A new start-up carrier, HiAir, plans to offer a weekday service between Doncaster Sheffield and Amsterdam for a two month period this autumn, with the view to launching the link on a permanent basis. The virtual airline will operate a single 19-seat BAe Jetstream 32 on the route from September 5 until the end of the Northern Summer schedules at the end of October, when a decision will be taken whether to continue the route on a permanent basis.
HiAir is backed by young Lincoln-based entrepreneur, Joseph Hayat, who has already successfully established a corporate travel business. His co-director, Ben King, said: “We bring fresh ideas and energy to the industry and seek to awaken the glamour previously associated with aviation through our ambition to deliver outstanding levels of customer service”.
The airline’s schedule will mainly target UK-based business travellers with the aircraft departing Doncaster Sheffield at 07:30 in the morning and returning from the Dutch capital at 18:40 in the evening. It is advertising single fares between £147.50 and £157.50. The route was previously served for a short period of time by easyJet and during the 2010 calendar year 40,692 passengers travelled between the two airports, according to official CAA traffic data.
“We know from past experience that Amsterdam is a destination that businesses in particular are keen to see served from this airport and we hope that interest from passengers will see this service come to fruition later in the year,” added Mike Morton, Airport Director, Doncaster Sheffield.
HiAir has yet to confirm its operational partner for the route. As a virtual carrier it will need to ‘piggy-back’ on the Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) of a licenced airline.
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