RYSZARD JAXA-MALACHOWSKI / WARSAW
Polish start-up Silesian Air is finalising its licence and approval process as it prepares to launch regional operations with a Let L-410.
The airline was set up last November by regional investors, including local authorities and the Upper Silesian aviation society, to provide regional passenger and cargo services from the southern industrial city of Katowice. It is in the final stage of certification with a September launch date.
Silesian has a single L-410 for passenger services, but also flies a Piper Chieftain. Four Raytheon Beech 1900Ds will be leased by the end of this year, enabling the airline to accelerate network development.
Planned domestic routes include Lodz, Poznan, Szczecin and Wroclaw. The airline aims to operate flights to Dortmund, Monchengladbach and Rotterdam, and is eyeing Antwerp, Augsburg and Brussels Charleroi. Expansion will include flights to northern Slovakia, following an agreement with Zylina Airport.
The airline may be unable to negotiate an agreement with LOT Polish Airlines to operate direct cross-country connections such as Katowice to Gdansk, as LOT wants to maintain connections via its Warsaw hub.
Source: Flight International
