Citywing
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Airline |
| Founded | 2012 |
| Founder | David Buck |
| Defunct | 2017 |
| Fate | Entered liquidation |
| Headquarters | Ballasalla , Isle of Man |
Area served | British Isles |
Key people | David Buck (Managing Director) |
| Products | Scheduled flights under charter agreements |
Citywing operated as a trading name for Citywing Aviation Services Limited, a company based on the Isle of Man that marketed seats on scheduled flights conducted under charter agreements. It served as a connector between various airports throughout the British Isles, maintaining its operational base at Isle of Man Airport. The company’s main office was situated in Hangar 9 at Isle of Man Airport, Ballasalla.
History
In November 2012, David Buck, who was the managing director, initiated a management buyout of Manx2. On 1 January 2013, Citywing took ownership of Manx2’s assets and launched its inaugural branded flight the following day.
By 2014, Citywing had extended its network to include flights between Glasgow and the Isle of Man. In January 2016, after the previous operator ceased operations due to bankruptcy, Citywing assumed control of the Cardiff-Anglesey public service obligation route.
On 23 February 2017, Citywing Flight 502—operated by Van Air using a Let L-410 aircraft (registration OK-LAZ) from the Isle of Man to Belfast—was forced to return because of adverse weather conditions. The subsequent day, Van Air lost its route licenses. To cover flights on 2 and 3 March, Citywing engaged Sprint Air as an interim operator. However, on 10 March 2017, Citywing announced it was unable to secure another partner following Van Air Europe’s loss of its UK license and declared it would cease all flight operations from 11 March onward, entering liquidation. The company attributed this decision to substantial financial losses incurred while urgently arranging leased aircraft to replace Van Air services.
Destinations
Prior to ceasing operations in March 2017, Citywing provided scheduled services to the following locations:
| Country | City | Airport | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Isle of Man | Ronaldsway | Isle of Man Airport | Main base |
| Jersey | St Brelade | Jersey Airport | Operated seasonally |
| United Kingdom | Anglesey | Anglesey Airport | |
| Belfast | George Best Belfast City Airport | Main base | |
| Blackpool | Blackpool Airport | Main base | |
| Cardiff | Cardiff Airport | Main base | |
| Glasgow | Glasgow Airport | ||
| Gloucester | Gloucestershire Airport | ||
| Newcastle upon Tyne | Newcastle Airport |
Fleet
Operating as a virtual carrier without an independent operating certificate, Citywing leased its fleet primarily from Van Air Europe, consisting mainly of four Let L-410 aircraft. Following the loss of access to these planes, the airline temporarily secured a Saab 340 on charter from SprintAir. Previously, Citywing had leased a BAe Jetstream 31 from Links Air, until that company’s UK licence was revoked.
See also
External links
- Official Citywing website — (archived)