JOTA Aviation (London Southend) has gone into voluntary liquidation after it suspended operations from London Biggin Hill in April 2022.

According to a company notice, Joshua James Dwyer and David John Pike from Interpath Advisory were appointed on May 19 as joint liquidators of the former charter specialist.

JOTA Aviation still has a valid UK Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) according to the May 2022 updated list by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (AOC Number 2376) with approvals for BAe 146-200, BAe 146-300, ARJ100, and ARJ85 regional jets.

Its only remaining aircraft - one ARJ-100, G-JOTS (msn E3355) and one ARJ85, G-JOTR (msn E2294) - both owned by subsidiary JOTA Aircraft Leasing remain stored at Cranfield, the ch-aviation fleets module reveals.

As reported, the airline operated its last revenue flight on April 10, 2022. JOTA Aviation had specialised in sports charters - notably UK Premier League football clubs and other professional sports clubs. It also operated other passenger charters and cargo operations, including an airbridge between Birmingham, GB and Ostend to bypass Brexit-induced traffic jams around the English Channel.

Its demise is being blamed on a combination of COVID-19 reduced passenger travel and the impact on its cargo business of the post-Brexit Trade and Co-operation Agreement between the UK and the European Union.

Joint liquidator and Interpath Managing Director Joshua Dwyer explained to Air Cargo Week: "Regrettably, the combined effects of COVID-19, the impact of Brexit on the company's operations, and the uncertain economic conditions in the UK and Europe have had a profound impact on the company's ability to secure new investment and ultimately, continue to operate as a going concern. The company's liquidation highlights the continuing challenges facing operators in the civil aviation sector as they navigate a route to recovery. Our priority now is to assist the company's employees in making redundancy claims from the government redundancy payments service and to realise remaining assets for the benefit of creditors".