AirTanker - a new era in air-to-air refuelling
AirTanker is a UK company created to provide the Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA) service to the UK Ministry of Defence, under a 27-year Private Finance Initiative contract with an estimated value of £10bn.

AirTanker will deliver a service, that provides safe, reliable, efficient and comprehensive air-to-air refuelling and air transport capabilities to the Royal Air Force, using new, multi role tanker transport aircraft derived from Airbus A330-200 commercial airliners.

The FSTA programme will replace the RAF’s current fleet of VC-10s and TriStars with 14 Airbus A330-200 aircraft, the first of which will be delivered in 2011. These new aircraft will be owned, supported and operated by AirTanker. AirTanker will also provide all support services, including construction of a state-of-the-art two-bay hangar, training, maintenance, flight operations, fleet management and ground services to enable worldwide air-to-air refuelling and air transport missions.

When fully operational, the company will employ 500 people at RAF Brize Norton, who will be a mixture of direct staff, including Sponsored Reservists, and RAF secondees. The contract with the MOD also provides the opportunity for AirTanker to market any aircraft spare capacity to commercial airlines.

All media enquiries should be directed to Sophie Watts on +44 (0)1993 847832 or sophie.watts@airtanker-services.co.uk.