Stobart Air


Stobart Air, legally incorporated as Stobart Air Unlimited Company is an Irish regional airline headquartered in Dublin. It operates scheduled services under the brands Aer Lingus Regional, BA CityFlyer and KLM Cityhopper on behalf of their respective owners. Stobart Air has operating bases at Cork, Dublin and the Isle of Man for Aer Lingus Regional. The airline employs over 570 people.
Established as Aer Arann 1970, a major refinancing in 2014 was associated with a name change to Stobart Air. Aer Arann was a regional airline based in Dublin, Ireland. The airline operated scheduled services on behalf of Aer Lingus Regional. The airline had three bases in Cork, Dublin and Shannon which operated under the Aer Lingus Regional brand.
On 19 March 2014, Aer Arann announced that it would be changing its corporate name to Stobart Air by the end of 2014.

History

Aer Arann

Aer Arann was established in 1970 by James Coen and Ralph Langan to provide an island-hopping air service between Galway and the Aran Islands off the west coast of Ireland. Operations, using a single Britten-Norman Islander, began in August 1970. This service has since been moved to the less distant Connemara Airport and operates as "Aer Arann Islands". As of 2015 it still used Islander aircraft.
The turning point for the airline was in 1994 when Pádraig Ó Céidigh and Eugene O'Kelly purchased the airline. Ó Céidigh and O'Kelly began to expand the airline's routes and fleet, launching scheduled services in 1998. Also in 1998, the Irish government awarded the airline the Public service obligation route between Donegal Airport and Dublin Airport followed by the PSO route between Sligo Airport and Dublin.
In 2002, service to the United Kingdom and Jersey was introduced, followed by service to Lorient and Nantes in Brittany in 2004.
In 2007, Aer Arann had a turnover of €100 million and passenger numbers in excess of 1.15 million.
In 2008, in recognition of the company's marketing achievements, the Head of Sales and Marketing, Colin Lewis was awarded the All Ireland Marketing Leader of the Year Award by the Marketing Institute of Ireland.
In 2008, Aer Arann entered into a franchise agreement with Nex Aviation and introduced service to Amsterdam, Bordeaux, Málaga and Faro, using British Aerospace 146 aircraft during the summer months. The Amsterdam service, which was operated by an ATR 72-500, ended on 14 January 2009.
In October 2008, the airline announced that it would be implementing a cost-saving programme, due to the downturn in passenger traffic, which would involve some focus on charter flights and leasing of aircraft and their crews to other airlines. The airline stated that up to 100 redundancies would be needed, but this was later revised to 70 which would represent a 20% reduction of staff. The airline's key routes were to remain unchanged.
In January 2010, Aer Arann and Aer Lingus founded Aer Lingus Regional which effectively removed Aer Arann's hubs at Cork and Dublin under the new airline.
In July 2010, Aer Arann confirmed it would end flights between Cork-Belfast and Cork-Dublin from 31 August 2010. The company's press release stated, "we sincerely regret having to suspend these services and the inconvenience that it will cause our loyal customers on both routes. Unfortunately however we have an aircraft leaving the fleet and this has an obvious but regrettable impact on our schedule. Aer Arann had operated flights on the Cork to Dublin route since 2001 and began service from Cork to Belfast in March 2004 after the demise of the airline JetMagic. Aer Arann now no longer operates from Cork Airport in its own entity but continues to expand its presence at Cork under the Aer Lingus Regional brand.
On 26 August 2010 an examiner was appointed to Aer Arann. A full hearing of the company's application took place on 8 September and Aer Arann was in interim examinership under the protection of the Court. All Aer Arann flights continued to operate normally. It was understood by the high court in Dublin that Aer Arann would return to profitability in 2011.
In October 2010, British logistics company Stobart Group was named as the preferred buyer for the airline, also announcing that the airline would serve London Southend Airport from March 2011 to destinations in Ireland and possibly France and open a base there.
On 10 November 2010, the deal was completed. Aer Arann is now owned by Everdeal Limited, which at the time became 67.5% owned by Pádraig Ó Céidigh, Aer Arann's Chairman; 27.5% owned by Tim Kilroe, a UK-based businessman; and 5% owned by the Stobart Group, through 35 preference shares of €1 each acquired on 10 November 2010. Stobart Group entered into an option to increase its shareholding by a further 27.5% to 32.5%.
On 7 April 2011, Aer Arann confirmed it would end its PSO routes after the Irish Government withdrew funding for the routes, which included Dublin to Galway, Knock and Sligo.
In October 2011, Aer Arann announced it would suspend all services from Galway Airport, axed routes included Galway to Edinburgh, London-Luton, London-Southend, Manchester and Lorient. The company said the routes were "financially no longer viable". Galway Airport then confirmed it would have to make redundant 40 staff due to losing the airport's only operator.
On 8 February 2012, Aer Arann's Chief Executive Paul Schutz resigned, and was replaced by Sean Brogan, the head of Stobart Ireland. This gave Stobart Group management control of the airline, and prompted speculation that it would exercise its option to increase its 5% stake in Everdeal Limited by a further 27.5% to 32.5%.
On 2 March 2012, it was confirmed that Aer Arann was in final discussions to transfer all of its own operated flights to the Aer Lingus Regional brand. This would mean Aer Arann would operate on behalf of Aer Lingus Regional with the airline no longer operating routes as its own entity.
On 14 March 2012, Aer Arann confirmed it would no longer exist in its own entity from 10 April 2012. All its services transferred to Aer Lingus Regional on 25 March, streamlining services to a single brand, with the one remaining route operated on an RE flight number, London City to Isle of Man, ceasing on 10 April.
On 6 November 2012, Aer Arann announced it was pulling out of Waterford, as its services had not performed to a "sustainable level". However, it did not rule out returning to Waterford in the future, "if the business case can be justified".
On 12 December 2012, Stobart Group exercised its option to increase its 5% shareholding in Everdeal Limited by 27.5% to 32.5%, and acquired a further 12.5% of the company, taking its stake to 45%. This diluted Chairman Pádraig Ó Céidigh's shareholding to 47.5% and Tim Kilroe's shareholding to 7.5%.
On 25 January 2013, Aer Arann's Chairman Pádraig Ó Céidigh resigned. Stobart Group was therefore expected to buy his 47.5% shareholding in Everdeal Limited by the beginning of February 2013. This would have enabled it to have a 92.5% controlling stake in the airline.
On 30 April 2013, Aer Arann's ownership was restructured. It is now owned by Everdeal Holdings Limited, which is 45% owned by the Stobart Group; 42% owned by Invesco; 8% owned by Cenkos Securities; and 5% owned by Pádraig Ó Céidigh, Aer Arann's former Chairman. Stobart Group has an option to acquire complete control of the airline, by increasing its shareholding by a further 55% to 100%.

Stobart Air

On 19 March 2014, Aer Arann announced that it would be changing its corporate name to Stobart Air by the end of 2014.. Retrieved on 19 March 2014. Stobart Air was owned by Everdeal Holdings Limited, which was 81% owned by the Stobart Group, 10% by Cenkos Securities, and 10% by Pádraig Ó Céidigh, Aer Arann's former Chairman. Stobart Group had an option to acquire complete control of the airline, by increasing its shareholding to 100%.
Stobart Air announced on 25 March 2014, it was diversifying away from operating exclusively for Aer Lingus by enacting a five-year agreement with Flybe to operate six routes in Northern Europe and Benelux from 5 June 2014. It was further announced in November 2014 that Stobart Air was also to operate two routes from Cardiff to Edinburgh and Paris-Orly, on behalf of CityJet, from 1 December 2014. The latter two routes have since ceased.
On 24 February 2017, Stobart Group completed 100% acquisition of Stobart Air, after purchasing the remaining 19% of Everdeal Holdings. Stobart Group also completed 100% ownership of Propius Holdings Ltd, the aircraft leasing firm through which many of the Stobart Air aircraft are sourced.
As of April 2018, Stobart Air wet leased two E195s from Flybe. From the second half of 2018, Stobart Air's leasing firm Propius acquired three E195s from leasing firm GOAL. These aircraft were leased to Flybe until the end of 2018.
On 11 January 2019, Stobart Aviation and Virgin Atlantic formed the Connect Airways consortium to make a takeover bid for Flybe. The consortium was also to take over Stobart Air, with the aim of creating an integrated carrier operating under a Virgin brand. Stobart Air's wet lease operations for other airlines would continue unchanged. On 15 January 2019, Connect Airways announced an increased offer, which Flybe's board accepted. The deal was completed on 21 February 2019, despite a last-minute rival bid.
On 5 February 2019, it was announced that Stobart Air would wetlease one of its E195s to KLM Cityhopper to operate four flights daily between Amsterdam and Geneva and four between Amsterdam and Dublin. The flights were executed between 25 February and 30 March.
On 5 March 2020, Flybe entered administration due to ongoing difficulties compounded by the coronavirus pandemic; all Flybe flights operated by Flybe itself and by Stobart Air ceased.
On 18 March 2020, Connect Airways in turn entered administration. Stobart Air itself did not go into administration, and in mid-April Stobart Group announced that it was "reviewing all options" with the administrators, including the possibility of buying back Stobart Air and its sister company Propius Leasing, believing that the two companies have a viable future after the pandemic.
On 27 April 2020, Stobart Group bought back Stobart Air and Propius Leasing from the Connect Airways bankruptcy administrators. Stobart Group initially paid €344,000 to Connect Airways administrators EY, the deal is set to be worth over €9.45m. Also Stobart Air is in talks with Aer Lingus to extend its franchise agreement beyond 2022.

Destinations

Aer Lingus

Destinations flown by Aer Arann before 2012 then onwards operating for Aer Lingus Regional.
CountryCityAirportNotesRefs-
BlackpoolBlackpool Airport-
BirminghamBirmingham Airport-
BournemouthBournemouth Airport-
BristolBristol Airport-
DoncasterDoncaster Sheffield Airport-
Durham Tees ValleyDurham Tees Valley Airport-
East MidlandsEast Midlands Airport-
ExeterExeter Airport-
Leeds/BradfordLeeds Bradford Airport-
LondonLuton Airport-
LondonLondon Southend Airport-
ManchesterManchester Airport-
Newcastle Upon TyneNewcastle International Airport-
NewquayNewquay Airport-
SouthamptonSouthampton Airport-
BordeauxBordeaux Airport-
BrestBrest Airport-
La RochelleLa Rochelle Airport-
LorientLorient Airport-
NantesNantes Airport-
RennesRennes–Saint-Jacques Airport-
CorkCork Airport-
DonegalDonegal Airport-
DublinDublin Airport-
GalwayGalway Airport-
KerryKerry Airport-
ShannonShannon Airport-
WaterfordWaterford Airport
Isle of ManIsle of Man Airport-
AmsterdamAmsterdam Airport-
BelfastBelfast City Airport -
DerryDerry Airport-
Isle of ManIsle of Man Airport-
JerseyJersey Airport-
FaroFaro Airport-
MálagaMálaga Airport-
AberdeenAberdeen Airport-
EdinburghEdinburgh Airport-
GlasgowGlasgow Airport-
InvernessInverness Airport-
CardiffCardiff Airport-

Operated as Flybe

The following routes were operated by Stobart Air for Flybe before it entered administration on 5 March 2020.
CountryCityAirportNotes
CaenCaen – Carpiquet Airport
RennesRennes–Saint-Jacques Airport
Isle of ManIsle of Man Airport
GroningenGroningen Airport Eelde
BelfastBelfast City Airport
BirminghamBirmingham Airport
EdinburghEdinburgh Airport
ExeterExeter Airport
LiverpoolLiverpool Airport
LondonLondon City Airport
LondonLondon Southend Airport
ManchesterManchester Airport
NewquayNewquay Airport

Fleet

The Stobart Air fleet consists of the following aircraft as of March 2020:
, operated by Stobart Air
AircraftIn serviceOrdersPassengersNotes
ATR 42-6001—48operated for Aer Lingus Regional
ATR 72-60013—729 operated for Aer Lingus Regional
Embraer 1902—98
Total16—

2012

The Aer Arann fleet which exclusively operated for Aer Lingus Regional included the following aircraft, with an average fleet age of 11.2 years :

AircraftTotalOrdersPassengers YNotes
ATR 42-3003—48One stored
ATR 72-2012—66
ATR 72-5002—72
ATR 72-6007—72
Total140

Former fleet

Aer Arann operated the following aircraft types :

Avios

Eligible Aer Lingus Regional flights earn Avios points for Aer Lingus which are available to spend on upgrades and discounted flights, points can also be earned with other airlines and outlets.

In-flight services

Stobart Air operates the respective buy on board programmes of its franchise customers on their associated services, with slight adjustments owing to aircraft equipment.

Gold Circle Club

After the transition to Aer Lingus Regional, Aer Arann had announced that flights in qualifying booking classes will earn Aer Lingus Gold Circle Club points.

Sponsorship deals

Aer Arann was the main shirt sponsor of the Galway Gaelic Football team, and had its logo on the back of the Connacht Rugby team shirts, as well as sponsoring the Munster Rugby team.
On 17 December 2010, Aer Arann announced that it would be ending its sponsorship of the Galway Gaelic Football team.

Accidents and incidents

Aer Arann was featured in the 1997 romantic comedy, The MatchMaker and in the 2014 film Calvary.