Founded in 2005 by two Royal Air Force pilots, 2Excel has grown from five people and four aerobatic aircraft to more than 300 people and a fleet of 30.

With an annual turnover of more than £40m, the rapid growth of the company’s business lines and capabilities has enabled 2Excel to become an emerging force in the market, successfully bidding for and winning contracts against much larger competitors.

With locations at Sywell Aerodrome, Stansted Airport, Doncaster, Humberside Airport, Southend Airport and Lasham Airfield, 2Excel’s customers include Government Departments, the defence and oil industries, airlines and airline brokers.

Timeline

2005

  • RAF pilots Andy Offer and Chris Norton launch 2Excel

2006

  • The Blades Formation Aerobatic Display Team is formed, becoming the world’s only ‘aerobatic airline’

2008

  • 2Excel develops a surveillance-drone and air-land integration service for the British Army

2009

  • Development test and evaluation flying is introduced

2010

  • Air charter operator 2Excel Broadsword is launched

2013

  • The Boeing 727 aerial dispersant business unit is created

2015

  • 2Excel secures a £14m loan to fund growth
  • 2Excel takes over the aircraft maintenance company ATC Lasham and establishes 2Excel Engineering

2016

  • 2Excel Aviation is granted a Type A Operating Licence
  • 2Excel Engineering gains an Approval for Boeing 757 series aircraft

2017

  • The Blades win the inaugural World Formation Aerobatic Championships and The Blades Race Team is formed

2018

  • The Employees Ownership Trust for 2Excel Aviation is established
  • 2Excel Broadsword’s Boeing 737 charter operations begin
  • 2Excel Engineering gains an Approval for Airbus A320 series aircraft, doubles productivity and becomes profitable

2019

  • 2Excel is contracted by Leonardo to provide a Flight Test Aircraft to the Royal Air Force’s Team Tempest future jet fighter programme
  • In November, 2Excel launches a bespoke five-year surveillance service and aircraft concept for the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) to support a variety of ocean-based requirements, including search and rescue

2021

  • 2Excel teams up with JD2E team to land three-year contract to train airborne Intelligence Surveillance
    Reconnaissance Operators for the UK Ministry of Defence

2022

  • 2Excel is retained as chosen delivery partner to operate oil spill spotter aircraft on behalf of Oil Spill Response Limited (OSRL) for another three years, with an optional extension of up to two years, to commence on 1 January 2023
  • 2Excel welcomed by RAF Charitable Trust as a Royal International Air Tattoo partner
  • 2Excel, as part of a consortium with Bristow Helicopters Ltd and Nova Systems, awarded Second Generation Search and Rescue contract by Maritime and Coastguard Agency
  • 2Excel Engineering adds Airbus A320 NEO family to its MRO certificate

2023

  • Closure of The Blades aerobatic team is announced
  • 2Excel Aviation pledges its support to the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme
  • 2Excel, as part of a consortium with Bristow Helicopters Ireland, will provide fixed-wing search & rescue operations from Shannon Airport on behalf of the Irish Coast Guard in a ten-year contract to commence in late 2024