Cello Aviation
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox airline
| airline = Cello Aviation
| image = Cello Aviation logo.jpg
| image_size = 100
| IATA = —
| ICAO = CLJ
| callsign = CELLOJET
| founded = 2009 (as Altavia Jet Services)
| commenced =
| ceased = 12 October 2018
| hubs = Birmingham Airport
| secondary_hubs =
| focus_cities =
| frequent_flyer =
| lounge =
| alliance =
| subsidiaries =
| fleet_size = 2
| destinations =
| parent = Gill Group
| headquarters = {{nowrap|Birmingham, United Kingdom}}
| key_people =
| website = [http://www.flycello.com/ flycello.com]
|aoc=|num_employees=}}
Cello Aviation was a British private charter airline headquartered at Birmingham Airport. It was established as Altavia Jet Services in 2009{{cite web | url = https://airlinehistory.co.uk/airline/altavia-jet-services/ | title = Altavia Jet Services | publisher = Airline History | access-date = 1 August 2021}} 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.{{cite web |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/uk-carrier-cello-aviation-ceases-trading-452646/ |title=UK carrier Cello Aviation ceases trading |publisher=Flightglobal |date=12 October 2018 |accessdate=13 October 2018}}
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.{{cite web |url=http://www.flycello.com/index.php/about-us |title=About Us |publisher=Cello Aviation Ltd |accessdate=10 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180314015247/http://www.flycello.com/index.php/about-us |archive-date=14 March 2018 |url-status=dead }} The airline's passengers have included Queen Elizabeth II, who flew to Dublin as part of her 2011 visit to the Republic of Ireland.{{cite web |url=https://smiliner.com/2011/05/cello-abj-takes-the-queen-to-ireland/ |title=Cello ABJ takes the Queen to Ireland |publisher=Smiliner |accessdate=3 May 2018 |archive-date=1 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200101135134/https://smiliner.com/2011/05/cello-abj-takes-the-queen-to-ireland/ |url-status=dead }}
Fleet
File:G-RAJG (17755436409).jpg]]
As of February 2018, the Cello Aviation fleet consisted of the following aircraft:{{Citation needed|date=March 2025}}
| class="wikitable" style="border-collapse:collapse;text-align:center;margin:1em auto;"
|+ Cello Aviation fleet |
| rowspan="2"|Aircraft
!rowspan="2" |In Service !rowspan="2" |Orders !colspan="3"|Passengers !rowspan="2" |Notes |
|---|
| C
!Y !Total |
| Avro RJ100
|1 |— |— |97 |97 | |
| Boeing 737-300
|1 |— |— |148 |148 | |
| Total
!2 !— !colspan="4"| |
=Former fleet=
File:G-RAJJ_BAe_146-200_Cello_Aviation_(10824441163).jpg]]
Previously, Cello Aviation also operated the following aircraft:
| class="wikitable" style="border-collapse:collapse;text-align:center;margin:1em auto;"
|+ Retired Cello Aviation aircraft |
| rowspan="1"|Aircraft
!rowspan="1" |In fleet !rowspan="1" |Entry year !rowspan="1" |Exit year |
|---|
| Avro RJ85
|1 |2013 |2015 |
| Boeing 737-400
|1 |2015 |2016 |
| BAe 146-200
|1 |2009 |2018 |
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Portal bar|United Kingdom|Companies|Aviation}}
{{Navbox Airlines of the United Kingdom}}
Category:Defunct airlines of the United Kingdom
Category:Airlines established in 2009