THE airline behind plans for scheduled flights from Carlisle Airport is reported to be edging closer to a merger with the Irish airline CityJet.
Stobart Air has tabled plans to start daily passenger flights from Carlisle to London Southend, Belfast and Dublin. Stobart Group chief executive Andrew Tinkler hopes the services will start next spring.
But the future ownership of Stobart Air has been in doubt since the investment house Invesco Perpetual indicated last year that it wanted to sell its 40 per cent stake.
The company is the second largest shareholder in Stobart Air behind Stobart Group, which owns 45 per cent of the business.
Options included a management buyout but reports in the Irish press suggest that a deal to merge Stobart Air with CityJet is close, a move that would create one of Europe’s largest regional airlines.
Stobart Air operates Aer Lingus Regional services under a franchise agreement. It is not clear what, if any, impact a change of ownership at Stobart Air would have on plans for flights from Carlisle.
* Haulier Eddie Stobart has signed a deal with Aggregate Industries UK to become the building materials supplier's logistics supply partner.
The five-year contract, which starts in October, will see Eddie Stobart carry Bradstone, Charcon and Masterblock products from 14 UK sites.
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