West Atlantic UK

West Atlantic UK Limited, (Formerly Atlantic Airlines Ltd) is a British cargo airline based at East Midlands Airport. It operates contract and ad hoc cargo flights worldwide, especially within Europe as part of the West Atlantic Group. The company's fleet is composed of Boeing 737 and a single ATR72 aircraft. The airline specialises in the transport of dangerous goods and radioactive products and other specialist aerial work, including oil spill response, dispersant spraying and icing trials. The prime activity of the business is the supply and operating of aircraft to night-time freight integrators and consolidators and the operation of ad hoc air charters on behalf of other airline, freight brokers and forwarders. Atlantic Airlines merged with the Swedish airline "West Air Europe" in 2008 to establish the West Atlantic Group.

For the national airline of the Faroe Islands, see Atlantic Airways.

West Atlantic UK
IATA ICAO Callsign
5O NPT NEPTUNE
Founded2001
Operating basesEast Midlands Airport
Fleet size23
Parent companyWest Atlantic Group
HeadquartersEast Midlands Airport
Websitewww.westatlantic.eu

West Atlantic UK Ltd holds an EU Ops Air Operators Certificate with the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority and a Type A Operating Licence, permitting it to carry cargo and mail on aircraft.[1]

History

The airline was established in 1994. It was formed as part of the Air Atlantique Group of Companies to specialise in the supply of contract and ad hoc cargo services. Since July 2001 West Atlantic UK (Formerly Atlantic Airlines) has traded independently and continues to broaden its product range and capability through the marketing of its Air Operators Certificate (AOC).

The company Atlantic Airlines Limited was established in March 2001 when the management performed a buy-in to the trading company. A full management buy-out was achieved on 28 May 2004 when the same management purchased all the assets of the business including aircraft, spares, engines etc.

In January 2006, Atlantic acquired the first of an order for 5 BAe ATP freighter aircraft.

In February 2007, Atlantic Airlines signed an agreement with BAE Systems Regional Aircraft to long-term lease a further 6 BAe ATP freighters bringing the total orders to 11.[2]

In October 2008, it was announced that the airline would merge with West Air Sweden to form a new airline called West Atlantic with its headquarters in Sweden.[3][4]

On 8 December 2009, Atlantic Airlines' biggest base, Coventry Airport, was closed for financial reasons, causing Atlantic Airlines to cease all cargo flights to and from the airport.[5] Atlantic Airlines moved all Coventry flights to Birmingham on a temporary basis as a result.[6] The airline recommenced operations out of Coventry Airport when it reopened after it was bought by Sir Peter Rigby. But the airline has since moved out of Coventry Airport: it set up new airline offices to the south of Coventry Airport and relocated its Operational and Line Maintenance Control Centre to East Midlands Airport. The West Atlantic Group also has a large maintenance hangar at East Midlands Airport, capable of maintaining the Boeing 737 and other group aircraft types.

On 27 April 2013, Atlantic Airlines retired the last Lockheed L188 Electra from its fleet in cargo service. Atlantic Airlines was the last operator of the type outside of Canada. Subsequently, most of the fleet was sold and transferred to Buffalo Airways in Canada.

In 2015 Atlantic Airline transferred its ATP fleet to the West Atlantic group Swedish AOC to focus on further Boeing 737 acquisitions.

In June 2017 West Atlantic announced that it would be the launch customer and first operator of the Boeing 737-800BCF (Boeing converted Freighter).

On 1 November 2017 Atlantic Airlines officially changed its name to West Atlantic UK Limited.

In November 2020 West Atlantic added a single ATR72F to its fleet from sister airline Swiftair to operate a route between East Midlands Airport and Guernsey Airport for DHL Air UK.

Destinations

West Atlantic UK serves daily the following destinations:

Fleet
West Atlantic Boeing 737-400F wearing a partial DHL livery

As of December 2020, the West Atlantic fleet consists of the following aircraft:[7]

Atlantic Airlines Fleet
Aircraft In Service Orders Notes
Boeing 737-300F 6 —
Boeing 737-400F 13 —
Boeing 737-800BCF 1 —
Total 23 —

References
  1. CAA Operating Licence Archived 11 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  2. Atlantic Airlines agrees to lease a further 6 BAe ATP freighters Archived 3 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  3. Baltic Air Charter Association
  4. West Air Europe and Atlantic Airlines to merge
  5. Coventry Airport closes immediately due to financial difficulties Archived 13 December 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  6. Atlantic Airlines moves to Birmingham following Coventry closure
  7. https://www.planespotters.net/airline/Atlantic-Airlines-%28UK%29

Media related to West Atlantic UK at Wikimedia Commons

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