Start-up long-haul carrier Flypop is forming a UK joint venture with Portuguese charter airline Hi Fly.
The two companies have been partnering throughout the global pandemic utilising Flypop’s aircraft for cargo operations.
The new agreement will see the two expand their collaboration onto planned passenger flights from the UK.
Flypop plans to add additional aircraft to the joint venture that will be operated by Hi Fly.
Flypop founder and chief executive Navdip Singh Judge said: “We expect a surge in demand in and out of our home market over the coming months and we look forward to serving our customers with the newly formed joint venture.
“We are in active discussions with several parties to grow the fleet further in the near future and look forward to welcoming these aircraft to the joint venture.”
Hi Fly president Paulo Mirpuri added: “We are looking forward to operating Flypop’s aircraft out of the UK.
“Hi Fly’s leading expertise in Airbus widebody aircraft will prove to be a winning recipe for the joint venture.”
Flypop’s second Airbus A330 started running cargo flights in January from Stansted in co-operation with Hi Fly.
A further two widebody aircraft are due to be added to the fleet as the airline prepares plans for low cost passenger flights to India. Destinations on the radar include Amritsar, Hyderabad, Goa, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Kochi and Chandigarh.
The company announced a “significant investment” from the government’s Future Fund in February 2021.