The UK's Skybus, launched 25 years ago, is receiving growing requests for ad hoc charter for its three Islanders and three Twin Otters. The company's ceo Jeff Marston says: "Skybus has a number of approaches on a regular basis but, of course, it depends on the availability of aircraft, particularly during the summer months when the airline is at its busiest."

He adds: "Skybus has operated several charters this year from Shoreham, London's Wycombe Air Park and Brittany. It has also operated several charters from Lands End and Newquay to Cork over the last couple of years.

"The airline is ambitious and we want to build on what has already been achieved. We are always on the look out for new opportunities."

Commercial manager Mike Vigar adds: "We're firmly committed to the islands and this will always be our priority, but it would be wrong not to want to grow. Skybus has been built on great customer service and reliability and we're confident there will always be room for developing the airline even further."

Cricket has provided private charter commissions ranging from Marylebone Cricket Club's requirement to travel from Lands End to St Mary's in the Scilly Isles to taking the St Brieuc cricket team to Newquay and then on to St Mary's. Other sports charters included taking the St Agnes Rugby Club from Newquay to Jersey.

Judges for an EU flower show travelled from Newquay to Cork while Skybus also carried out several charters carrying committed bird observers known as twitchers. "During the last two to three years we have operated several charter flights around the south west of England approaches on behalf of Exeter University, who have been recording the movement of marine life including whales, dolphins, sharks and jellyfish," Vigar says.

Charters to Cork have included one for Seasalv, a company that was involved in looking for the wreckage of the TWA B747 that blew up west of Shannon. "We also fit in charter for TV companies," he adds.

But Vigar says the main business will remain flights to and from St Mary's. "All our fleet serves various routes to St Mary's from a number of UK airports including Land's End, Newquay, Exeter, Southampton and Bristol. We also serve Newquay to St Brieuc in Brittany. All our aircraft have been chosen primarily because of their short take off and landing capability and this makes them very desirable for private charter," says Vigar. He adds: "We do not plan to add any further aircraft at present but if a larger STOL aircraft became available we would be very interested."