AirTanker Services

AirTanker Services, operating as AirTanker, is a British aircraft leasing company providing a fleet of Airbus A330 MRTT tanker/transports, known by the service name "Voyager", to the Royal Air Force for the aerial refuelling role. For additional revenue it operates air charter flights using reserve aircraft. It is a consortium of Airbus, Rolls-Royce plc, Cobham plc, Babcock International and Thales Group.

AirTanker
IATA ICAO Callsign
9L TOW TOWLINE
Founded2007
Commenced operations2013
AOC #2388
HubsRAF Brize Norton
Focus citiesManchester Airport
Fleet size14
Parent company
HeadquartersRAF Brize Norton, United Kingdom
Websitewww.airtanker.co.uk

History

In 2008 the Ministry of Defence signed the Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA) contract with AirTanker to provide the Royal Air Force (RAF) with an air transport and air-to-air refuelling capability. As well as supporting the RAF, AirTanker holds a United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority Type A Operating Licence, permitting it to carry passengers, cargo and mail on aircraft with 20 or more seats.[1]

Following the granting of an air operating licence the airline flew its first charter flight to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus for the UK Ministry of Defence in January 2013.[2] After delays in certification, its first operational refuelling flight took place on 20 May 2013.[3]

From May 2015, AirTanker leased one aircraft to Thomas Cook Airlines to be deployed on holiday routes. The contract ran for three years, and involved mainly long haul flights from Glasgow, Manchester and London Stansted Airport. The first commercial flight took place on 1 May 2015 from Manchester to Cancun and Punta Cana.[4]

On 30 September 2016, AirTanker reached the final establishment phase milestone in the Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA) programme with the achievement of Full Service Date on time and on budget delivering all 14 aircraft.

AirTanker also provides twice-weekly scheduled passenger flights between RAF Brize Norton and RAF Mount Pleasant on the Falkland Islands mainly for military personnel, though fare-paying passengers are also allowed to travel. These flights formerly refuelled at Ascension Island but due to the condition of the runway there, the refuelling stop is now at Cape Verde. During the COVID pandemic, this was moved to Dakar. However, in June 2020 G-VYGM set a record by flying direct from Brize Norton to Mount Pleasant without refuelling.[5]

Fleet
An AirTanker Airbus Voyager operated for the Royal Air Force.
An AirTanker Airbus Voyager leased to Thomas Cook Airlines.

AirTanker has a 27-year contract to provide fourteen aircraft: "core" fleet of nine aircraft – eight with military serials and one civilian registration – and a "surge" fleet of five civil registered aircraft which it uses for additional revenue.[6]

AirTanker Fleet (Feb 2022)[7]
Military
registration		 Civilian
registration		 Current use Passengers
ZZ330 G-VYGA RAF 291
ZZ331 G-VYGB RAF 291
ZZ332 G-VYGC RAF 291
ZZ333 G-VYGD RAF 291
ZZ334 G-VYGE RAF 291
ZZ335 G-VYGF RAF 291
ZZ336 G-VYGG RAF (VIP transport) VIP, 158 including 58 business class seats[8]
ZZ337 G-VYGH RAF 291
ZZ338 G-VYGI RAF 291
ZZ339 G-VYGJ AirTanker for RAF[9]
ZZ340 G-VYGK AirTanker for RAF 320 economy when leased[10]
ZZ341 G-VYGL AirTanker for Jet2.com 327 economy when leased[10]
ZZ342 G-VYGM AirTanker for Jet2.com 327 economy when leased[10]
ZZ343 G-VYGN RAF

References
  1. Type A Operating Licence Holders
  2. "AirTanker's first flight as an airline". Archived from the original on 25 January 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2013.
  3. Osborne, Anthony (20 May 2013). "AirTanker Cleared To Begin Air-To-Air Refueling Operations". Aviation Week. Retrieved 25 May 2013.
  4. "AirTanker Makes Commercial Debut". Airliner World: 5. July 2015.
  5. "UK/Falklands air bridge sets two new records with the A330-200". mercopress.com. 6 June 2020.
  6. RAF, "Voyager"
  7. G-INFO - Civil Aviation Authority retrieved 28 February 2018
  8. Stevenson, Beth (6 July 2016). "RAF reveals VIP-configured Voyager". www.flightglobal.com. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
  9. "G-VYGJ AirTanker Airbus A330-200". www.planespotters.net. 29 April 2020. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  10. "AirTanker Leasing - Our Customers". www.airtanker.co.uk. AirTanker. Archived from the original on 25 January 2019. Retrieved 8 February 2019.

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