How many passengers did the Ensign carry?

Short answer

On European and western routes, 40 passengers in four cabins; in the other layout, 27 passengers in three cabins or 20 sleeping berths. Eight Ensigns were fitted out for Empire routes and four for European routes. By September 1939, eleven had been delivered.

Published: November 2, 2026 · Updated: November 2, 2026 · Edited by Above Ten Thousand · Editorial policy

How many passengers did the Ensign carry?

Ensign G ADTC 1940Unknown authorUnknown author (CC BY SA), vía commons

Two cabin layouts

On European and western routes, the Ensign was configured for 40 passengers across four cabins. The other interior layout accommodated 27 passengers in three cabins, or 20 sleeping berths. Of the aircraft delivered, eight were fitted out for Empire routes and four for European routes.

A four-engined airliner for Imperial Airways

The Armstrong Whitworth A.W.27 Ensign was a British four-engined monoplane airliner. Imperial Airways had expressed the need for a large monoplane airliner powered by four Armstrong Siddeley Tiger radial engines.

Deliveries and final years

By September 1939, eleven aircraft had been delivered. The eight surviving Mk.I aircraft were upgraded to Mk.II standard between 1941 and 1943. The last passenger flight of an Ensign took place in June 1946.