RAVENAIR started life as a flying school at Manchester Airport in the early 1980s, founded by the company's current MD, Jeff Nuttall. Through the 1980s and 1990s the company expanded into other sectors of general aviation, including air charter and aircraft engineering.

In the summer of 1998 the company transferred its main operations base from Manchester to Liverpool Airport due to the imminent construction of the second runway at Manchester Airport, which resulted in the closure and relocation of all South Side based general aviation facilities.

Today Ravenair operates from their newly constructed Business Aviation Centre at Liverpool John Lennon Airport. Opened in January 2002, the purpose built unit is a one-stop facility for general and business aviation users of the airport and incorporates a VIP Passenger Lounge, Operations Centre and Conference Rooms. The company operates the General Aviation Site as lead tenant on behalf of the airport company. A second hangar complex was opened in 2004, with a third building planned to be completed within the next two years; this will increase the Business Aviation Centre to a combined footprint of 51,000 sq.ft.

Ravenair's associate company, Liverpool Aviation Services (LAS) was formed to compliment existing business users and customers. Operating from the Business Aviation Centre, LAS provides General and Business Aviation Handling at Liverpool John Lennon Airport and a brokerage service to fulfill customer requirements that cannot be flown by the in-house fleet.

Ravenair maintains an air charter presence at Manchester Airport, basing one or more aircraft there subject to customer requirements. The company has earned a reputation for its quick response times and ensuring that the job gets done in a safe, timely and cost effective manner.

The Ravenair Flying School offers the highest professional standards with many years of experience providing flying training from the basic private pilot's license to advanced commercial licenses. The company presently holds more CAA and EASA training approvals than any other North-West organisation. Now centred at Liverpool John Lennon Airport, the Flying School continues to expand as new courses are introduced.

In May 2005 Ravenair acquired The Manx Flyers Aero Club based on the Isle of Man, this acquisition was followed in July by the opening of a new flying training base at Manchester's general aviation airfield at Barton.

Ravenair presently operates a fleet of 28 aircraft.