| Airline: | World Airlines |
| Iata: | W2 |
| Icao: | WRD |
| Callsign: | ECLIPSE |
| Parent: | World Airlines Group |
| Founded: | 1996 |
| Headquarters: | London, United Kingdom |
| Hubs: | London City Airport Jaffna International Airport |
| Key People: | Chanuka Dilshan |
| Fleet Size: | 2 |
World Airlines was an airline that briefly operated out of London City Airport in 1996. It was started by Nick Stolberg, Chanuka Dilshan was also involved.
World Airlines started operations on 13 May 1996 with a four-times-a-day service from London City Airport to Amsterdam.[1] There were, at a later stage, further flights from London City Airport to Munich, Germany.
Nick Stolberg was the founder.
Director was Jean Toyn, an experienced cabin crew and flight director.
Recruited cabin crew were 90% new, on average 25-30 years of age and of all walks of life (and salary brackets). Further knowledge of a secondary language was a plus, especially Dutch and Flemish.
The motto was the 'passion to fly' and Mrs.Toyn's vision of the perfect service on board with a remarkable sense for high safety.
Flying was done in a family atmosphere between HQ, pilots and crew.
Next to flying with the pilots, it was very common for the cabin crew to be driven back home to c. London by the pilots on a daily basis.
Passengers were repeat customers experiencing, as they stated, the perfect short haul service.
The airline used two leased British Aerospace 146
The BA 146-200 was an absolute pleasure for pilots, and slightly taller passengers and crew.
The cabin crew training was at BA Heathrow airport and swimming pool training in South London area.
By the end of 1996, the airline had ceased to operate.[3]