SolitAir, the UAE-based B2B freight carrier, has been granted Third Country Operator certification by the UK Civil Aviation Authority, authorising the airline to operate flights to and from UK airspace.
The Dubai-headquartered airline announced the certification on July 22, describing it as a product of the UK’s post-Brexit regulatory framework, through which British authorities assess whether non-UK carriers meet the country’s safety and operational standards before permitting access to UK airspace.
“The UK CAA TCO certification is an important milestone for SolitAir and it is the product of a great deal of work by our team to meet one of the most rigorous regulatory standards in global aviation. The UK is an important trade partner to the GCC states and this certification clears the path for SolitAir to become an important air cargo player in this lucrative corridor,” Hamdi Osman, Founder & CEO of SolitAir said in a statement.
The UK clearance adds to a regulatory portfolio that already includes a UAE GCAA Air Operator Certificate, EASA Third Country Operator authorisation covering the EU, and an ACC3 designation enabling secure cargo access into Europe. Together, the approvals give SolitAir operating rights across two of aviation’s most tightly regulated markets.
SolitAir currently serves 56 routes across 34 countries, including a 17-city African network. The carrier recently added Sofia, Bulgaria as its first EU destination, and has since announced a third China route to Jinan.
The fleet comprises seven Boeing 737-800BCF/SF freighters, each with a 20-tonne capacity, operating from a 20,440 sqm hub at Dubai World Central’s Al Maktoum International Airport.
