Hans Airways, the new British long-haul airline, is reported to have reached significant milestones, taking it closer to realising its plan to start commercial operations in early summer. CEO and founder Satnam Saini has stated that he is extremely encouraged that India re-opened to international scheduled flights on March 26.
Last week the company formally confirmed its January 2022 Letter of Intent for its first Airbus A330-200 (MSN 950) with a committed contract. The aircraft is now in Abu Dhabi where it is undergoing maintenance checks with Etihad Engineering, overseen by a Hans Airways liaison engineer.
Twelve newly recruited cabin crew members start their training at Birmingham and Manchester next week, engaged through the Resource Group and Neeru Prabhakar, former cabin service director/trainer/recruitment at British Airways for 30 years, joined Hans Airways last month.
This follows the completion of pilot training at the end of January - specifically ground school at IAGO Flight Training, Crawley and simulator training at L3 Harris. Ha
“With the loss of flights operated by India's Jet Airways and British inclusive tour operators Thomas Cook and Monarch Airlines, there is room for a third UK airline flying between UK and India (complementing British Airways and Virgin Atlantic.) All of us are working exceptionally hard and on schedule to be that third UK designated carrier,” commented Barry Humphries, CBE, Hans Airways’ Board Director and former head of air services policy at the UK Civil Aviation Authority.
Hans Airways submitted its UK AOC application in March 2020, following extensive discussions with the UK Civil Aviation Authority and Department for Transport.
New Lufthansa flights to Rio and San Diego; relaunch of flights to Bangkok
For the first time, non-stop from Munich to Rio de Janeiro and San Diego, and also again to Bangkok: Lufthansa is offering a long-haul program from Munich this summer. Mumbai, Toronto and Washington are also back on the flight schedule after an extended break. Now, the intercontinental network from Munich features 21 destinations, ten more than in 2021. The flights are operated by Airbus A350.