Skyways is an Australian television soap opera drama series made by Crawford Productions for the Seven Network.
| Skyways | |
|---|---|
 Tony Bonner as Paul MacFarlane and Bill Stalker as Peter Fanelli in Skyways | |
| Genre | Soap opera Drama |
| Created by | Terry Stapleton Jock Blair |
| Country of origin | Australia |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 188 |
| Production | |
| Production company | Crawford Productions |
| Original release | |
| Network | Seven Network |
| Release | 9 July 1979 – 27 July 1981 |
Production and casting
editThe 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
editYears before Neighbours and international pop stardom, Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan appeared together in one episode as siblings.
Storylines
editAn 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
editThe 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
editDuring 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
editOn 4th November 2024 Crawfords announced the series will be released on DVD. The release will consist of a seven volume set.
| Title | Format | Episodes | Original Melbourne airdates | Discs | Region 4 (Australia) | Special Features | Distributors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skyways (Volume 1) | DVD | Episodes A-26 | 7 | December 2024 | None | Crawford Productions | |
| Skyways (Volume 2) | DVD | Episodes 27–52 | 7 | 2025 | None | Crawford Productions | |
| Skyways (Volume 3) | DVD | Episodes 53–78 | 7 | 2025 | None | Crawford Productions | |
| Skyways (Volume 4) | DVD | Episodes 79–104 | 7 | 2025 | None | Crawford Productions | |
| Skyways (Volume 5) | DVD | Episodes 105–132 | 7 | 2025 | None | Crawford Productions | |
| Skyways (Volume 6) | DVD | Episodes 133-160 | 7 | 2025 | None | Crawford Productions | |
| Skyways (Volume 7) | DVD | Episodes 161-187 | 7 | 2025 | None | Crawford Productions |
Cast
editMain / regular
edit- 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
edit| Actor | Role | Eps. |
|---|---|---|
| Alan Hopgood | Edward Fielding | 2 |
| Alex Menglet | Mikhail Gosenko | 1 |
| Anna Hruby | Sharon Webster | 1 |
| Anne Charleston | Wendy Stewart | 2 |
| Anne Phelan | Joan Hailey | 1 |
| Anne Tenney | Eileen | 1 |
| Barry Creyton | John Hunter | 13 |
| Barry Quin | Jeremy Drake | 1 |
| Belinda Giblin | Christine Burroughs | 12 |
| Brian Wenzel | Frank Richmond | 1 |
| Briony Behets | Pam McKinnon | 1 |
| Bruce Spence | David Howard | 1 |
| Catherine Wilkin | Hanna Clayton | 1 |
| Cecily Polson | Jocelyn Powell | 3 |
| Chantal Comtouri | Lorraine Cruikshank | 1 |
| Charles Tingwell | Harold Forbes | 4 |
| Cornelia Frances | Susan Winters / Wendy Kirk | 2 |
| Dannii Minogue | Amy | |
| Danny Adcock | Nigel Poulter | 1 |
| David Gulpilil | Koiranha | 1 |
| Debra Lawrence | Sheila Turner | 1 |
| Di Smith | Meg Robinson | 1 |
| Diane Craig | Catherine Tissot | 1 |
| Dina Mann | Fiona Woods | 6 |
| Frank Gallacher | Marcel Boussac / Alexandrow | 6 |
| George Mallaby | District Attorney | 2 |
| Gerda Nicholson | Joan Fitzgerald | 1 |
| Grant Dodwell | Grant Simpson | 1 |
| Gus Mercurio | Willard Fry | 1 |
| Ian Smith | Col. Garner | 2 |
| Irene Inescort | Mrs. Young | 15 |
| Jackie Woodburne | Marie Newman | 1 |
| Jane Clifton | Shelley | 1 |
| Jason Donovan | Adam / Trevor Kirk | 2 |
| John Hamblin | Bob Kennedy | 1 |
| John Walton | Bryan Johnson | 3 |
| Judith McGrath | Dr Mendelsohn / Mrs Mason / Zoe Lawrence | 5 |
| Judy Morris | Robyn Davies | 12 |
| Judy Nunn | Bessie Langhurst | 2 |
| Justine Saunders | Helen Smith | 6 |
| Kylie Minogue | Robin | 1 |
| Kerry McGuire | Ann Driscoll | 1 |
| Lesley Baker | Gladys Skinner | 1 |
| Lewis Fitz-Gerald | Leslie Foy | 6 |
| Lorna Lesley | Pippa Shaw | 2 |
| Mark Littie | Jimmy McDonald | 3 |
| Martin Vaughan | Charlie Dat | 1 |
| Mercia Deane-Johns | Susan Masters | 1 |
| Michael Aitkens | Frank Harper | 2 |
| Michael Duffield | Sir Joseph Miles / Sir Godfrey Fox | 9 |
| Miles Buchanan | Bert Simpson | 1 |
| Monica Maughan | Mrs Jones | 1 |
| Nadia Tass | Sarah McGregor | 1 |
| Penelope Stewart | Barbie Beach / Jenny McKay | 3 |
| Penne Hackforth-Jones | Lady Pamela Griff | 1 |
| Penny Cook | Joanne Whicker | 1 |
| Penny Ramsey | Judy Pinnington | 1 |
| Peta Toppano | Sister Theresa | 1 |
| Peter Cummins | Les Mitchell / Raymond Dixon | 2 |
| Peter Curtin | David Kerridge / Roy Hamilton | 2 |
| Peter Whitford | Nigel Forsythe | 1 |
| Queenie Ashton | Mrs Fow | 1 |
| Ray Meagher | Sgt Murphy | 1 |
| Reg Evans | Errol Foote | 1 |
| Rod Mullinar | Geoff Blake | 3 |
| Roger Oakley | Joe D'Angelo | 2 |
| Ronald Falk | Derek Powell | 3 |
| Rowena Wallace | Ann Wallace | 1 |
| Sandy Gore | Yvonne Deauville | 1 |
| Shane Porteous | John Dermarney | 1 |
| Sigrid Thornton | Olivia Baker | 1 |
| Stefan Dennis | Richard | 1 |
| Terry Gill | Ed Sloane / Keith Shelton | 2 |
| Terry McDermott | Fred Manning / Captain Gardner | 3 |
| Tom Burlinson | Jim Backwell | 1 |
| Tom Oliver | Scott Honeyman | 1 |
| Tommy Dysart | Paddy MacDonald | 1 |
| Tracy Mann | Mickey Devine | 1 |
| Vincent Ball | Capt Fitzgerald | 1 |
| Wyn Roberts | Barney Waters | 2 |