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Private company

AB Airlines

Logo: IdsaaXXA, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons3

Airline of the United Kingdom

AB Airlines was an airline with its head office in the Enterprise House, Stansted Airport in Uttlesford, Essex. AB was one of the first low-cost airlines in England, preceding others such as EasyJet, Ryanair and Go Fly. It was established on 8 February 1993 by former Brymon Airways executives and was formerly known as Air Bristol.2 It ceased to exist in 1999.1 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

1993Founded1

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AB Airlines Boeing 737-300 Durand-1
Photo: Alain Durand, GFDL 1.2, via Wikimedia Commons5

AB Airlines was an airline with its head office in the Enterprise House, Stansted Airport in Uttlesford, Essex. AB was one of the first low-cost airlines in England, preceding others such as EasyJet, Ryanair and Go Fly. It was established on 8 February 1993 by former Brymon Airways executives and was formerly known as Air Bristol. Irregular flight operations started on 11 October and were followed by full schedules on 7 December. In 1995 and 1996 the airline marketed itself as Air Belfast, reflecting its then principal route between Belfast International Airport and London Stansted. Aircraft and crew were based at Belfast International Airport, Stansted Airport and Bristol Filton Airport. A base was opened in 1994 at Shannon Airport to operate flights to London Gatwick. From 1993 operation was marketed as AB Shannon.2

Products and brands

AB Airlines fleet consisted of Boeing 737-300s, a single Boeing 737-400 and BAC One-Elevens. In May 1998 Boeing announced that AB Airlines had placed orders for six Boeing 737-700 aircraft, making it the first airline in Europe to do so. However, with the financial problems of the company followed by insolvency the following year, AB Airlines went into administration and its remaining services were taken over by British Airways.

From Wikipedia’s article on AB Airlines, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.4

Timeline

  1. 1999Dissolved Dissolved1
  2. 1993Founded Founded1

Sources

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