City Bird has been created recently (in the late nineties) probably in response of the new direct charter route opened by Sobelair (with its 767-300ERs) - for tour operator Jet Air - from Brussels to various Caribbean destinations (Dominican Republic being the first big hit in the mid nineties). The Belgian tour operating market used, up to recent times, the services of Martinair, Holland, the charter subsidiary of KLM. They still do for a part of the long haul flights. But the creation of City Bird could present an alternative carrier for some other tour operators without bringing the people as far as Amsterdam (a long haul flight is already enough tiring on its own).

Whatever the reason, they keep on steadily with their green MD 11 (OO-CTB, "Albatros", see below) to the Caribbean and decided to expand their business to other activities and to grow rapidly. They added scheduled flights to the far west (at least Oakland and Los Angeles). They also agreed with Sabena on common affairs to North (Newark) and South America, the situation being till 2000/2001 that City Bird operated a few Sabena's MD 11s (OO-CTC and OO-CTS) under full Sabena colors (only a small sticker on the nose show it's a City Bird operation). As a matter of fact, I think they were City Bird's property, leased to Sabena and sent back to City Bird for operations !?!

They have two (and then more) 767-300ERs as well (see below for OO-CTQ, "Falcon"). One of them (OO-CTR) wears a white livery and flies regularly for Luxair to an American route. CTA, seems to have been flying for Vietnam airlines to Paris. CTR being used for spare parts after a while !?!?!

The press related another big hit of the company which has taken over the rights of former Air Zaire. Whoever flies, City Bird had the operation rights. But there has rapidly been an conflict. Apparently, Sabena has been upset by this sudden intruder on one of its "home" market and thinks of not renewing leasing agreements for the two MD-11s.. On the other hand, City Bird seems to have rapidly got in trouble with the Congolese authority and flights stopped after a few months.

Noone in Belgium has missed their job advertisement for Airbus A300 pilots and the first A300-600 cargo has been visible for a while at the Liege airport ("Bierset") which is its home airport (look for OO-CTT and OO-CTU) as well as at Brussels cargo airport (Melsbroek). See below.

In 2000, various sources, including the company itself, tell that the company abandon scheduled flights to California (LAX and SFO) to concentrate on cargo and charter flights, more profitable. Only Miami got preserved but will maybe be forgotten as well. Boeing 737s (400s and 800s) were acquired like OO-CTW, "Woodpecker" and OO-CTV, "swallow" (see below), CTG and CTX ("Peacock"), since Dec. 20 '99. The 800s (like 00-CYI, see below, CYN and CYS) started to be delivered in 2001. This makes City Bird the first Belgian company operating the new generation 737s.

But, at the beginning of summer 2001, heavy clouds came to hang above the company's finances (Dollar value versus Euro value ?) and drastic managerial decisions were taken again : concentration on short medium/haul flights, abandonning and cargo (!!!) and (charter) long haul trips. On July 4th '01, the company had to request "judcial composition" (in other words, under Belgian law, you have an short term agreement with justice freezing your debts for a while, giving the company a little time to implement longer term solutions). Personnel restrictions on their way, as well. To be followed, for sure...

Finally, one cannot totally forget Virgin Express when one speaks about City Bird (for long, I just considered them as the long haul Belgian Virgin's sister company), City Bird's two Ceo's being in charge of the charter flights department of this other company (directly connected to City hotels). One of them is TEA's founder and ex-Ceo, Georges Gutelman.

We will not forget to mention that City Bird, just as TEA (earlier) under the same leadeship did expand to the international market with at least a French Subsidiary City Bird France. Saw some 737 (probably OO-CTG, reregistered F-CLTG),  at Liège Bierset in 2001.

The company went bankrupt on October 4th '01 blown away in the "after Sept. 11th hurricane".
 
 

	OO-CTB, City Bird MD 11 "Albatros" at Brussels (BRU) on Sept. 25th '99, just after pushback, ready to start to the Caribbean. Since mid '01 stored at Abbotsford in Canada.
	OO-CTB, the same, taking off from Brussels (runway 25R) on Feb. 12th '00.
	OO-CTQ, City Bird Boeing 767-300ER "Falcon" (1998) at Brussels (BRU) touching down on runway 25L. Since March 2000 gone to Ansett Worldwide Aviation and immediately further to Hokkaido International Airlines as JA01HD.
	OO-CTQ, City Bird 767-300ER approaching runway 25L in september '99.
	OO-CTQ, City Bird Boeing 767-300ER at Brussels (BRU) in final for runway 25L, coming from Ciego de Avila (Cuba). According to reliable sources (thanks, Jan !) this aircraft has left the fleet n 2001.
	OO-CTX, CityBird Boeing 737-300 (1987), just quitting parking place at Brussels, March 17th '01. Close to the round terminal. You can see the 25L/07R (first runway you see on the "fore background") and 02/20 (further away) in the background. My first picture of a CTB medium haul aircraft. This one has mainly served for Air Holland in its anterior life (PH-OZA).
	OO-CTW, City Bird 737-400, "Woodpecker" (1998), approaching rwy 20 (rare !) at Brussels on Aug. 18th '01. The plane has been TC-IAB, N284CD, not to say, N464PR.
	OO-CTV, "swallow" 737-400 (1998) as well; in same circumstances, a short while before of after her sistership. Has been TC-IAA and N463PR (+N283CD). Parallel ways for these two aircraft.
	OO-CYI, 737-800, "Ibis" with "Next generation" title (thought it was "new gen"), same time, same place. Delivered on May 15th '01.
	City Bird 737-300 landing on 25L on April 29th 01, Brussels.
	OO-CTU, City Bird A300-600 (A300-C4) freighter, "Toucan" at Liège airport (LGG), her home base, in spring 2001.