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The Air Atlantique Group can trace its origin back to 1969 when it was formed in Jersey, the Channel Islands, as an air taxi company under the name of General Aviation Services. Freight charter flights commenced in June 1977 with Douglas DC-3 aircraft under the name of Air Atlantique.
The Group moved to its present base at Coventry Airport during December 1985. The Group saw steady expansion and by the late 1990s had expanded its operations into the fields of aircraft engineering, pilot training, aerial survey and pollution control. Between 1990 and 1994 scheduled passenger services were operated from the channel Islands as Air Corbiere, while at Inverness Airport, Highland Airways was established in 1991.
During 2004, Atlantic Airlines, which had previously operated as an all cargo airline with the Air Atlantique Group, was subject to a management buy-out and now operates as an independent company. Atlantic Flight Training along with Atlantic Reconnaissance (now renamed RVL Group) have also become independent businesses.
Air Atlantique still operates a number of historic aircraft as the Air Atlantique Classic Flight, though it recently re-branded itself as ClassicFlight.com. The Flight still retains its Air Atlantique heritage by using the Air Atlantique name in its logo. Presently based at Coventry Airport, there are rumours of an impending move to another location - Kemble airfield in Gloucestershire being the favourite.
Air Atlantique Classic Flight currently operates a wide range of historic aircraft, with others in the wings awaiting restoration to flying condition. The engineering work results in a fleet of historic aircraft in pristine condition which have to be serviceable for the many Air shows, Fly-ins and Open Days which they are called upon to perform at. The Flight offers charter and pleasure flights along with aircraft for static and flying displays.
The current aircraft fleet consists of a Avro Anson, de Havilland Chipmunk, three de Havilland Dove/Devons, two de Havilland Dragon Rapides, de Havilland Vampire, de Havilland Venom, three Douglas DC-3 Dakotas, two Douglas DC-6As, two English Electric Canberras, Gloster Meteor, Percival Pembroke, Percival Prentice, Percival Proctor, Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer, Hawker Hunter and BAC Jet Provost. Not all of the planes are in flyable condition, but most are, or are being restored to flyable condition.
The general public can book pleasure flights with one of the three Rapides at www.classicflight.com.
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