SolitAir, the UAE-based B2B airport-to-airport express cargo airline, announced that it has been granted Third Country Operator (TCO) certification by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (UK CAA). The certification authorises SolitAir to operate flights in and out of UK airspace, marking a significant regulatory milestone in the carrier’s international expansion.
Established in the years following the UK’s departure from the EU, the UK TCO framework is the mechanism by which British authorities certify that non-UK commercial air carriers meet the country’s safety and operational standards before being permitted to serve UK airspace. Securing the certificate is a rigorous process, and its award reflects the strength of SolitAir’s operational and safety systems as assessed against regulatory requirements.
The UK TCO certificate builds on a regulatory portfolio that already includes UAE GCAA Air Operator Certificate (AOC), EASA Third Country Operator authorisation covering the European Union and ACC3 designation granted by EASA which enables secure cargo corridors into the EU. Together, these approvals give SolitAir a clear regulatory pathway across two of the world’s most tightly regulated aviation markets, complementing the network the carrier has built across commercially vital, yet underserved, trade routes
Hamdi Osman, Founder & CEO of SolitAir, said: “The UK CAA TCO certification is an important milestone for SolitAir and it is the product of a great deal of work by our team to meet one of the most rigorous regulatory standards in global aviation. The UK is an important trade partner to the GCC states, and this certification clears the path for SolitAir to become an important air cargo player in this lucrative corridor.”
The certification positions SolitAir to pursue future route development into the UK, adding to a network strategy that currently serves 56 routes across 34 countries, including a 17-city network across Africa. The freight carrier recently added its first EU destination with the launch of services to Sofia, Bulgaria, followed by the recent announcement of its third route to Jinan (TNA) in China.
SolitAir operates a fleet of seven Boeing 737-800BCF/SF freighter aircraft, each with a 20-tonne cargo capacity, from its 20,440 sqm hub facility at Dubai World Central (DWC), Al Maktoum International Airport, operational since October 2024.
