Airline (UK TV series)
Airline | |
---|---|
Genre | Documentary |
Directed by | Richard Cowles |
Starring |
Britannia Airways (1998) EasyJet (1999–2007) |
Narrated by |
Charlie Higson (Series 1) Tony Robinson (Series 2–3, 7–10) Veronika Hyks (Series 4–6) |
Opening theme | "Come Fly with Me" |
Country of origin | United Kingdom |
Original language(s) | English |
No. of series | 10 |
No. of episodes | 124 + 1 Special |
Production | |
Executive producer(s) | Joe Houlihan |
Producer(s) | Richard Cowles |
Editor(s) |
On-line: Alan Ritchie Off-line: Julia Frater |
Running time | 22 min. (approx.) |
Production company(s) |
LWT (now branded ITV Studios) |
Distributor | ITV Studios |
Release | |
Original network | ITV, STV, UTV |
Picture format |
4:3 (1998–2000) 16:9 (2001–2007) |
Original release | 3 June 1998 – 19 January 2007 |
Chronology | |
Related shows |
Airline (US) Luton Airport Airport |
Airline is a fly on the wall television programme, produced in the United Kingdom that showcases the daily happenings of passengers, ground workers and on-board staff of Britannia (Series 1) and later EasyJet (from Series 2). The show was broadcast between 1998 and 2007 on ITV, is often repeated on ITV2 and shown on syndication on Pick.[1] The programme's success sparked a US version of the series, following American low-cost airline Southwest Airlines.
Production
EasyJet were first approached about the possibility of filming during mid-1998, after the first series with Britannia Airways was discontinued. The first series with EasyJet was broadcast in January 1999, and the cameras have been with EasyJet almost constantly ever since. In 2003 it was ITV's most popular factual programme. The programme has been sold to many countries worldwide, including New Zealand, Australia, and Japan.
Starting with the second series in 1999, the programme follows staff of EasyJet and Reed Aviation[2] (the handling agents) such as: Manager: Graham Fraser; Check-in trouble-shooter: Jane Boulton; Check-in assistant: Katrina Leeder; Supervisors: Leo Jones, Brett Holland and Leanne Cheung, Dispatcher: Kevin Reardon; Captain: James McBride, Stewardess: Janey Stock and of course, Stelios as well as many passengers. The series were originally set in Liverpool and Luton but later incorporated Belfast, Bristol and Newcastle airports. Airline was also occasionally filmed at Gatwick and Stansted airports. Tony Robinson and Veronika Hyks replaced Charlie Higson as voiceover.
The programme also follows some passengers and staff on interesting journeys and during important moments in their lives. Wedding proposals, marriages, illnesses, business trips, reunions and once-in-a-lifetime experiences have all been filmed, both happy and sad. The programme also aims to educate the airline's passengers concerning its rules and regulations—some of the highlighted issues relate to missed check-in, incorrect travel documentation, and the carriage of prohibited items.
Notable members of Britannia staff
- Supervisors: Pat Baines, Cathy Duffy
- Captains: Peter Klack
- Flight Steward/Stewardesses: Brian John Aldridge (BJ)
Notable members of Easy Jet/Aviance staff
Overview of Staff
Administrative | |
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Founder of Easyjet | Stelios Haji-Ioannou |
Airport Terminal Staff | |
Managers | |
Luton | |
Alan Derbyshire (Series 5–6) Graham Fraser (Series 3–4) Leo Jones (Assist Manager) (Series 7–10) | |
Bristol | |
Machell Riley | |
Supervisors | |
Luton | |
Brett Holland Leo Jones (Series 6) Jane Boulton (Series 2–5) | |
Liverpool | |
Leanne Cheung Sarah Tier | |
Bristol | |
Richard Oates Debbie Hopkins Gemma Napper Jodie Jenks | |
Passenger Services Agent | Helen Skeggs (series 5) Leo Jones (Series 5) |
Ticket/Check In Desk Agents | Anita Katrina Leeder |
Ground Staff | |
Dispatch | Darren Ramsey (Luton) (Series 2) Kevin Reardon (Liverpool) (Series 2–3) Jane Boulton (Luton) (Series 5–9) |
Air crew | |
Pilots | Lance Jordan (Series 5) Paul Barnes (Series 4-) James McBride (Series 4-) Mike Jamieson (Series 5-) Tony Underwood (Series 5) |
Cabin Crew | Bob Brain Andy Swain Darren Ramsey (Series 3) Janey Stock (Series 3–4) |
Series by Series List of EasyJet Staffing
Job Role | Name | |
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Throughout Series | ||
Founder of Easyjet | Stelios Haji-Ioannou | |
Series 2 | ||
Passenger Supervisor | Jane Boulton | |
Check-in/Ticket Desk Assistants |
Katrina Leeder | |
Dispatcher | Kevin Reardon (Liverpool) Darren Ramsey (Luton) | |
Series 3 | ||
Managers | Graham Fraser | |
Passenger Supervisor | Jane Boulton | |
Check-in/Ticket Desk Assistants |
Katrina Leeder | |
Dispatcher | Kevin Reardon (Liverpool) | |
Cabin crew | Janey Stock Darren Ramsey | |
Pilots | James McBride Lance Jordan | |
Series 4 | ||
Managers | Graham Fraser | |
Passenger Supervisor | Jane Boulton Stephen Elwood | |
Check-in/Ticket Desk Assistants |
Katrina Leeder | |
Cabin Crew | Janey Stock | |
Pilots | James McBride Georgie Hobbs Paul Barnes episode 4 | |
Series 5 | ||
Managers | Alan Derbyshire Jane Boulton (Jane moved to dispatch during this series) | |
Passenger Supervisor | Leo Jones (Luton) Leanne Cheung (Liverpool) Janna Wyatt (Luton) | |
Check-in/Ticket Desk Assistants |
Permanent | Temporary |
Anita Katrina Leeder |
Several Trainees were seen taking the Check-in Assistant Course but only one was seen in the role for a short time | |
Pilots | James McBride Mike Jamieson Tony Underwood | |
Series 6 | ||
Managers | Alan Derbyshire Leo Jones (Luton Assist Manager) Sarah Tier (Liverpool Shift Manager) Leanne Cheung (Liverpool Checkin Manager) | |
Dispatcher | Jane Boulton | |
Series 7 | ||
Managers | Jane Boulton | |
Supervisor | Leo Jones | |
Series 8 | ||
Managers | Jane Boulton | |
Supervisor | Leo Jones | |
Series 9 | ||
Managers | Jane Boulton | |
Series 10 | ||
Supervisor | Leo Jones | |
Cabin Crew | Bob Brain |
Narrators
- Charlie Higson (Series 1)
- Tony Robinson (Series 2–3, 7–10)
- Veronika Hyks (Series 4–6)
Opening titles
Series 1–4
These titles have a sky background and feature a Britannia plane (Series 1) or an EasyJet plane (Series 2–4) before cutting to clips of the overall series.
Series 5–6
These titles changed to using a lighter blue sky and switching to an all blue logo.
Series 7–8
These titles changed to using an orange sky and blue/orange logo.
Series 9–10
These titles used a similar style to that used in Series 5 and 6 but now has a reddish tint and features an airline in the logo.
"Coming up/Next time on Airline" Sequences
- At the start of each series the narrator would show snippets of what was to come throughout the series. This would normally be announced with the phrase "Welcome onboard another series of Airline"
- At the beginning of each episode in every series, the narrator would give a quick preview of what would be shown.
This would normally be announced with the phrases "Coming up/Tonight on Airline" or "Onboard Airline tonight". - Series 1-4 didn't show what was coming up in the next episode but did feature at the end of the programme, before the credits, information of what happened to the passengers featured.
- Starting in Series 5, clips of what would feature in the next episode were shown during the first 10 seconds of the credits.
- At the end of each series, the narrator would look back and highlight some of the more important things shown such as gripping stories about various members of airline staff. This would take about a minute and feature the common phrase "The Summer/Winter season has come to an end".
Changes to Luton Airport throughout filming "Airline"
– Area not used for Passenger operation at the time
Series 2–3 | Christmas 1999 | Series 4–9 | Series 10 | ||
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International Terminal | |||||
Check-In (Zone A) | |||||
Check-In (Zone B & C) | |
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Departures | |
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New Terminal | |||||
Check-In | |||||
Departures | |
UK series guide
Series | Narrator | Premiere | Episodes[3] | Notes |
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First series featuring Luton and some Liverpool ground staff in orange satin shirts (with a blue jacket). | |
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Easyjet staff now have new uniforms and former Reed Aviation staff now wear Aviance uniforms. | |
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Special episode
Entitle | Narrator | Aired | Notes |
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Airline USA
- Series 1: 18x23' (2004)
- Series 2: 26x23' (2004)
- Series 3: 26x23' (2005)
Holiday Airline
- Series 1: 10x30' (2001) – First shown from 31 August 2001.
See also
- Airport
- Animal Airport
- Bristol Airport
- London Luton Airport
- Air Ways
- Come Fly with Me
Footnotes
- ↑ http://www.locatetv.com/tv/airline-uk/6195
- ↑ Reed Aviation was later merged to create Aviance UK
- ↑ http://www.locatetv.com/tv/airline-uk/6195 Episode information