AB Airlines Ceramic Coffee Mug

$12.99

GhostCorp Apparel - resurrecting iconic corporate ghosts.

Start the day with a story from the early low-cost airline era. AB Airlines was established in 1993, with roots in Air Bristol and later identities as AB Shannon and Air Belfast before the wider AB Airlines name was adopted in 1997. Its flights connected regional bases and major airports until operations ended in 1999. This ceramic coffee mug is a thoughtful everyday piece for aviation historians, route-map dreamers and fans of 1990s travel culture.

AB Airlines was an English low-cost airline established on 8 February 1993 by former Brymon Airways executives. It was initially known as Air Bristol, beginning irregular operations on 11 October 1993 before launching full schedules on 7 December. Its head office was in Enterprise House at Stansted Airport, Uttlesford, Essex, while aircraft and crews were based at Belfast International Airport, Stansted and Bristol Filton Airport. A Shannon Airport base opened in 1994 for London Gatwick flights, with operations marketed as AB Shannon. During 1995 and 1996, the carrier used the Air Belfast name, reflecting its principal Belfast International to London Stansted route. Following the opening of a Gatwick base, the wider network led to the AB Airlines name in 1997. Scheduled routes included Gatwick services to Shannon, Lisbon and Berlin Schönefeld, plus Shannon flights from Stansted and Birmingham; European holiday charters were also offered. Financial losses and restructuring preceded administration in August 1999. Operations stopped on 10 September 1999, and its remaining Gatwick services to Nice and Shannon were taken over by British Airways.