- Source: Skyways (TV series)
Skyways is an Australian television soap opera drama series made by Crawford Productions for the Seven Network.
Production and casting
The series, which aired from 1979 to 1981, was set at the fictional Pacific International Airport and dealt with the lives of the pilots, airline staff and management team who worked there.
Skyways was mainly taped in a television studio where, in many interior-set scenes, Colour Separation Overlay created the illusion of a bustling airport with taxiing planes outside the window. Many of the exterior scenes were shot on location at Melbourne Airport.
The show's regular cast members included Tony Bonner as airport manager Paul MacFarlane, later replaced by Gary Doolan (Gerard Kennedy). Tina Bursill played glamorous and ruthless assistant manager Louise Carter. Bill Stalker, played head of airport security Peter Fanelli, an ex-detective. When Skyways ended Fanelli was moved to Crawford police procedural Cop Shop, while Brian James' character George Tippett was transplanted to Holiday Island.
Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan roles
Years before Neighbours and international pop stardom, Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan appeared together in one episode as siblings.
Storylines
An early storyline featured a lesbian flight attendant (Judy Morris) unsuccessfully attempting to seduce a colleague (Deborah Coulls) who revealed she was heterosexual. Morris' character was soon afterwards stabbed to death in the shower as part of a murder-mystery storyline.
International broadcast
The series screened across Europe and the UK during 1984-1986 on Sky Channel which would later become Sky One. It also aired in the UK on Astra Satellite channel, Lifestyle during 1990 at 1.00 p.m Monday to Friday.
= Syndication
=During the first week of January 2006 the entire series was replayed Thursday early mornings, weekly at 2.00am, then at the later time-slot of 3.00am on WIN TV in Wollongong (South Coast NSW) as part of the early morning Crawfords Classics TV series.
DVD release
On 4th November 2024 Crawfords announced the series will be released on DVD. The release will consist of a seven volume set.
Cast
= Main / regular
=Tony Bonner as Paul MacFarlane
Tina Bursill as Louise Carter
Ken James as Simon Young
Bruce Barry as Douglas Stewart
Bill Stalker as Peter Fanelli
Brian James as George Tippett
Joanne Samuel as Kelly Morgan
Deborah Coulls as Jacki Soong
Kris McQuade as Faye Peterson
Bartholomew John as Nick Grainger
Andrew McKaige as Alan MacFarlane
Gaynor Martin as Mandy MacFarlane
Gerard Kennedy as Gary Doolan
Kerry Armstrong as Angela Murray
Maurie Fields as Chas Potter
Kylie Foster as Belinda Phipps
Carmen Duncan as Elaine MacFarlane
Fred Parslow as David Rankin
Kit Taylor as Tim Barclay
Susanna Lobez as Janet Patterson
Jeff Kevin as Geoff Goodwin
= Recurring / guests
=External links
Skyways at IMDb
Aussie Soap Archive: Skyways
Crawford Productions
Skyways at the National Film and Sound Archive