Cello Aviation

Cello Aviation
IATA ICAO Call sign
— CLJ CELLOJET
Founded2009 (as Altavia Jet Services)
Ceased operations12 October 2018
HubsBirmingham Airport
Fleet size2
Parent companyGill Group
HeadquartersBirmingham, United Kingdom
Websiteflycello.com

Cello Aviation was a British private charter airline headquartered at Birmingham Airport. It was established as Altavia Jet Services in 2009[1] and was renamed Cello Aviation in July 2010 starting operations upon receiving Type A OL and AOC from the UK CAA.

History

Cello Aviation commenced operations with a purchased and refurbished BAe 146–200 aircraft fitted with 46 all business class seats, registration G-RAJJ. On 12 October 2018, Cello Aviation announced it had ceased trading with immediate effect. The airline had seen losses amounting to as much as £302,000 prior to March 2017 and £961,000 during the previous year. Cello Aviation could not obtain additional funding and filed for bankruptcy in October 2018, ceasing all trading with immediate effect. All contracts the airline had were axed.[2]

Operations

The airline primarily operated private and VIP charters with two specially configured aircraft. It also operated wet lease and full charter flights with two Boeing 737 and an Avro RJ100 aircraft.[3] The airline's passengers have included Queen Elizabeth II, who flew to Dublin as part of her 2011 visit to the Republic of Ireland.[4]

Fleet

Cello Aviation Boeing 737-400

As of February 2018, the Cello Aviation fleet consisted of the following aircraft:[5]

Cello Aviation fleet
Aircraft In Service Orders Passengers Notes
C Y Total
Avro RJ100 1 — — 97 97
Boeing 737-300 1 — — 148 148
Total 2 —

Former fleet

Cello Aviation BAe 146-200

Previously, Cello Aviation also operated the following aircraft:

Retired Cello Aviation aircraft
Aircraft In fleet Entry year Exit year
Avro RJ85 1 2013 2015
Boeing 737-400 1 2015 2016
BAe 146-200 1 2009 2018

See also

References

  1. ^ "Altavia Jet Services". Airline History. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
  2. ^ "UK carrier Cello Aviation ceases trading". Flightglobal. 12 October 2018. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  3. ^ "About Us". Cello Aviation Ltd. Archived from the original on 14 March 2018. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
  4. ^ "Cello ABJ takes the Queen to Ireland". Smiliner. Archived from the original on 1 January 2020. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
  5. ^ "Cello Aviation Fleet Details and History". Planespotters.net. Retrieved 10 February 2018.