Manchester-based startup Sentra Airways has taken delivery of its first aircraft, an Airbus A330-200. The firm, which was established in March 2019, intends to launch services from Manchester to Accra, Ghana, in mid-2023, having signed the lease for this single aircraft in April 2022.
Lauren Kervick, assistant Vice President of Marketing for lessor ALC said that: “[We are] pleased to announce this lease placement for one A330-200 with Sentra Airways,” enthusing that, “Sentra has an exciting growth and business plan operating from the UK to West Africa, and we look forward to growing our relationship over the coming years.”
The aircraft was ferried to Cotswold Airport in November 2022, and, according to Fresh Aviation’s data site, was formerly registered as B-6517 with Sichuan Airlines of China. The aircraft was registered to Sentra Airways as G-SAHA earlier this month.
Sentra has already trained its first group of sixteen cabin crew, and is reported to have applied for its UK Air Operator’s Certificate last year. The airline has chosen Accra as its first destination as it will “help in positioning [Sentra Airways] as the airline of choice” and in “establishing regional partnerships.”
Other UK long-haul startups include flypop and Hans Airways, both also using the Airbus A330, though neither of these operators is targeting the UK-Ghana market, a segment which has been left largely vacant following the reduction of several frequencies by British Airways in recent months.
Cianan Kelly entered the sphere of aviation journalism two years ago with his debut publication, Connecting the UK, which was met with acclaim by enthusiasts and industry professionals alike. He joined Fresh Aviation in late 2022 with the aim of contributing to high-quality aviation press and research, with a focus on sustainability and the regional aviation sector.