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One Air flies the flag for Britain

[ April 24, 2023   //   ]

The UK has a new cargo airline operating a Boeing 747-400 freighter, after the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) granted an Air Operators’ Certificate to One Air. After successfully completing its proving flight in July 2022, the new airline iexpects initial demand for flights from the UK to Europe, the Middle East and Asia. It will also ultimately offer freighter services to China and the US.

One Air has dry leased its first freighter and is now the only UK operator of the B747 and it plans to add a second B747-400 during 2023. Headquartered in Kingston, close to London Heathrow, One Air has recruited a team of 90 air cargo and aviation professionals, and a 40-strong air crew with pilots recruited from Cathay Pacific, Emirates Airline, Norwegian Airlines, and other major carriers.

One Air is majority-owned by CEO, Paul Bennett, who stated: “The important role freighter services played in supporting the UK economy and the public throughout the pandemic demonstrated the level of demand which exists for a British cargo airline. We are proud to be meeting this need and to have the opportunity to leverage longstanding business relationships with freight forwarders, logistics providers, and charter brokers serving the UK market. We expect to add our second 747F later this year and have the financial resources to grow in line with the level of demand we see.”

The airline will review its fleet plans, including the potential for other aircraft types, later in the year.

Chris Hope has joined One Air as chief operating officer and accountable manager, bringing 35 years’ previous experience.

He said: “I am delighted to have been given this opportunity to join the leadership team behind this exciting new venture. One Air has a forward-thinking and customer-centric approach and we will use our entrepreneurial spirit and resources to grow sustainably. We will be supporting British businesses and the UK economy, starting with the 90 direct jobs in our own organisation and the countless secondary jobs we are creating with our partners and suppliers.

“Over the past two years, the cargo market in the UK has clearly shown resilience in the face of unprecedented disruption to the aviation industry. Now the industry is entering a new phase of recovery and growth and we look forward to being at the heart of this.”

Jon Hartley and David Tattersall have also been recruited as chief financial officer and chief technical officer respectively.

One Air has appointed Air One Aviation as its first Global Sales Agency, while Dnata will act as the airline’s handling agent in London Heathrow.

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