The CityJet logo showcases its Dublin roots and Irish heritage, highlighting its function as a European regional connector. The design represents the airline’s commitment to convenient, efficient travel for business travelers and tourists. It connects cities with a network that supports vibrant cultural and economic exchanges. The emblem signifies the airline’s dedication to personalized service, resonating with the warm and hospitable nature traditionally associated with Ireland.
CityJet was founded in 1992 in Swords, near Dublin, by Irish entrepreneur Pat Byrne. The airline was built around regional traffic between Ireland and the United Kingdom, with Dublin-London City Airport as its main early route. London City served business travel in the British capital and required aircraft suited to short runways and steep approaches.
The first commercial flight took place in 1993 on the Dublin-to-London City route. This service defined much of CityJet’s early market position. The airline worked in a narrow but competitive segment, facing British Airways CityFlyer, the regional division of British Airways, which was also developing flights through London City Airport.
During the 1990s, CityJet expanded beyond its original Irish and British focus, adding routes to continental Europe and growing its regional jet fleet. In 2000, Air France acquired the airline and brought it into its network of regional and partner carriers. CityJet retained its name while operating flights between Ireland, the United Kingdom, and several European destinations under the broader structure of the French airline group.
In May 2014, Air France sold CityJet to Intro Aviation, a German investment company with interests in aviation assets. In March 2016, Pat Byrne returned with private investors and bought the airline back. In 2017, CityJet changed its business model, moving away from scheduled passenger flights under its own brand and focusing on wet lease and charter work. Scandinavian Airlines became one of its main partners, using CityJet aircraft, crews, maintenance, and insurance for European regional services.
Meaning and History
What is CityJet?
It is an Irish regional airline based in Dublin. It operates a network of regional flights throughout Europe, focusing on providing efficient and reliable air transportation. The company offers scheduled flights and wet leases to other airlines, allowing aircraft and crews to operate flights on their behalf. The fleet consists mainly of regional aircraft suitable for short and medium-haul routes.
1992 – 2007
CityJet, founded in 1992 and actively operating until 2007, chose a particularly vibrant and symbolic name for its logo. It is visually and conceptually divided into two parts by different colors: blue and green. The division of the name is intentional. Blue in the word “City” represents London, the capital of the United Kingdom, a regular destination for the company’s flights, while green in “Jet” reflects the company’s Irish roots and Ireland’s national color, with Dublin among its key destinations.
The logo’s color scheme emphasizes the sky and the green expanses of the United Kingdom, skillfully highlighting the airline’s connection to these regions. The choice of fonts carries deep meaning: a strict, straightforward font for “City” reflects the businesslike, solid character of London, while the font for “Jet” is in the style of Gaelic script, symbolizing Irish freedom and casualness.
CityJet was initially registered as Business City Direct, but it operated under the Virgin CityJet brand, which required it to pay royalties to the Virgin Group. This arrangement allowed it to use a widely recognized brand to attract customers. The term “Jet” in the logo, while part of the aviation lexicon associated with jet engines, underscores the company’s focus on fast, convenient flights between major cities. This name reflects the company’s mission to provide efficient, comfortable air travel between key urban centers.
2007 – 2015
In 2007, after Air France became the new owner, significant changes were made to CityJet’s branding and route network. The expansion of flights to London and other major European cities required a revision of the corporate style, reflected in changes to the company’s color palette and fonts.
The new logo design features uppercase text with a more modern, cohesive appearance. The smooth lines of the letters suggest the fluidity of flight and emphasize the company’s commitment to maximum comfort on board. The use of uppercase letters in the logo deliberately highlights the company’s focus on travel between major cities, underscored by the blue color of “City.”
The word “Jet” in the logo is now set in a light coffee color, adding an airy, lively feel to the image. This color complements the concept of business travel and underscores the company’s reliability in adhering to schedules and swiftly moving passengers.
The logo is completed with the red letter “J,” stylized as an airplane taking off on a runway. This element adds dynamism to the logo and serves as a vivid accent, symbolizing speed and active development. It represents CityJet’s commitment to innovation and continuous service improvement, making the brand even more attractive and memorable among competitors.
2015 – today
CITYJET’s logo, used since 2005, displays the word “CITYJET” in bold, italicized capital letters. This design creates an impression of movement, suggesting speed and efficiency. The logo uses three colors: dark gray for “CITY,” maroon for the top half of the “J,” and beige for the rest of the “J.” Some letters are connected, like “T” merging with “Y” and “E” merging with “T.”
The bold, italicized font shows motion and speed, key aspects of the airline. The different colors add depth and make the logo more interesting. The connected letters symbolize unity and cohesion, which are important for safety and reliability in aviation.
The dark gray color of “CITY” suggests strength and professionalism. The maroon top of the “J” adds elegance, while the beige bottom of the “J” adds warmth. These colors create a balanced and appealing look.
The unique connections between letters make the logo fluid and emphasize seamless travel, reflecting the airline’s dedication to a smooth passenger experience.




