Dublin-based regional airline CityJet celebrated its 30th anniversary of its first scheduled flight which departed Dublin for London City Airport on January 10th, 1994. The airline started out by launching the first services between Dublin and London City under a franchise agreement established between its founder Pat Byrne and Richard Branson’s Virgin Atlantic Airways, in whose colours the first aircraft were painted.
Since then, CityJet has evolved through a period of Air France ownership between 2000 and 2014 to being the primary provider of regional jet wet lease capacity services to European airlines. In recent years, CityJet has provided its capacity service to many major European airlines, including Aer Lingus, Air France, Brussels Airlines, KLM, Lufthansa and SAS Airlines.
Cityjet has operated almost 275,000 flights for SAS since its contract started in 2016. In a strategic move that significantly grew its operational network, acquired Copenhagen-based airline Cimber from SAS in 2017. CityJet employs over 600 staff today, 80% of whom are located at its Scandinavian bases in Copenhagen and Stockholm, and retains its head office at Dublin Airport and a planning unit in London.
Cityjet founder and Chairman Pat Byrne said “It is hard to believe that the company we set up thirty years ago would today be a truly pan-European operation providing services to the major airlines across Europe. Throughout its life, CityJet has been focused, innovative and always ready to adapt to changes in the market, of which there have been many over the years. Through the dedication, enthusiasm and professionalism of everybody in the CityJet team, the airline is now a major force in the European market in the niche we serve and it gives me immense pride to feel that this is something we have created from our humble beginnings so long ago”.
CityJet became part of SARA – Strategic Alliance of Regional Airlines in October 2023, making it part of the largest regional aviation platform in Europe in co-operation with Air Nostrum of Spain and Hibernian Airlines of Ireland.
Cityjet operates a fleet of 25 CRJ900 and CRJ1000 aircraft.
Image Credit: Cityjet
Irish Aviation Research Institute © 14 January 2024 All Rights Reserved
