One Air responds to rising demand with third freighter
16 / 09 / 2024
Source: One Air
UK-based freighter carrier One Air has added a third Boeing 747-400 freighter to its fleet as it looks to cater for rising demand between Asia and Europe.
The new freighter has joined on a five-year lease from AeroTransCargo and completed its first flight today between Hong Kong and East Midlands Airport in the UK.
One Air said that the freighter offers nose-loading capabilities and can carry up to 124 tonnes as it is an extended range (ER) model.
In support of its third aircraft, One Air has recruited a further 27 flight crew and support staff, taking the total workforce at its UK headquarters to over 125 aviation and cargo professionals.
Paul Bennett, One Air’s chairman & chief executive, said: “Our business case was always based on the high demand we saw for a British cargo airline and this is being borne out by the volume of flights we are operating.
“The arrival of our third 747-400 and its increased capacity and capability will enable us to provide more availability to our growing client base. We are also pressing ahead with our future fleet plans and expect to add at least one more freighter in the first half of 2025 based on our current growth plan.”
The airline has been growing its fleet steadily since it commenced flights with its first 747-400F in July 2023.
The carrier added a second 747 aircraft in November to meet rising demand from China and Hong Kong to Europe.
Meanwhile, it has also moved its UK operating base from Heathrow Airport to East Midlands to benefit from greater slot availability and fewer restrictions around night-time flying.
The airline’s first 12 months of charter operations included flights from airports across the UK, including London Heathrow, London Stansted, East Midlands Airport, Birmingham, Doncaster/Sheffield, Glasgow Prestwick, and Cardiff.
Supporting its client base of freight forwarders, logistics providers, and charter brokers, One Air’s 747s have also served points in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, notably Almaty, Amsterdam, Astana, Châteauroux, Hahn, Hong Kong, Jinan, Larnaca, Maastricht-Aachen, Muscat, Shannon, and Singapore.
Most recently, as well as ad hoc charter flights, One Air has been operating a contract for seven 747F flights a week ex Hong Kong into Europe carrying general cargo.
The carrier is hoping to add a fourth freighter to its line up in the first half of next year.
While the airline has not confirmed which aircraft was under consideration for freighter number four, it has in the past spoken about the possibility of adding 777 freighters to its line up.
Earlier this year, One Air also spoke to Air Cargo News about its efforts to lobby the new UK government to establish a bilateral agreement with the European Union (EU) that would make it easier to source pilots, engineers and maintenance to help it save money and improve efficiency as it strives to grow its operations.
