Citywing

Citywing (a trading name of Citywing Aviation Services Limited) was an Isle of Man-based virtual airline that sold seats on scheduled air flights operated under charter.[3] Flights linked several airports in the British Isles, with the company having a base at Isle of Man Airport.[4] Its head office was in Hangar 9 at Isle of Man Airport in Ballasalla.

Citywing
IndustryAerospace and travel
Founded22 November 2012
Defunct10 March 2017[1]
Key people
David Buck (MD)[2]
WebsiteArchived official website at the Wayback Machine (archive index)

History

From November 2012, managing director David Buck led a management buyout of Manx2.[5][6] On 1 January 2013 the assets of Manx2 were acquired by the new company, Citywing,[7] and seats went on sale on the new company's website. The first Citywing-branded flight took off on 2 January 2013.[5] The operation often attracted controversy[8] being described as a 'virtual airline' with no Air Operator's Certificate, no appointed Aviation Safety Officer and no Safety Department.

During 2014, the route network expanded to include flights from Glasgow to the Isle of Man.[5] Citywing took over the Cardiff to Anglesey public service obligation route in January 2016 after the previous operator went bankrupt.[9]

On 23 February 2017, Citywing Flight 502 (a Van Air Let L-410, OK-LAZ) to Belfast from Isle of Man Ronaldsway Airport was forced to turn back due to deteriorating weather conditions. The following day, Van Air lost its route licences.[10] As a result, Citywing contracted Sprint Air for certain flight services on 2 and 3 March.[11] On 10 March 2017, Citywing announced that after Van Air Europe's loss their UK license they had been unable to find a suitable business partner to operate its services. All flights from 11 March 2017 were terminated and the company was put into liquidation.[12][10] Citywing cited heavy losses after the need to source leased aircraft to replace Van Air Europe on such short notice.[1]

Destinations
A Citywing Let L-410 operated by Van Air Europe

At the closure of its operations, Citywing offered flights to the following destinations:[13]

Isle of Man
Jersey
United Kingdom

Fleet

As Citywing was a virtual airline without its own aircraft operations license, it leased in respectively chartered aircraft from Van Air Europe for all of its services. The aircraft leased from Van Air Europe were four leased Let L-410s.

Citywing temporarily chartered a Saab 340 from Sprint Air after the loss of its previous Van Air Let L-410s.

Prior to using Van Air Europe aircraft, Citywing leased a BAe Jetstream 31 from Links Air until the latter lost its UK operating licence.

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References
  1. ch-aviation.com - Isle of Man's Citywing ceases all operations 11 March 2017
  2. "David Buck is new MD at Manx2. com". iomtoday, 18 January 2012. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 11 March 2012.
  3. http://www.citywingnews.com/flight-updates-for-26th-february-2017-onwards/
  4. "Directory: World Airlines". Flight International. 10 April 2007. pp. 47–48.
  5. "Citywing takes to the skies". 2 January 2013. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 3 January 2012.
  6. "Management buy-out at Manx2.com". 21 November 2012. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
  7. "Company details - 127288C Citywing Aviation Services Limited". Archived from the original on 14 December 2013. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
  8. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/news/Least-safe-aircraft-models-revealed/
  9. "Anglesey to Cardiff new operator". 23 January 2016. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  10. Darbyshire, Adrian (11 March 2017). "Flights cancelled as Citywing goes into liquidation". IOM Today. Retrieved 26 March 2017.
  11. http://www.iomtoday.co.im/article.cfm?id=32248&headline=Citywing%20passengers%20still%20facing%20major%20disruption&sectionIs=NEWS&searchyear=2017
  12. citywingnews.com - Citywing Statement Archived 11 March 2017 at the Wayback Machine retrieved 14 March 2017
  13. citywing.com - Route Map Archived 15 March 2017 at the Wayback Machine retrieved 14 March 2017
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