Air Safaris
Air Safaris was a British scheduled and charter airline that operated under that name from 1959 until its collapse in 1962.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Air Safaris was a British independent airline whose final trading identity existed from late 1959 to early 1962. The business developed from Meredith Air Transport, an enterprise established by pilot Captain W. E. Hamilton in 1952. Its early work included cargo flying, aircraft refurbishment, and Mediterranean touring, before the company moved toward longer-distance African and European operations. The airline was renamed African Air Safaris in 1954 and later adopted the shorter Air Safaris name as its business increasingly focused on European scheduled and inclusive-tour traffic rather than South African services. The company’s operating history reflected the opportunities and pressures facing Britain’s independent airlines in the late 1950s and early 1960s. It used aircraft such as the Vickers Viking and Handley Page Hermes, types that allowed it to serve both charter and scheduled markets. During the African Air Safaris period, two Vikings transferred from the Trek Airways fleet began operating between Southend and Johannesburg. The South African operation was discontinued in 1960, after which Air Safaris concentrated more heavily on European routes and holiday flights. Air Safaris moved its principal base to Gatwick Airport when the name change took effect on 26 November 1959. Its network included destinations in Scandinavia, continental Europe, and the Mediterranean. The airline served or marketed flights to places including Bergen, Basel, Geneva, Lyon, Munich, Rotterdam, Zagreb, Lourdes-Tarbes, Nice, Palma de Mallorca, Perpignan, Rimini, and Toulouse. In 1960 it established a maintenance base at Hurn Airport near Bournemouth and also operated charter services from there. A major expansion occurred in November 1960, when Air Safaris acquired the transport division of Don Everall Aviation. The transaction brought scheduled domestic services from Birmingham Airport as well as additional charter activity. In April 1961 the airline introduced a Bournemouth–Ostend–Amsterdam route, followed by services from Bournemouth to Dublin and Belfast. It also operated inclusive-tour flights for travel companies including Horizon Travel, Airway Holidays, and Universal Sky Tours from Birmingham, Glasgow, Manchester, and Newcastle to Mediterranean destinations. Expansion, however, placed substantial financial pressure on the business. The airline faced difficulty obtaining bank finance because lenders were reluctant to support smaller or so-called secondary carriers. Management later cited inadequate capital, overly rapid growth, lost revenue while aircraft were being repaired, high wage costs, and substantial hire-purchase commitments as contributors to the failure. Scheduled services were suspended on 27 October 1961, and only a small number of charter flights continued for several days. The company notified its approximately 200 employees that it intended to close because of financial difficulties, and a receiver was appointed the following week. At a creditors’ meeting in January 1962, Air Safaris was reported to have a deficiency of £521,073, including a substantial amount owed for fuel. The company’s assets were considered broadly sufficient to cover its debts, and the undertaking was transferred to the official receiver for liquidation. Its air operator’s certificate was revoked on 11 February 1962. Air Safaris therefore survives as a historical British airline brand rather than an active carrier. Its brief existence illustrates the combination of route experimentation, inclusive-tour growth, aircraft-financing exposure, and limited access to capital that shaped the fate of many independent airlines during the period.
History
Air Safaris originated in Meredith Air Transport Ltd., founded by Captain W. E. Hamilton on 12 August 1952. Hamilton had acquired and overhauled a Douglas DC-3, and flying began in October of that year. The initial business performed various on-demand cargo assignments and undertook a Mediterranean tour that began at the end of 1952 and continued into the following spring. The DC-3 was sold in June 1953 to Davies and Newman, the enterprise associated with the beginnings of Dan-Air. Meredith Air Transport remained in existence without an aircraft for a period, while Hamilton served as European director of South African carrier Trek Airways. Meredith Air Transport adopted the name African Air Safaris on 29 November 1954. The company acquired two four-engined Handley Page Hermes aircraft in October 1956, although these were not immediately operated by the airline. In 1958, two twin-engined Vickers Vikings were transferred from Trek Airways. These aircraft enabled services between Southend and Johannesburg and supported the company’s development as an international independent operator. By 1959 the airline was also conducting inclusive-tour flying from London Gatwick to a broad group of European and Mediterranean destinations. The network included Bergen, Basel, Geneva, Lyon, Munich, Rotterdam, Zagreb, Lourdes-Tarbes, Nice, Palma de Mallorca, Perpignan, Rimini, and Toulouse. As the business became more focused on European passenger services and less identified with African operations, the company changed its name to Air Safaris Ltd. on 26 November 1959 and moved to Gatwick. South African flights ended completely in 1960. During the same year Air Safaris established a maintenance base at Hurn Airport near Bournemouth and added charter flying from that location. In November, it acquired the transport division of Don Everall Aviation. This brought Birmingham-based scheduled domestic services and additional charter work into the company’s portfolio. The airline continued its expansion in 1961. In April it introduced a Bournemouth–Ostend–Amsterdam route, followed by Bournemouth services to Dublin and Belfast. At the same time, it operated inclusive-tour flights for Horizon Travel, Airway Holidays, and Universal Sky Tours. These services connected Birmingham, Glasgow, Manchester, and Newcastle with Mediterranean holiday destinations. The expanded operation encountered serious financial problems. Banks were reluctant to lend to smaller independent airlines, limiting Air Safaris’ access to working capital. The directors attributed the eventual collapse to insufficient capitalization and excessive expansion, compounded by revenue lost while aircraft were under repair, high labor costs, and large hire-purchase obligations. All scheduled flying was suspended on 27 October 1961. A few charter flights operated through 31 October, but the approximately 200 employees were formally notified that the company would close because of financial difficulties. A receiver was appointed the following week. At a creditors’ meeting on 29 January 1962, the company’s total deficiency was reported as £521,073, with unpaid fuel representing more than one quarter of the amount. The assets were considered approximately sufficient to meet the debts, and the company was handed to the official receiver for liquidation. The airline’s air operator’s certificate was revoked on 11 February 1962. Air Safaris consequently became a defunct British airline after only a short period under its final name, leaving a history of cargo, African, European scheduled, and inclusive-tour operations.
- 1962
Liquidation and certificate revocation
[1]Following a creditors’ meeting and receivership, the airline’s air operator’s certificate was revoked on 11 February 1962.
- 1961
Bournemouth scheduled network begins
[1]Air Safaris launched Bournemouth–Ostend–Amsterdam services in April, later adding Dublin and Belfast routes.
- 1961
Scheduled flying suspended
[1]Financial difficulties led to the suspension of all scheduled flights on 27 October 1961.
- 1960
South African flying ends and Hurn base opens
[1]Air Safaris discontinued South African services, established a maintenance base at Hurn, and expanded charter activity.
- 1960
Don Everall Aviation division acquired
[1]The acquisition added Birmingham scheduled domestic services and charter operations.
- 1959
Air Safaris name adopted
[1]The company became Air Safaris Ltd. on 26 November 1959 and moved its base to Gatwick.
- 1958
Vickers Vikings enter the operation
[1]Two Vickers Vikings transferred from Trek Airways supported Southend–Johannesburg services.
- 1954
The company becomes African Air Safaris
[1]Meredith Air Transport changed its name to African Air Safaris on 29 November 1954.
- 1952
Meredith Air Transport is founded
[1]Captain W. E. Hamilton founded Meredith Air Transport Ltd. on 12 August 1952. Operations began later that year with a refurbished Douglas DC-3.
Products and positioning
A British independent carrier combining scheduled regional and European flying with charter and inclusive-tour operations. The airline moved from cargo, touring, and African services toward European leisure and short-haul passenger markets before entering liquidation.
Passenger aviation · 1959
Scheduled European passenger services
Air Safaris operated scheduled services from Gatwick and Bournemouth to destinations in continental Europe and Ireland. Its network included routes to Ostend, Amsterdam, Dublin, Belfast, and numerous European and Mediterranean points served through the airline’s broader scheduled and tour program.
Leisure aviation · 1959
Inclusive-tour flights
The airline flew holiday traffic on behalf of tour operators including Horizon Travel, Airway Holidays, and Universal Sky Tours. Flights operated from several British regional airports, including Birmingham, Glasgow, Manchester, and Newcastle, to Mediterranean destinations.
Charter aviation · 1952
Charter services
Charter flying formed an important part of the company’s business, particularly after the establishment of its Hurn maintenance base. The airline operated passenger charters alongside scheduled services and continued a small number of charter flights briefly after scheduled operations were suspended.
Air freight · 1952
Cargo and on-demand flying
The predecessor Meredith Air Transport began with on-demand cargo operations using a Douglas DC-3. This early activity provided the foundation for the later passenger, touring, and charter businesses.
Brand decisions
1961
Suspension of scheduled servicesStrategyBackground
The airline experienced financial pressure linked to insufficient capital, rapid expansion, aircraft repairs, labor costs, and hire-purchase obligations.
Action taken
Air Safaris suspended all scheduled services on 27 October 1961 and continued only limited charter flying for a few days.
Aftermath
The company notified its workforce of its intended closure, entered receivership, and was later liquidated.
Total deficiency. £521,073 deficiency (Creditors’ meeting, 29 January 1962)
1960
Acquisition of Don Everall Aviation’s transport divisionM&ABackground
Air Safaris sought to expand its scheduled and charter footprint in the British market.
Action taken
The company acquired Don Everall Aviation’s transport division, including scheduled domestic services from Birmingham and charter operations.
Aftermath
The transaction increased the airline’s network and operating responsibilities during a period of rapid growth.
1959
Rebrand from African Air Safaris to Air SafarisStrategyBackground
The company’s activities had expanded beyond its earlier African identity into European scheduled and inclusive-tour flying.
Action taken
On 26 November 1959, the airline changed its name to Air Safaris Ltd. and moved its operating base to Gatwick.
Aftermath
The shorter name accompanied a strategic emphasis on European and Mediterranean passenger operations.
Recent events
- 1962
Air Safaris enters liquidation and loses its air operator’s certificate[1]
Bankruptcy · Regulation
After a creditors’ meeting identified a large deficiency, the company was transferred to the official receiver and its air operator’s certificate was revoked on 11 February 1962.
- 1961
Air Safaris launches Bournemouth–Ostend–Amsterdam route[1]
Product launch
The company inaugurated its first route from Bournemouth in April 1961, linking Bournemouth with Ostend and Amsterdam.
- 1961
Scheduled operations are suspended amid financial distress[1]
Bankruptcy
Air Safaris suspended all scheduled flights on 27 October 1961. A limited number of charter services continued briefly before the company entered receivership proceedings.
- 1960
Air Safaris expands through the Don Everall Aviation transport division[1]
M&A
The airline acquired Don Everall Aviation’s transport division, adding scheduled domestic services from Birmingham and further charter activity.
- 1959
Air Safaris adopts its final name and moves to Gatwick[1]
Other
The airline changed its name from African Air Safaris to Air Safaris Ltd. on 26 November 1959 and based its operations at Gatwick Airport.
Sources1 sources
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