Cargo airline West Atlantic UK joins Airlines UK

March 8th, 2018

West Atlantic UK – a trusted supplier of dedicated cargo aircraft solutions to the Express Parcel and Integrated logistics industry – has become the latest member of Airlines UK, the industry body that represents UK-registered carriers.

West Atlantic UK Limited is a UK-registered company based at East Midlands airport, and currently operates seventeen Boeing 737 aircraft. With expansion plans in place, the company expects to be operating 22 aircraft of this type, both Classic and New Generation models, by the end of 2018.

Holding company West Atlantic Group was created in 2008 through the merger of two of Europe’s most established independent cargo airlines, West Air Europe of Sweden and Atlantic Airlines of the UK. The merged entity is Europe’s largest cargo airline and most experienced provider of unique, integrated Ground to Air logistics for the Mail Industry. They are providers of complete turnkey cargo aircraft solutions, have an annual turnover in excess of 150 Million Euros, and employ some 500 staff to operate a fleet in excess of 50 aircraft.

Airlines UK is the trade body for UK-registered airlines and other carriers with a UK operation – with members representing all sectors of the industry. Our thirteen members are: British Airways, CargoLogicAir, DHL, easyJet, Flybe, Jet2.com, Norwegian UK, Ryanair, Thomas Cook, Thomson Airways, Titan Airways, Virgin Atlantic and West Atlantic UK. The association works with governments, regulators and legislators to promote the interests of UK airlines, and with organisations across the sector to encourage long-term and sustainable growth in aviation. It formulates opinions and engages with stakeholders on a number of issues, including Brexit, airport capacity, taxation, sustainable aviation, disruptive passengers and regulation and consumer protection.

Tim Alderslade, Chief Executive of Airlines UK, said: “We’re pleased to be welcoming another dedicated cargo operator into the Airlines UK membership, and this will strengthen our message and voice on this most important of sectors, which adds so much to the UK both in terms of economic contribution and social value. As the association that advocates on behalf of UK-registered carriers we want to represent all parts of our industry – whether that’s cargo, low-cost, legacy or tour operator – and joining up with West Atlantic, the largest cargo airline in Europe, will add an extra string to our bow and better enable us to advocate on the things that matter to our members.”

Nigel Hiorns, Managing Director of West Atlantic UK Limited, said: “We are looking forward to being a part of the Airlines UK membership team and working closely with the other UK Operators and sharing our voice at a sensitive time for protection and sustainability of the UK aviation sector. West Atlantic UK plays an important role in vital overnight delivery of important mail, e-commerce product and other important material to a vast amount of UK businesses both in and out of the UK, so we hope the addition of our membership will further strengthen the representation and influence needed to ensure that we, and all other UK carriers are acknowledged as a very important part of UK business.”