Dart Group

Dart Group PLC (: ) is a holding company based in West Yorkshire, England, for an airline company historically linked with the Channel Islands and a distribution company based in Lincolnshire.

Its head office is located in the Low Fare Finder House on the grounds of Leeds/Bradford Airport, Yeadon, City of Leeds, England. Subsidiary Jet2.com has its head office in the same building.

Its name derives from the type of aircraft (named after its engines) that it first flew.

The company's operations originated in 1971 when Art Carpenter formed two companies: Carpenter's Air Services Ltd to fly flowers using contracted aircraft to the UK mainland from Guernsey; and Carpenter's Transport to distribute the flowers on the UK mainland to wholesale markets. In 1975, these two companies became Express Air Freight.

In 1978, purchased Handley Page Dart Herald aircraft to fly flowers and fresh produce from the Channel Islands to Bournemouth Airport, and consumer goods from the UK via Bournemouth to the Channel Islands. In 1979, the company became Express Air Services and flew contracts for the Royal Mail to the Channel Islands from Bournemouth, Bristol and Liverpool from 1980.

In 1983, the company changed its name to identify with its regional route, becoming three companies under the Channel Express name, which had the air freight, running of the two Dart Herald aircraft, and the distribution within the UK as separate operations. It was purchased in 1983 by Philip Meeson, becoming Channel Express Group. It was split into Aviation Services and Distribution divisions. In 1985 a third Dart Herald aircraft was bought, which flew an overnight parcels service from Birmingham International Airport to Nuremberg and Hanover.

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