The economics and development of the British independent airlines since 1945.

Since the end of the Second World War the privately-owned airlines, the so-called Independents, have gradually established for themselves a position of major importance within the UK air transport industry. Initially restricted solely to charter operations, they have been successful in obtaining from successive Governments, especially, but not only, Conservative Governments, a relaxation of legislative restrictions on scheduled services, until today they operate an extensive scheduled service network. Similarly, they have been responsible for pioneering vehicle air-ferries, air trooping and, more recently, packaged holidays by air in the UK. But despite a fairly impressive history of achievements, the fact remains that since the war the private sector as a whole has been characterised by an apparently high degree of economic instability. This thesis examines the Independents' post-war record and concludes by tentatively advancing several possible explanations for their lack of stability, in particular the political environment within which they have been forced to operate, an absence of sufficient financial backing and the ease of entry into the air transport industry