CityJet (WX, Dublin International) will terminate own scheduled operations on October 27, 2018, following the transfer of its last route, Dublin International-London City, to an ACMI service on behalf of Aer Lingus (EI, Dublin International).
Under the terms of the agreement, CityJet will wet-lease two ARJ-85s to the IAG International Airlines Group Irish unit and operate 36x weekly roundtrips between Dublin and London City. Aer Lingus already operates 91x weekly to London Heathrow and 33x weekly to London Gatwick.
In 2015, CityJet announced that it would gradually transition to an ACMI-only airline and terminate its own scheduled operations. According to the ch-aviation capacity module, it currently also operates the seasonal London City-Florence Peretola route.
"In recent years we have transitioned CityJet from being an airline serving scheduled markets under its own brand into becoming a provider of capacity to customer airlines throughout Europe. We are delighted to now add Aer Lingus to our growing list of flying partners," CityJet CEO Pat Byrne said.
According to the ch-aviation fleets module, CityJet currently operates thirteen ARJ-85s, including seven on behalf of Air France, thirty CRJ900ERs on behalf of SAS Scandinavian Airlines, and seven SSJ 100/95Bs, including six for Brussels Airlines. The airline will continue to operate charter flights using the aircraft not operating on behalf of other airlines.
In July, CityJet signed a strategic cooperation Letter of Intent with rival ACMI specialist Air Nostrum. Once approved by the European Commission, the alliance would see the airlines forming the largest European regional airline group.
For its part, Aer Lingus is already wet-leasing five aircraft - one B737-300 and four B757-200s - from ASL Airlines Ireland. The airline's regional operations also encompasses twelve ATR - Avions de Transport Régional turboprops operated by Stobart Air under a franchise agreement.
