annual summer peak travelling season, as well as during periods when its own fleet was undergoing maintenance. Air Anglia hoped that the merger with BIA as well as Air Wales and Air Westward to form Air UK would help improve the merged entity's competitive position vis-à-vis its rivals by giving it a bigger network covering all parts of the UK, which would result from combining Air Anglia's year-round scheduled services linking important oil and gas industry centres in the Eastern half of Britain with BIA's scheduled operations across the Western half of the British Isles. This, in turn, would result in a significant marketing advantage over its rivals. Air Anglia also hoped that this would ultimately translate into a better financial performance as well by enabling the new airline to take advantage of the resulting greater economies of scale, which would permit it to spread its fixed costs over a greater level of activity. In addition, Air Anglia's amalgamation with BIA, a wholly owned subsidiary of British and Commonwealth (B&C), presented an opportunity for Norwich Union to sell its shareholding in Air Anglia to B&C. Incidents and accidents There were no recorded accidents or incidents during Air Anglia's ten-year existence from 1970 until 1980. Fleet Air Anglia operated the following aircraft types at one point or another during its ten-year existence: Armstrong Whitworth Argosy on season hire from Airbridge Carriers. Britten-Norman BN-2A Islander Cessna 172 Cessna 404 Douglas DC-3 Embraer EMB-110 Bandeirante Fokker F27 Friendship 100/200 series Fokker F28 Fellowship 1000/4000 series Handley Page Herald Piper PA-23 Aztec Piper PA-31 Navajo Chieftain Piper PA-30 Twin Comanche. See also List of defunct airlines of the United Kingdom Notes and citations Notes Citations References (World Airline Directory, 1970-1980) External links Defunct airlines of the United Kingdom 1970 establishments in England 1980 disestablishments in England Airlines established in 1970 Airlines disestablished in 1980