Start-up carrier Hans Airways has moved closer to the launch of flights between the UK and India, with the completion of route proving and familiarisation flights.
The airline’s A330-200 (registration G-KJAS) operated a two-hour flight to and from Birmingham airport with 100 guests on board, as part of route proving requirements for the UK Civil Aviation Authority.
In addition Hans Airways has completed a familiarisation test flight replicating a full-service offering with 55 guests, taking off from Birmingham and landing at Glasgow Prestwick, Doncaster, back to Prestwick, before finally returning to Birmingham.
The carrier now awaits the granting of its UK Air Operator’s Certificate, at which point it will apply to India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation for its licence to fly from India.
It hopes to be able to launch flights between Birmingham and Amritsar in northern India from October.
As previously reported Hans Airways wants to build a network of flights between Birmingham and secondary Indian cities, initially using an A330-200 configured in a two-cabin layout, with 274 economy seats offering a 31-inch seat pitch, and 24 premium economy seats with a pitch of 56 inches.
Commenting on the news chief commercial officer Martin Dunn, said:
“This week was a very significant one in the Hans Airways’ journey. We are now really looking forward to pro-active engagement with the travel trade community.”
