nomadic From United States of America, joined Apr 2004, 399 posts, RR: 0 Posted (2 years 5 months 2 weeks 2 days 19 hours ago) and read 3707 times:
In the years just prior to the merger with Pan Am, National Airlines operated non-stop from Miami to London. I am wondering how they were able to get landing rights at Heathrow. I thought that the Bermuda 2 agreement gave only TWA and Pan Am authority to use LHR.
As a related question, how long did they keep their 747s on the route. I believe they switched to DC-10s for a period before the merger.
rutankrd From United Kingdom, joined Sep 2003, 2039 posts, RR: 5 Reply 1, posted (2 years 5 months 2 weeks 2 days 19 hours ago) and read 3644 times:
National Airlines traffic rightsMIA-LHR long pre date Bermuda 2 they go back to a least the beginning of the 1970s.They used Dc8s, bought two 747s specifically for the route and then used the DC10-30 right upto and past the Pan-Am buy out.
WA707atMSP From United States of America, joined Oct 2006, 2059 posts, RR: 12 Reply 2, posted (2 years 5 months 2 weeks 2 days 18 hours ago) and read 3477 times:
National Airlines was one of three US airlines that served LHR when Bermuda II was signed, so their rights into LHR were grandfathered by the agreement.
When the US Government approved the NA / PA merger, it excluded MIA-London, and said a separate route case would be held to decide which US carrier would serve the route. One of the main reasons the route was ultimately given to PA was because PA, as National's corporate successor, was the only airline allowed to continue serving LHR.
A separate route case was subsequently held to determine which US airline would be allowed to compete against Laker on MIA-LGW. This route was awarded to Air Florida, and subsequently was given to Eastern after Air Florida shut down.
jfk777 From United States of America, joined Aug 2006, 7413 posts, RR: 7 Reply 3, posted (2 years 5 months 2 weeks 2 days 17 hours ago) and read 3420 times:
Quoting WA707atMSP (Reply 2): One of the main reasons the route was ultimately given to PA was because PA, as National's corporate successor, was the only airline allowed to continue serving LHR.
It was given to Pan AM because they were one of 2 US airlines at LHR, had it been given to Eastern they would have been Gatwicked, flying to LGW. Eastern actually has purchase 2 ex-QF 747-200B's for the flight of which one was already painted in EA colors( famous photo of plane sitting at Kingsford Smith SYD airport waiting to be flown to Miami). EA cancelled the purchase of the 2 747's when they had no route to London or any other route the length and size requiring 2 Jumbos.
Air Florida's MIA to LGW route was awarded when Laker Air entered the Miami route as the second US airline from MIA.
maxpower1954 From United States of America, joined Sep 2008, 861 posts, RR: 5 Reply 4, posted (2 years 5 months 2 weeks 2 days 5 hours ago) and read 2956 times:
National began service on the MIA-LHR route June 15, 1970 with two DC-8-54Fs, leased from MIA-based cargo airline Airlift International. They were N108RD and N109RD, delivered in 1963-64 to Riddle Airlines (Airlift's previous name.) I flew them both in all three crewmember seats, with Airlift and later Arrow Air.
The two 747s were delivered in the fall of 1970 and only operated the London route in the summers of 1972, 1973 and 1974. In the winters they flew MIA-JFK and MIA -LAX. In 1975 they operated those domestic routes year round. The DC-8s were returned by July 1973 and April 1974 as the DC-1O deliveries increased and in 1976 both 747s were sold to Northwest . They were replaced by the DC-10 -30s on the LHR route.
BN747 From United States of America, joined Mar 2002, 5319 posts, RR: 52 Reply 5, posted (2 years 5 months 2 weeks 2 days 4 hours ago) and read 2866 times:
Quoting maxpower1954 (Reply 4): The two 747s were delivered in the fall of 1970 and only operated the London route in the summers of 1972, 1973 and 1974.
Hey Max.. if you know of anyone who may have gotten film footage of the 747s please let me know! Even a short 10 seconds of 16mm would be a gold nugget!
BN747
"Home of the Brave, made by the Slaves..Land of the Free, if you look like me.." T. Jefferson
maxpower1954 From United States of America, joined Sep 2008, 861 posts, RR: 5 Reply 6, posted (2 years 5 months 2 weeks 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 2336 times:
Quoting BN747 (Reply 5): Hey Max.. if you know of anyone who may have gotten film footage of the 747s please let me know! Even a short 10 seconds of 16mm would be a gold nugget!
No, I wish I did - it must exist out there, somewhere. You wouldn't happen to be starboard76 on You Tube, would ya?
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