An Isle of Man-based air operator is set to be formally wound up - almost a decade after it first went into liquidation.

Citywing Aviation Services was established in 2012 following a management buy-out of Manx2.com, selling tickets for flights to Belfast, Blackpool, Gloucester, Glasgow and Newcastle, and between Cardiff and Anglesey.

But in March 2017, its directors cancelled all flights and announced the company was entering liquidation.

Now, nearly 10 years later, the process is approaching its conclusion.

A general meeting of the company in liquidation, followed 30 minutes later by a meeting of creditors, will take place on December 11 at Queen Victoria House on Victoria Street, Douglas.

The meetings mark a final stage in proceedings that began following the sudden loss of services in March 2017. They will provide creditors with an account of the liquidation before the remaining arrangements for the company’s records are considered at those meetings.

Liquidator Craig Mitchell will present accounts and a report explaining how the winding-up has been conducted.

An extraordinary resolution will determine how the books, accounts and documents belonging to the company and liquidator are disposed of.

Like its predecessor Manx2, Citywing operated as a ‘virtual’ airline, selling tickets for services actually flown by another carrier.

Its collapse followed the loss of route licences by its operating partner, Czech carrier Van Air Europe, after the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) investigated an incident during Storm Doris in February 2017.

A Citywing flight bound for Belfast was forced to return to Ronaldsway as weather conditions deteriorated.

It landed safely, with passengers taken by bus to the terminal while fire appliances sheltered the aircraft from high winds. Both runways were closed until the winds eased and the stranded plane could be moved.

The CAA concluded that the principal cause of the serious incident was the decision to land in a maximum crosswind of 40 knots, around twice the maximum certified value for Van Air’s Let L-410 aircraft.

It also found the crew lacked sufficient information to assess prevailing weather conditions en route and the storm’s path.

Announcing the company’s closure, Citywing’s directors said: ‘The company has tried to offer a service whilst suffering considerable losses but these have proved unfortunately to be commercially unsustainable.

‘This decision has not been taken lightly and has been made to protect creditors.

‘On behalf of all at Citywing, we all apologise for the inconvenience caused and thank you all for your support over the last four years.’

Citywing Aviation Services was incorporated in August 2012 with three directors: Noel Hayes, David Buck and Jan Wozniak.

When it collapsed, the company had assets of £805,500 after deductions to secured creditors. It owed £79,573 to preferred creditors and £1.3m to unsecured creditors.

The latest liquidator accounts filed show realisations totalling £971,544 and disbursements of £247,813, leaving a balance of £723,730.

The company’s general meeting will begin at 9.30am on December 11, followed by the creditors’ meeting at 10am.

Creditors entitled to attend and vote can appoint a proxy to represent them.