Start-Up Long-Haul Carrier to Begin Service by Early Summer

Hans Airways, a new long-haul carrier, plans to begin service to India in the early summer.

Satnam Saini, the company’s founder and CEO, expressed optimism after India reopened to international scheduled flights last weekend.

A Hans Airways liaison engineer is overseeing the newcomer’s first Airbus A330 maintenance inspections with Etihad Engineering in Abu Dhabi.

Hans Airways is now hoping to get a proving flight date from the Civil Aviation Authority as soon as possible. The achievement of this operational milestone will pave the way for the acquisition of an Air Operator’s Certificate.

Following “intensive discussions” with the aviation regulator and the Department for Transport, the airline submitted their UK AOC application in March 2020.

Next Monday, twelve newly hired cabin crew members will begin training in Birmingham and Manchester.

Neeru Prabhakar, a 30-year veteran of British Airways’ cabin service department, just joined Hans Airways.

The firm hired a flight crew with expertise on low-cost, legacy, and regional airlines to finish pilot training at the end of January.

Hans Airways board director and former CAA head of air services policy Barry Humphries said:

“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.”