UK supplemental carrier British World Airlines has contracted with Classic Airways and the Independent Aviation Group (IAG) to operate L-1011 Tristars from August this year.
British World operates its own fleet of BAC 1-ll, ATP, ATR and Viscount aircraft and also provides an AOC and operations service for Debonair, the low-cost carrier.
Says Mike Sessions, British World's sales director: "We were approached by Classic and IAG and were able to provide the operational expertise and certification needs for start-up. "The first aircraft is likely to be based at London Stansted airport and we are already undertaking flight and cabin crew recruitment and training."
IAG director Dave Smith says that Classic Airways' main business would be providing back-up facilities for scheduled and charter carriers in Europe, explaining that the TriStars will be a quality product configured in two sections with 12 business class and about 330 economy seats.
"We are repeatedly seeing a major shortage of stand-by aircraft in Europe," he says, "and our Tristars are likely to be acquired from TWA or Delta." The aircraft will spend much of the time wet-leased to continental carriers and will be placed with US airlines in the winter.
Source: Flight Daily News
