UK freighter operator One Air is hoping to double its fleet to six aircraft by the end of next year.
The carrier, which launched a year ago, currently operates two converted Boeing 747 freighters and will add a third 747 aircraft, with nose-loading capabilities, by the end of August.
Looking further ahead, the carrier is aiming to add three more aircraft by the end of 2025.
While the airline was not willing to specify which aircraft were under consideration, it has in the past spoken about the possibility of adding 777 freighters to its line up.
One Air chief operating officer Chris Hope said: “The first year of operations for a new airline can be a voyage of discovery. I am delighted to say that at One Air, our first 12 months have seen steady growth as we lay the foundations for our long-term ambitions.
“We greatly appreciate our global sales agency partner, Air One Aviation, for driving demand, and the freight forwarders, charter brokers, and logistics providers for their trust in us as a new airline.
“The arrival of our third aircraft in August will expand our offerings, and by the end of 2025, we hope to have doubled our fleet based on promising growth opportunities.”
The carrier operated its first flight on July 24 2023 carrying a 100 tonne load from Jinan-Shandong in eastern China to London Heathrow.
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.
In total, the airline carried 17,000 tonnes of cargo in its first year of operation.
The production noseloader that will soon be added to the fleet was recently undergoing checks in Indonesia ahead of transportation to Germany for importation registration, after which it will join One Air’s existing two passenger to freighter (P2F) aircraft.
“Reflecting on the past year, what makes me most proud is our amazing team. Our achievements are the result of their extraordinary efforts, often meeting challenges at short notice and in difficult circumstances. We accomplished all this while living by One Air’s values, which were clearly defined when we established the airline,” added Hope.
The airline has, however, faced some challenges with its 747 operations and recently began lobbying the new UK government to establish a bilateral agreement with the European Union (EU) that makes it easier to source pilots, engineers and maintenance to help it save money and improve efficiency as it strives to grow its operations.
One Air commences 747F operations at East Midlands Airport
One Air calls for UK-EU agreement to curb 747 strife
