UK real estate investment and distribution company Bance Group is to launch an international carrier that will initially operate between London Heathrow and India using a fleet of leased Boeing 777s.
The company’s chairman Dave Bance says the airline, to be called Bance Air, aims to obtain its air operator’s certificate and begin services by the end of this year.
Bance does not say how many 777s the carrier will operate, or from where they will be leased. “We plan to launch our airline initially to various routes in India for the first year and then add routes to other countries,” says Bance. “We will be launching one flight per day, first with a particular sector, and will then increase our flight frequency per day and week on other sectors.”
Bance Air’s long-term plan is to become an international airline with other-country routes within three years, specialising in point-to-point travel, adds the chairman. It will also “look very closely” at the cargo sector.
The start-up will not be a “no-frills” airline, says Bance, and instead aims to offer in-flight entertainment that is “as good as our international competitors”.
Bance Group has invested an initial £23 million ($40 million) in the airline and is seeking further investment from external sources.
KERRY EZARD / LONDON
Source: Flight International
