written: "Operated by KLM Cityhopper BV".
Out of KLM uk also a low-cost operator "Buzz" was created by KLM, to compete with outher low-cost operators, but Buzz was sold to Ryanair during 2003.

Source: Airlines Worldwide, by B.I.Hengi (Midland Publishing, 2000)

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