Stobart Air announces deal with BA CityFlyer

Stobart Air has secured an agreement to provide new aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance (ACMI) services for BA CityFlyer.

The business is a division of Carlisle-based Stobart Group, which spans aviation, energy and rail & civils.

The arrangement between the two airlines will see Stobart Air provide ACMI services for the purpose of operating routes to and from London City Airport under the BA CityFlyer brand from November 16.

Stobart Air also announced its intention to add 40 new staff, with the recruitment of 10 captains and first officers, as well as 30 cabin crew.

And the division also announced today that it will lease two Embraer 190 jet aircraft under a three-year lease agreement with Republic of Ireland-based Nordic Aviation Capital to service the new routes.

Graeme Buchanan, managing director of Stobart Air, said: “A key part of our growth strategy is to secure additional commercial relationships with airlines.

“This agreement with BA CityFlyer allows us to further diversify the brands we work with.”

He added: “Stobart Air is recognised within the industry for its operational excellence and quality of customer service, and this deal demonstrates that we can continue to leverage this reputation to grow our business and secure further commercial relationships.”

Stobart Air operates scheduled services under the brands Aer Lingus Regional and Flybe on behalf of their respective owners.

It has operating bases at Cork and Dublin for Aer Lingus Regional, and at London Southend and Isle of Man for Flybe.

The airline employs more than 570 people.

BA CityFlyer is a subsidiary of British Airways with its head office in the Didsbury area of Manchester.

It operates a network of domestic and European services from its bases at London City Airport and Edinburgh Airport, as well as other minor UK bases.