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The then Eagle Airways commenced operating the Britannia series aircraft following handover by the Bristol Aeroplane Company at Filton on April 5th 1960 of G-APYY a series 318. G-APYY had been acquired on an initial 7 month lease from Cubana where it was registered as CU-T-668.

Lease arrangements were announced on March 22nd 1960 which occurred during negotiations for the take-over of Eagle Airways by the Cunard Steamship  Company. CU-T-668 arrived from Havana at London Heathrow on March 24th 1960 and the next day was ferried to Filton for painting in Eagle Airways livery and other work. Following the conclusion of the negotiations with the Cunard Steamship Company for the takeover of Eagle Airways, the fuselage logo of all the aircraft in service was changed to Cunard Eagle Airways commencing on July 28th 1960. A short time afterwards the letter E which had formed part of the tail fin logo was replaced with the more distinctive flying eagle logo which remained until operations ceased in November 1968.

G-APYY operated its first commercial flight on charter carrying service personnel to Christmas Island in the Pacific Ocean on April 6th 1960. From April until the autumn of 1961 G-APYY earned its living operating both civil and military charter flights in varying seating configurations on an increasing frequency.

During the 6 months G-APYY had been operating experience was gained on type over various long haul routes. The time was now  right to  bring into  operation the ''Skycoach'' service licence which had lain dormant since 1958. The first service was operated by G-APYY on October 10th 1960 to Bermuda and Nassau in the Bahamas.

The successful operation with the newly acquired Britannia and plannned expansion of services for 1961 meant Cunard Eagle Airways were in the market for more of the same type of aircraft. Canadian Pacific Airlines were about to commence jet operations and therefore had 2 Britannia 324 series available. CF-CPD and CF-CPE respectively were purchased and passed through the Bristol Aeroplane Co facility at Filton for the normal acceptance and transfer to the British register work. Upon completion G-ARKA arrived at Heathrow on March 10th 1961 and G-ARKB on May 1st 1961.

The 3 Britannia aircraft spent the summer period of 1961 on Transatlantic charter work to the USA and Canada as well as flights in connection with the mid Atlantic Skycoach service to Bermuda and Nassau. October 1961 saw the  completion of the extended  lease of G-APYY and this series 318 Britannia returned to its former home in Havana. The final period of 1961 saw KA and KB engaged on MoD charter work with the occasional Transatlantic flight  being undertaken. 1962 dawned as a year of some difficulty with the loss of licences  and other  matters affecting  the recently  completed association with the Cunard Steamship Company. North Atlantic work was much curtailed and KA and KB operated mainly on MoD  charter work  throughout 1962 and well into 1963. Change was once again on the horizon however.

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