UK start-up Anglia Airways could begin operations as soon as this winter if it is able to secure shareholder funding for a suitable aircraft.
"With the concept we have in mind, a winter start with one aircraft could be feasible," managing director John Sturgeon told Flightglobal at the Routes Europe event in Aberdeen, Scotland.
The executive says the airline will seek to develop links from the UK region of East Anglia, as he is "not well impressed" with the current levels of connectivity.
To be based in either Norwich or Cambridge, Anglia Airways will target business traffic and demand from the "upmarket tourism" sector for inter-regional services to destinations in nations such as France, Switzerland, Ireland and Austria.
Having recently dismissed the idea of operating with an Embraer ERJ-145 jet, Sturgeon is looking to lease a turboprop with 34- to 50-seat capacity such as a Saab 340, Dornier 328, ATR 42 or Fokker 50 – but the "problem", he says, is that these aircraft types are now "getting on".
He adds: "There are still good-quality aircraft out there, very serviceable aircraft with a lot of life left in them, but the question remains – what will replace them eventually?"
Sturgeon says Anglia Airways could grow its fleet to three aircraft within a year of beginning operations.
Source: Cirium Dashboard
