British cargo airline, One Air, connected 28 global airports in its first year of operations, carrying over 17 million kilos of cargo, and is now preparing to embark on the next phase of its fleet expansion with a third Boeing 747-400F entering service by the end of August.
One Air operated its inaugural flight on 24 July 2023, carrying a 100-tonne payload from Jinan-Shandong in eastern China to London Heathrow. Since then, it has been providing regular weekly full charter capacity linking Asia and Europe as well as for performing ad hoc global charter services.
Key milestones in One Air’s first year of operations saw the addition of a second B747-400F to its fleet in November to support growing demand for cargo capacity ex-China and Hong Kong to Europe, and its decision to make East Midlands Airport a regular origin and destination point in the UK. Establishing a base at East Midlands has enabled One Air to benefit from easier slot availability and fewer restrictions around night flying compared to other airports.
“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,” said Chris Hope, One Air’s Chief Operating Officer. “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.
“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.”
Year one has seen One Air build a team of highly experienced and accomplished aviation and cargo specialists at its UK headquarters. Starting with an initial team of six people, One Air now employs over 115 industry professionals, including pilots which have joined from a host of other global airlines.
