UK CAA TCO approval adds to SolitAir’s growing regulatory footprint, following EASA TCO authorisation and ACC3 designation, as the carrier extends its global reach
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, July , 2026: SolitAir, the UAE-based B2B airport-to-airport express cargo airline, today 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.
About SolitAir:
Headquartered at Dubai World Central (DWC), SolitAir is the UAE’s dedicated next-generation B2B, airport-to-airport, express middle-mile cargo airline, enabling fast, reliable, and efficient movement of goods between key global trade hubs. Operating 56 routes across 34 countries from its 20,440-square-metre logistics hub at DWC, SolitAir connects Dubai to major markets across the Middle East, Africa, the Indian Subcontinent, Central Asia, China and Europe. Designed to complement freight forwarders, integrators, airlines, SMEs, and e-commerce businesses, SolitAir offers a flexible and customer-centric approach to air cargo logistics, achieving a 98%+ on-time delivery rate across its network. The airline’s integrated platform spans four core service verticals — On Demand Charters, Tailor-Made Programs, Scheduled Flight, ACMI Service — allowing tailored solutions across both high-demand and underserved routes. SolitAir is equipped to handle a wide range of cargo categories including Dangerous Goods, Pharmaceuticals, Perishables, Valuable Goods, Vulnerable Goods, Oversized Freight, and e-commerce shipments, and holds UAE GCAA Air Operator Certificate (AOC), Dangerous Goods Air Operator Certification, EASA Third Country Operator (TCO) authorisation, United Kingdom Third Country Operator Certificate and ACC3 designation from the Belgian Civil Aviation Authority, authorising cargo operations into the European Union. It operates a modern fleet of seven Boeing 737-800 BCF freighters, with fleet expansion targeted at 14 aircraft by end of 2026 and 20 aircraft by 2027. Since its launch from DWC in October 2024, SolitAir has achieved key operational milestones ahead of schedule and earned multiple industry awards. Founded and led by Hamdi Osman — a logistics veteran with over four decades of experience, including 34 years as a senior executive at FedEx — the company is driven by a highly skilled leadership team with a combined 2,400 years of aviation and logistics experience.
