British cargo airline One Air has expanded its fleet with the addition of a third Boeing 747 freighter, secured on a five-year lease from AeroTransCargo FZE.

This latest aircraft will enable One Air to meet the growing demand for cargo capacity across Asia and Europe.

The Boeing 747-400ERF completed its inaugural flight for the airline on September 16, 2024, from Hong Kong to East Midlands Airport.

It is the first in the fleet to feature both a nose and side door for flexible loading and unloading. Additionally, the -400ERF model boasts an increased payload capacity of up to 124,000 kg.

In its first year of charter operations, One Air has flown out of major UK airports, including London Heathrow, London Stansted, East Midlands Airport, Birmingham, Doncaster/Sheffield, Glasgow Prestwick and Cardiff. Its fleet has supported a growing customer base of freight forwarders, logistics providers, and charter brokers, with destinations in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. These include Almaty, Amsterdam, Astana, Châteauroux, Hahn, Hong Kong, Jinan, Larnaca, Maastricht-Aachen, Muscat, Shannon and Singapore.

In addition to ad hoc charters, One Air has recently been running a contract for seven weekly 747F flights from Hong Kong to Europe, transporting general cargo. This growing demand also highlights the successful commercial efforts of Air One Aviation, the airline’s global sales agent.

Paul Bennett, One Air’s chairman and chief executive, said: “Our business case was always based on the high demand we saw for a British cargo airline, and this is being borne out by the volume of flights we are operating.

“The arrival of our third 747-400 and its increased capacity and capability will enable us to provide more availability to our growing client base.

“We are also pressing ahead with our future fleet plans and expect to add at least one more freighter in the first half of 2025 based on our current growth plan.”

In support of its third aircraft, One Air has recruited a further 27 flight crew and support staff, taking the total workforce at its UK headquarters to over 125 aviation and cargo professionals.