Civil Flying

As well as supporting Voyager operations, AirTanker operates as a civil airline. We are responsible for the South Atlantic Air Bridge and we run a growing Leasing business serving customers worldwide.

Civil Flying is a growing part of AirTanker’s business. We have a global Air Operator Certificate (AOC) which means we operate under the same regulatory and safety requirements as any other civil airline.

Our main bases of operation are RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire and Manchester. Our expanding Leasing business means that we have the ability to operate both long-haul and short-haul routes for airline customers worldwide.

In October 2013, AirTanker took responsibility for operating the South Atlantic Air Bridge which provides a vital connection between the UK and the Falkland Islands.

The route takes our civilian aircraft and crew more than 7,900 miles from RAF Brize Norton to the Falklands via Cape Verde. Our passengers are a mix of military personnel, contractors and civilians. We also operate a freight service between the UK and the South Atlantic.

The aircraft is configured with a single-class cabin comprising 291 premium economy seats.

You can find out more about the South Atlantic Air Bridge by clicking on our Passenger FAQs.

In May 2015, we secured our first ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance and Insurance) commercial aircraft lease, with Thomas Cook Airlines. Since then we have expanded our Leasing business and we now operate a number of Airbus A330-200 aircraft serving customer airlines and routes to Europe, North America and beyond.

We offer both wet lease (aircraft, flight crew and cabin crew) and damp lease (aircraft and flight crew only) options to airlines who need extra capacity and a reliable, professional leasing partner. In 2017 we established a new crew base at Manchester Airport to support our expanding operations and increase the efficiency of our management and support.

In summer 2017, 20 members of our cabin crew spent the summer on secondment with Thomas Cook Airlines, strengthening our relationship and enabling Thomas Cook Airlines to welcome fully-trained A330 cabin crew for the peak season.

Our flight crew and cabin crew undertake extensive training to ensure that we offer a safe and welcoming experience for every passenger we fly. From the customer service we offer to the technical training that underpins every aspect of our operations, we aim to live up to AirTanker’s vision: "To be recognised as the best service provider to our customers."