Herman De Wulf/BRUSSELS
Dutch Bird, a new charter airline based in the Netherlands, is preparing to launch flights in November with the first of three Boeing 757-200s leased from Condor Flugdienst.
The airline is headed by Dutch businessman Hans Mosselman, who owns Dutch travel agency and tour operator Sud Tours. Based at Amsterdam Schiphol, Dutch Bird has secured an initial batch of 340 take-off slots at the airport.
Dutch Bird will operate around half of Sud Tours' flying programme next year, serving holiday destinations around the Mediterranean, the Red Sea and the Canary Islands. Sud Tours will continue to use other Dutch charter airlines Martinair, Transavia and Air Holland.
The airline will also fly for tour operators Neckermann (sister company of Condor), NBBS and Dutch Leisure Group, as well as offering ad hoc charters.
Dutch Bird's management team is made up of aviation veterans with KLM, Air Holland and LTU backgrounds, and is headed by managing director Jan Heppener, the former boss of Air Holland.
The first Boeing 757-200 will be delivered on lease from Condor in November, followed by a second in March and a third in May.
Source: Flight International
