Eastern Airways

Early years

Co-founded by Bryan Huxford and Richard Lake, the airline started operations in December 1997 with a scheduled route between Humberside and Aberdeen with a leased Swearingen Metro, following KLM UK's withdrawal from the route. In February 1999, it took over Manchester based Air Kilroe Ltd. scheduled operations, thereby acquiring an air operator's certificate and a fleet of two BAe Jetstream 32 aircraft.

In 2002, the first BAe Jetstream 41 entered the Eastern fleet, the aircraft type which formed the majority of the fleet up until the airline ceased operations.

12 aircraft and their associated routes were transferred from British Airways CitiExpress on 30 March 2003. An Embraer 145 and 135 were also wet-leased from City Airline in 2003, which were then replaced with Saab 2000 aircraft, which peaked at 8 being operated by 2013 including acquisitions from Crossair and other European carriers.

In 2006, Eastern Airways wet-leased a Dornier 328 from Cirrus Airlines for six months to operate a Newcastle to London City service before switching this onto the BAe Jetstream 41. Eastern Airways also purchased a Jetstream 41 training simulator.

As part of One NorthEast's "Passionate People Passionate Places" campaign for North East England, Eastern Airways had a Jetstream 41 painted in promotional colours. It also featured in the 2007 Sunderland International Airshow. A Saab 2000 was also painted in a promotional 'Aberdeen City and Shire' colour scheme. The airline shut down its hub at the Isle of Man in August 2009, discontinuing routes to Birmingham and Newcastle from the airport.

2010s

In July 2010, the airline took delivery of an Embraer 135 with 37 seats and signed a lease on a second, thus adding jet aircraft to their fleet for the first time since the acquisition to replace their previously operated Embraer ERJ aircraft. They were to be used mainly on charter services to central and Eastern Europe; however, they also offered increased flexibility on the airline's scheduled flights. In July 2010, the airline named one of their BAe Jetstream 41 aircraft after the comedian Ken Dodd in celebration of the year anniversary of the start of their flights from Liverpool and Dodd's support shown in the region.

In September 2010, it was announced that Eastern Airways had bought Air Southwest, however shut down the airline a year later following continued losses and changes in the growth of Flybe.

In August 2012, Eastern Group purchased Manchester Airports Group's 82% stake in Humberside Airport, becoming the primary airline serving the airport.

In February 2014, Bristow Group, a major helicopter operator serving the offshore oil and gas industry, acquired a 60% interest in Eastern Airways and in 2018 acquired the remaining 40%. The airline continued to operate under the Eastern Airways brand. Bristow also acquired a controlling interest in the Australian airline Airnorth, another regional airline which operates fixed wing regional jet and turboprop aircraft. During this time, the airline's route network was focused on Aberdeen, providing service to the oil industry, as well as a smaller operation in Newcastle. The airline also commenced a number of French domestic routes in 2015, supported by public service obligation (PSO) subsidies.

Facing increased competition from growing low-cost airlines and the aggressive UK expansion of airlines such as Flybe and Wideroe, the airline has significantly scaled back its schedule route network from Aberdeen, concentrating on contract and charter services for which Eastern Airways had become recognised as a market leader in delivering.

In March 2017, Eastern re-entered the Isle of Man with service to Belfast City, Glasgow and Newcastle, following the collapse of local airline Citywing. The airline also took over PSO-funded service between Cardiff and Anglesey, facilitating the opening of a base in Cardiff. The Isle of Man service was cancelled a year later, whereas the Cardiff service continued until the Welsh Government stopped providing funding in 2021.

Eastern also operated flights from the Isle of Man to London City Airport on behalf of British Airways using Saab 2000 aircraft.

Bristow Group

In September 2017, Eastern received its first of two new ATR 72-600. The aircraft operated on the Aberdeen – Scatsta route on behalf of Bristow Helicopters. With Bristow Group in financial difficulties, it sold the Eastern Airways group of companies back to one of its founders, Richard Lake, in May 2019.

Eastern Airways and Flybe franchise

It was announced on 21 September 2017 that Eastern Airways would enter a franchise with Flybe, starting on 29 October 2017. The franchise saw all scheduled flights operated by Eastern Airways carry BE (Flybe) flight numbers. Following Loganair's decision to end its partnership with Flybe, to remain on multiple markets flyBe announced a significant expansion onto routes also operated by Loganair using Eastern Airways to operate the services, largely targeting the Scottish Highlands, including introduction jet service into Sumburgh for the first time as part of the operating plan flyBe contracted Eastern Airways to provide.