Inaugural Flight Marks Debut of New UK Freight Carrier
UK-based freighter operator One Air is preparing for the arrival of its second Boeing 747 freighter shortly after carrying out its inaugural flight.
The inaugural commercial flight carrying 100 tonnes landed at Heathrow last night and was a full charter for client Shandong Glory between the UK and Jinan-Shandong.
The second freighter is expected to be added before the end of the year.
One Air’s chief operating officer Chris Hope said: “This is a landmark day for One Air and all our team and partners in the UK, who have worked so hard to prepare for our successful launch since the awarding of our AOC by the UK Civil Aviation Authority.
“As well as ad hoc charter flights, we are now also commencing a regular flying programme from Asia Pacific to Europe with two 747F flights per week.
“Work is also underway to add a second 747F to our fleet, which we hope will enter service in early fourth quarter. We are delighted to be open for business.”
One Air anticipates regular demand for flights from the UK to Europe, the Middle East, and Asia regions, with services to China and the US to follow.
“It is a proud day for us to operate our first customer flight and marks the start of our strategic development plan to build One Air’s reputation with clients in prime air cargo markets around the world,” said One Air chief executive Paul Bennett.
One Air is the only UK operator of the Boeing 747 with its dry-leased B747-400SF.
The company employs 100 people at its headquarters near London Heathrow.
Shandong Glory general manager Jacky Wu added: “We are proud to have shared this milestone with One Air and thank everyone connected with the flight from China for a highly efficient operation and customer experience.
“It is pleasing to see a new British cargo airline take to the air and we wish One Air great success as it works to establish its place in the global market.”
The carrier was in June granted a foreign air carrier permit by the US Department of Transportation (DoT) to carry out flights to the US.
The permit included a waiver of the DoT’s ownership and control policy given that the airline is British but 49% owned by Indian citizen Guneet Mirchandani.
The other 51% of the company is owned by Bennett.
Mirchandani also holds a 49% share of Moldovan cargo airline Aerotranscargo SRL; an 80% share of UK broker Air One Aviation; and 100% of UAE-based lessor AeroTransCargo FZE.
Bennett holds a 20% share of Air One Aviation.
In its DoT application the carrier said that it also hoped to add a Boeing 777 frieghter to its fleet in the future.