Channel Airways
Prior to his release from the RAF Jack Jones had already purchased three aircraft through Government Sales, These, he had them hangered in Portsmouth, but upon being demobbed found he could afford to overhaul only one of them, a Puss Moth (G-ABKZ). In 1946, he began making a little money from it, by running joy-flights from a field in Herne Bay, though he actually made more money at that time from selling the aerial photographs he had been taking. During the 1950s, and Jack ran a kiosk on the Southend seafront where he and his wife would take bookings and then drive the customers to the airport, fly them on a round trip, over the local coast, taking in the pier, then return the airport and then drive them back to the seafront. In the evenings, they were processing films for a Southend chemist to help keep the company solvent. As well as short trips, Jack took on jobs banner-towing, and used an illuminated Rapide to advertise Ekcovision – an operation which, incidentally, caused a lot of problems of interference for local television sets.
Jack and his wife lived in a Nissan hut on the airport. “Jack” Jones formed East Anglian Flying Services in 1946, Anglian Services Flights to the Channels Island, Ostend and Paris proved to be popular and by 1957. 30 000 passengers used the service.
Two Bristol Freighters and three Vikings were added to the fleet. October 1961, East Anglian Flying Services officially changed its name to Channel Airways. In 1963 Channel Airways took over Tradair (which had operated since March 1958). During that period Channel Airways established itself as one of the UK’s five leading, Independent airlines. At this time, the business for Inclusive-tours at Airways House in Southend was booming, The company also owned and operated its own fleet of ‘Reliance’ luxury coaches, bringing in passengers from London and outlying areas.
The 1967 BAC One-Elevens and began flights to Malta, and plans were in hand for the country’s first “Bus Stop” services linking Portsmouth – Southend – the Midlands and Scotland. The introduction of these jet aircraft enabled Channel Airways to become one of the leading package tour operators Channel continued to be the third busiest airport in the country until, in 1972 Barclays Bank appointed a receiver and Channel’s operating licence was withdrawn. The company went into receivership. Channel airways was finished
Squadron Leader R. J. “Jack” Jones passed away on 28th February 2006, aged 94.