WORLD AIRLINES initiated scheduled services between London City Airport (LCY) and Amsterdam on 13 May, using a British Aerospace 146-200 leased from USAir.
The new UK carrier, which has been formed by music entrepreneur Nick Stolberg, is operating some 44 flights a week between the two cities, and is aiming primarily at the business sector.
Stolberg made his fortune in the car-rental business, netting some £40 million ($26 million) in 1995 when he sold his shareholding in a company which he set up in the 1980s. He then undertook two projects - managing a music band and establishing World Airlines.
The carrier is using Southend-based Flightline's air operator's certificate and is initially leasing two 81-seat 146-200s from USAir. These aircraft were previously stored for several years in the Mojave desert. Marshall Aerospace has undertaken the overhaul work.
A second route is to be added this summer from London to Copenhagen, and the airline is also looking at serving Edinburgh from the Docklands Airport. Services to other major European cities are envisaged over the next two years. Stolberg says that the scheduling plan also provides opportunities to operate weekend charters.
UK long-haul start-up carrier Europe Elite is understood still to be planning services from London Heathrow to Tashkent, Uzbekistan, and Almaty, Tadjikistan, using Boeing 757s. Several obstacles remain to be overcome, however, including the fact that British Airways was awarded route licences to serve these points from London, over Europe Elite.
Source: Flight International
