Air taxi start-up Waves Technologies has secured approval from the European Aviation Safety Agency to provide commercial flights from its base in the Channel Islands to the UK and mainland Europe.
The award, known as third country operator (TCO) approval, comes three months after the Guernsey-headquartered venture launched services.
Waves offers a per-seat, on-demand service connecting Alderney, Guernsey and Jersey using a Cessna Grand Caravan single-engined turboprop (2-CREW).
Waves Technologies
Waves director of aviation Matt Bisson describes the TCO award as “an important milestone for the company”, allowing it to exploit the growing demand for charter services, particularly to northern France which he says “is an important tourism and business destination for Channel Islanders".
Waves will expand its Caravan fleet as demand grows, and is also seeking to add large-cabin types to serve longer routes, Bisson says.
Since launching its register in 2013, Guernsey has added 142 aircraft, of which only nine are operated commercially. It says applications for a further two air operator certificates are pending, one of which is for Channel Jets, which plans to launch services this year with an Eclipse EA500 very light jet.
Source: Flight International
