APRIL 2013 COTSWOLD STYLE � 129

The Isle of Man aviation scene hascome a long way since the first flight in1911 by Claude Graham – White. Thewhiz of jet engines and the throbbing ofjet props have replaced the stretchedyawn of canvass and the groaning,turbulent creaks of wood.The 1st of January 2013 tannoyed the

dawn of a new era for a small, butperfectly formed aviation service.Citywing provides inexpensive flightsfrom the Isle of Man to Gloucestershire,Blackpool, Belfast, Newcastle andAnglesey.Led by Managing Director, David

Buck and colleagues Phil Cowin, JudithMusgrave and Andy Mathieson, theymake a formidable management team.It’s a team that have vision, belief and acommitment to providing the bestservice they can. David Buck said, ‘theopportunity arose to purchase thebusiness which was then calledManx2.com. It seemed like good, soundbusiness sense to go through with aManagement Buy Out’. David Buck goeson to further comment,’ There’s noother business like it on the Island andas the financial model stacked up itseemed prudent to go ahead and preparethe path to the actual buy out’. Perhapsthere’s’ an oversimplification here? Not a

bit of it. David Buck further comments,’it took about six months of preparatorywork behind the scenes to ensure thatwe had a smooth transition fromManx2.com to Citywing. It wasparticularly interesting over theChristmas period in 2012 as many ofour support agencies either shut up shopor slowed down their operations. We ofcourse had a business to change over.Quite challenging really’. It seems to methat the aviation industry on the Isle ofMan is in a period of change. They havea new Executive Jet Centre being built atthe Ronaldsway Airport complex andthere is quiet optimism in the air . Davidfurther says, ‘all the aviation businesseson the island are in a sense fishing in thesame pool, so we do want to look offisland for more routes and increasedtraffic’. He further says,’ the Isle of Manis a natural hub for Citywing and ofcourse as a management team we are allvery settled here on the island’. In factDavid Buck has been resident since 2000and with a wife and two children he iswell entrenched in Isle of Man life.David Buck comments,’ we have tenexcellent staff and hope to grow thisnumber in the future. The economy inthe UK and here on the Island will becrucial in sustaining that growth. We do

have hurdles to face in the guise of anincreased UK tax which will come intoforce on the 1st April’. I mildly hint atwhat that might be and David Buck fixesme with a no - nonsense stare. ‘It’sanother passenger tax hike’. He says. Infact I’m told this will be £13.00 perpassenger per round trip to the Isle ofMan for flights originating in the UK.Thanks UK Government. How on earthare businesses to flourish if these kindsof taxes continue to be levied? The nextthree years will I’m guessing, be crucialfor Citywing as they will undoubtedlywant to expand the operation. DavidBuck says’. If the economy improvesthen we will grow with more routes andincreased frequency, together with anextra hub off the island. However wehave consolidated the business toensure it’s stable and secure before wetake any further steps’. Citywingcurrently carries around 80,000passengers every year. Everybody hasgood and bad days. However it seemsthis enigmatic Managing Director hassomething unique – the ability to control

his emotions to the point thatthere’s always continuity. He simplysays,’ my best day was when webroke our sales record in Februaryand I don’t do bad days. I’m fairlyunflappable’. So it looks like a smoothride ahead for David Buck and theManagement Team at Citywing… itlooks like the only way is up!

For more information and to bookwww.citywing.com

CS

Eric Barton meets up with Isle of Man aviationsupremo David Buck from Citywing

Clear skies ahead…

business

“all the aviation businesses on the island are in a sense�shing in the same pool, so we do want to look off

island for more routes and increased traf�c”

000 Citywing April 13:Layout 1 21/03/2013 15:29 Page 129