British Regional Airlines
A former British regional airline and British Airways Express franchise operator based in Manchester.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
British Regional Airlines was a United Kingdom regional airline headquartered in Manchester. It operated scheduled passenger services on domestic British and European routes and was closely associated with British Airways through a franchise arrangement under the British Airways Express brand. The carrier held a UK Civil Aviation Authority Type A Operating Licence, allowing it to carry passengers, cargo and mail on aircraft configured for at least 20 seats. The airline's corporate history began in November 1990, when Manx Airlines established Manx Airlines (Europe) Ltd. to develop routes within the United Kingdom. Scheduled operations began in March 1991. During part of its early existence, the company was also connected with British Midland Airways. In January 1995, it became a British Airways franchise partner, operating selected services from Manchester under the British Airways Express identity. A major restructuring followed in 1996. Airlines of Britain Holdings, which owned British Midland and several regional carriers, separated its regional businesses into a new British Regional Airlines Group. The British Airways Express operations previously associated with Manx Airlines (Europe) and Loganair were consolidated into the newly formed British Regional Airlines Ltd., while Manx Airlines retained its Isle of Man operation. Business Air was also absorbed into the group, contributing Saab 340 aircraft and a BAe 146. British Airways simultaneously closed its own Highlands division and transferred those routes to British Regional Airlines, expanding the carrier's role in regional connectivity. British Regional Airlines modernized and enlarged its fleet during the late 1990s. In February 1997 it announced an order for five Embraer ERJ-145 regional jets. The first aircraft arrived in June of that year, and 22 ERJ-145s were ultimately delivered between 1997 and 2002. They replaced BAe Jetstream 41 aircraft on important services linking Manchester and Southampton with Scotland. The company also operated Saab 340s inherited from British Midland and Business Air operations. In 1998, eleven Saab 340s were used to establish the British Midland Commuter sub-brand. The British Regional Airlines Group became a publicly traded company on the London Stock Exchange in 1998. Its independent corporate life ended after British Airways purchased the group in March 2001. British Regional Airlines became a British Airways subsidiary in May 2001 and was subsequently combined with Brymon Airways on 28 March 2002 to form British Airways CitiExpress. This merger brought the airline's separate brand and legal identity to an end, although related regional operations continued within the British Airways regional network. Manx Airlines remained separate for a short period before being merged in September 2002.
History
British Regional Airlines developed from Manx Airlines (Europe) Ltd., which was established in November 1990 on the initiative of Manx Airlines. The purpose of the new company was to expand scheduled flying within the United Kingdom. It began scheduled operations in March 1991 and was, for part of its early history, associated with British Midland Airways. The carrier's relationship with British Airways became central to its development. In January 1995, it joined the British Airways franchise network and operated selected routes from Manchester using the British Airways Express brand. This arrangement allowed British Airways to maintain a broader regional presence while leaving day-to-day operation of many routes to a specialist regional carrier. In September 1996, Airlines of Britain Holdings announced a restructuring of its regional airline interests. The holdings associated with British Midland, Manx Airlines, Manx Airlines (Europe), and Loganair were reorganized into the British Regional Airlines Group. British Regional Airlines Ltd. was formed to operate the British Airways Express services previously associated with Manx Airlines (Europe) and Loganair, while Manx Airlines continued to serve the Isle of Man. Business Air was absorbed into the group during the same year, adding seven Saab 340 aircraft and another BAe 146 to the available fleet. British Airways also closed its Highlands division and transferred its routes to British Regional Airlines, increasing the airline's responsibility for regional services. Fleet development was an important feature of the late 1990s. In February 1997, British Regional Airlines announced an order for five Embraer ERJ-145 jets. The first was delivered in June 1997. By 2002, 22 ERJ-145 aircraft had been delivered, replacing BAe Jetstream 41 aircraft on routes from Manchester and Southampton to Scotland. The airline also operated Saab 340 aircraft that had previously been used by British Midland and Business Air. In March 1998, eleven Saab 340s supported the launch of a British Midland Commuter sub-brand. The wider group was floated on the London Stock Exchange in 1998. Its independent listed-company phase was relatively short. British Airways purchased British Regional Airlines Group in March 2001, and British Regional Airlines became a British Airways subsidiary in May of that year. On 28 March 2002, it was merged with Brymon Airways to form British Airways CitiExpress. Manx Airlines continued independently for several additional months before being merged in September 2002. The creation of British Airways CitiExpress marked the end of British Regional Airlines as a separate operating brand.
- 2002
Merger into British Airways CitiExpress
[1]British Regional Airlines merged with Brymon Airways on 28 March to create British Airways CitiExpress.
- 2001
British Airways acquires the group
[1]British Airways purchased British Regional Airlines Group, and British Regional Airlines became a subsidiary in May.
- 1998
Group becomes publicly listed
[1]British Regional Airlines Group floated on the London Stock Exchange.
- 1997
ERJ-145 fleet program begins
[1]The airline ordered five Embraer ERJ-145 aircraft and received the first aircraft in June.
- 1996
British Regional Airlines Group is formed
[1]Regional airline activities were reorganized into the British Regional Airlines Group, with British Regional Airlines Ltd. taking over designated franchise operations.
- 1995
British Airways Express franchise begins
[1]The airline became a British Airways franchise partner and operated selected Manchester services under the British Airways Express name.
- 1991
Scheduled operations begin
[1]The predecessor company began scheduled airline operations in March.
- 1990
Manx Airlines (Europe) is established
[1]Manx Airlines established Manx Airlines (Europe) Ltd. to develop scheduled services within the United Kingdom.
Products and positioning
A regional network carrier connecting UK airports and selected European destinations, while extending British Airways' reach through franchise operations and feeder services.
Franchise passenger air services · 1995
British Airways Express regional services
British Regional Airlines operated selected domestic and European scheduled routes under the British Airways Express franchise identity. The arrangement connected regional airports with larger British Airways network points, particularly from the airline's Manchester base. Services were operated by British Regional Airlines aircraft and crews while being marketed within the British Airways franchise system.
Regional passenger aviation · 1997
ERJ-145 regional jet services
The Embraer ERJ-145 became a major part of British Regional Airlines' late-1990s fleet renewal. The aircraft were used on regional routes from Manchester and Southampton, including services to Scotland, and replaced BAe Jetstream 41 aircraft on some of those sectors. Twenty-two ERJ-145 aircraft were delivered to the airline between 1997 and 2002.
Regional airline sub-brand · 1998
British Midland Commuter
British Midland Commuter was introduced in March 1998 using an expanded fleet of Saab 340 aircraft. The sub-brand represented the group's use of turboprop aircraft on regional services inherited from or associated with British Midland and Business Air operations.
Domestic passenger air services · 1996
Highlands regional routes
Following the closure of British Airways' Highlands division, British Regional Airlines assumed operation of those routes as a British Airways Express franchise partner. These services formed part of the airline's role in maintaining links between regional Scottish communities and the wider British network.
Brand decisions
2002
Merger with Brymon AirwaysM&ABackground
After British Airways acquired the group, it reorganized its regional airline activities.
Action taken
British Regional Airlines was merged with Brymon Airways on 28 March 2002 to form British Airways CitiExpress.
Aftermath
British Regional Airlines ceased to operate as a separate airline brand and corporate entity.
2001
Acquisition by British AirwaysM&ABackground
British Regional Airlines Group owned a regional airline network closely connected with British Airways' franchise operations.
Action taken
British Airways purchased the group in March 2001, making British Regional Airlines a British Airways subsidiary in May.
Aftermath
The acquisition was followed by the merger of British Regional Airlines and Brymon Airways into British Airways CitiExpress in March 2002.
1998
Launch of British Midland CommuterStrategyBackground
The group had access to Saab 340 aircraft from British Midland and Business Air operations and sought to organize those turboprop services under a distinct regional sub-brand.
Action taken
Eleven Saab 340 aircraft were used to launch the British Midland Commuter sub-brand.
Aftermath
The sub-brand broadened the group's regional operating structure, although it was later superseded by subsequent corporate consolidation.
1997
Order for Embraer ERJ-145 regional jetsProduct launchBackground
The airline needed modern regional aircraft for its expanding British Airways Express network and for routes from Manchester and Southampton to Scotland.
Action taken
British Regional Airlines announced an order for five ERJ-145 aircraft. The first aircraft arrived in June 1997, and the eventual fleet reached 22 deliveries through 2002.
Aftermath
The ERJ-145s replaced BAe Jetstream 41 aircraft on key services and became an important element of the airline's regional-jet operation.
Recent events
- 2002
British Regional Airlines merges with Brymon Airways[1]
M&A
British Regional Airlines was combined with Brymon Airways to create British Airways CitiExpress, ending the airline's separate identity.
- 2001
British Airways purchases British Regional Airlines Group[1]
M&A · Leadership change
British Airways acquired the holding company that owned British Regional Airlines and Manx Airlines. British Regional Airlines became a British Airways subsidiary in May.
- 1998
British Regional Airlines Group floats on the London Stock Exchange[1]
Other
The group's shares were admitted to trading on the London Stock Exchange.
- 1997
British Regional Airlines orders Embraer ERJ-145 aircraft[1]
Product launch · Product generation
The airline announced an order for five ERJ-145 regional jets, beginning a fleet modernization program that ultimately saw 22 aircraft delivered through 2002.
- 1996
Regional carriers consolidated into British Regional Airlines Group[1]
M&A
The regional airline interests of Airlines of Britain Holdings were reorganized, combining relevant British Airways Express operations into British Regional Airlines Ltd. Business Air was also absorbed into the group.
- 1995
British Regional Airlines becomes a British Airways Express franchise partner[1]
Other
The airline began operating selected routes from Manchester under the British Airways Express brand.
- 1990
Manx Airlines establishes Manx Airlines (Europe)[1]
Other
Manx Airlines created Manx Airlines (Europe) Ltd. as the predecessor business intended to develop scheduled routes within the United Kingdom.
Sources1 sources
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