Air Charter Scotland, based at Perth Scone Airport, has officially retired its last Citation Jet 1, marking the end of an era for the UK-based charter operator. This decision comes after years of managing a fleet of Citation Jet 1s, with the first two retired in 2010 and 2011, respectively.
The Final Flight
The last Citation Jet 1 in service, registered as G-COBN (msn 525-0429), completed its final flight on October 12, 2024, departing from Cannes Mandelieu and landing at Oxford Kidlington. Following its retirement from Air Charter Scotland, the aircraft has been listed for sale with EliottJets. The six-seater jet subsequently flew to Minneapolis Flying Cloud under its new U.S. registration, N429EA, with stops along the way at Wick, Reykjavik Domestic, Iqaluit, and Duluth International from October 30 to 31, 2024.
Originally delivered in the United States, G-COBN has a storied history. It was registered in Spain and operated by Gestair Private Jets from 2004 to 2014, before moving to the UK, where it held multiple registrations prior to joining Air Charter Scotland in 2021.
Transitioning Fleet
Air Charter Scotland has carved out a niche in the private aviation sector, offering a range of services including charter flights, aircraft management, maintenance, and sales. Following the retirement of its last Citation Jet 1, the company’s fleet now consists of eight aircraft, including:
- Two Citation Jet 2s
- One Citation Latitude
- One Dassault Aviation Falcon 7X
- One Legacy 500
- One Legacy 600
- One Praetor 600
In a significant move to expand its offerings, Air Charter Scotland welcomed an Embraer EMB-135ER into its fleet at the end of September 2024. This aircraft is now operating on behalf of Travelcoup, based in Zurich.
Strategic Partnerships
In addition to its fleet changes, Air Charter Scotland holds a 49% stake in Air Charter Scotland Europe (SCO), which operates from Malta International Airport. The remaining 51% of the subsidiary is owned by Dutch national Elisabeth Hendrika McFarlane. SCO currently operates two Bombardier Business Aircraft Challenger 350s, one Citation Jet 2+, and three Citation Excel jets.
The retirement of the last Citation Jet 1 reflects Air Charter Scotland’s ongoing evolution and commitment to maintaining a modern and diverse fleet that meets the needs of its clientele. As the company moves forward, it will continue to adapt and grow within the competitive landscape of private aviation.
