CityJet will wet-lease five CRJ1000 aircraft to Lufthansa for the 2024 summer season.
The five 100-seat jets will be based at Frankfurt from the end of March and operate services on behalf of Lufthansa across Europe until the end of October.
This collaboration marks a significant expansion of CityJet’s wet lease business model and reinforces its position as a key player in the European aviation industry.
In 2023, CityJet operated four aircraft on behalf of Lufthansa Group airlines – two for Brussels Airlines and two for Lufthansa.
Details of the Agreement
CityJet will deploy five 100-seat CRJ1000 jets at Frankfurt, commencing operations from the end of March until the end of October.
These aircraft will be dedicated to servicing routes across Europe on behalf of Lufthansa.
Cathal O’Connell, the Chief Commercial Officer of CityJet, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, highlighting the company’s commitment to evolving its wet lease business model.
“We are delighted to once again be able to provide service on behalf of Lufthansa as we continue to develop our wet lease business model at CityJet,” said O’Connell.
“This year, we will have a total of seventeen aircraft under contract with Lufthansa and SAS Scandinavian Airlines and look forward to continued development with our current and new customers into the future”.
With a total of seventeen aircraft under contract, CityJet will aim for sustained growth and developing customer satisfaction.
Understanding Wet Lease Operations
CityJet’s wet lease model involves providing aircraft to customer airlines, which are then crewed and maintained by CityJet.
This arrangement enables airlines like Lufthansa to expand their fleet capacity without the burden of ownership or maintenance.
Key Features of Wet Leasing
- Crewing and Maintenance Responsibility
- Operational Flexibility for Customer Airlines
CityJet in European Aviation
Over the years, CityJet has emerged as a reliable partner for major European airlines, offering capacity services to enhance their operational efficiency.
With a workforce of over 600 employees, CityJet remains committed to excellence in service delivery.
Customer Portfolio
CitiJet originally began operations by offering scheduled passenger services, but in 2017, it shifted its business model. The carrier now primarily focuses on:
- Wet leasing: This involves leasing out its aircraft and crew to other airlines, essentially acting as a flying resource for other companies.
- Charter flights: CityJet also operates a limited number of charter flights for private groups or individuals.
In recent years, CityJet has provided capacity as a service to many major European airlines, including:
- Aer Lingus
- Air France
- Brussels Airlines
- KLM
- SAS
Milestones and Achievements
CityJet recently celebrated its 30th anniversary and joined SARA (Strategic Alliance of Regional Airlines) in October 2023.
This alliance with Air Nostrum of Spain further solidifies CityJet’s position within the European regional aviation landscape.
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