UK long-haul start-up Sentra seeks operating licence

UK long-haul start-up Sentra Airways has formally applied for an operating licence with the country’s aviation regulator. Sentra is intending to open services to West Africa – identifying an initial route from Manchester to Accra in Ghana – and last year agreed to acquire an Airbus A330-200 from US lessor Air Lease. The carrier states that it aims to stop “exploitation” of passengers by reducing journey times between the two cities. It has applied for a type ‘A’ operating licence, according to the UK Civil Aviation Authority. Such a licence is required for operating aircraft with 20 seats or more. The company has also applied for charter and scheduled route licences.<br/>“Setting up Sentra was an obvious solution to the problem for hundreds of travellers,” the would-be carrier says. It indicates that it aims to open additional services from the UK – and the USA – to Africa. Sentra intends Manchester to be its operational base, but the company is located in Bradford. It has identified its first aircraft as MSN1138, a Rolls-Royce Trent 700-powered airframe which was originally delivered to China’s Sichuan Airlines in 2010.<br/>