New UK carrier Sentra Airways gains first aircraft

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The UK startup Sentra Airways has secured an Airbus A330-200 from the Air Lease Corporation for its upcoming flights from Manchester to Ghana. The airline aims to start operations this winter.

First plane from Air Lease Corporation

The Air Lease Corporation (ALC) has agreed to a long-term lease with Sentra on an A330-200, the first plane in the fledgling airline’s fleet. The plane will be used for operations between the UK’s Manchester International Airport and Accra in Ghana. Ishmael Musah, Chairman and Accountable manager of Sentra airways, commented:

“Sentra Airways is delighted to have finally reached this significant milestone,”

The plane will be leased from the Air Lease Corporation, an aircraft lessor based in Los Angeles, California. The plane in question is a 12-year-old Airbus A330-200, which last saw service with Chinese carrier Sichuan Air. The aircraft is currently sitting at its base in Chengdu Shuangliu International and will be delivered to Sentra this summer. Lauren Kervick, Assistant Vice President of Marketing for ALC, commented on the sale, saying:

“ALC is pleased to announce this lease placement for one A330-200 with Sentra Airways,”

She also hinted at possible future deals with the British startup, adding:

“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.”

Who is Sentra Airways?

Sentra Airways is a new UK airline that will be based in Manchester International Airport. Operations at the airport are due to begin in the second half of the year, though the airline has yet to release an official start date. Its first destination will be Accra, Ghana, with other routes to follow in Africa and the USA.

Their website calls Accra the “unofficial, official gateway to West Africa, especially to Nigeria, Togo, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Niger, Senegal, Gambia and Southern Africa”. The airline is positioning itself as the airline of choice on its routes and wants to establish regional partnerships for the beyond travel, which is perhaps why they have chosen Accra as its first destination.

The company was established in 2019, initially under the name ‘Majestic Mallard Airways’ with a startup capital of £600,000. The name was later changed to “Sentra Airways” in January 2020. The airline’s shareholders are Balqis Ismail and Ishmael Musah, both British citizens, and their office is based in Bradford, some 50 miles from their future airport base at Manchester international.

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