The U.S. Department of Transportation has granted HiSky the Foreign Air Carrier Permit, following the successful completion of all verification and authorization stages. As a result, starting from this date, HiSky becomes the only airline in Romania that holds the right to operate scheduled passenger flights from Europe to any destination in the United States. Following this authorization, HiSky is preparing to launch its first direct transoceanic flights from Romania, after more than 20 years.
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The aircraft that provides the company with the capability to operate non-stop long-haul flights is scheduled to land at Henri Coanda Airport in Bucharest on Monday, December 18th. The Airbus A330-200 has already been painted at a maintenance base in Ireland and bears the registration YR-KID. This is the first widebody aircraft in HiSky’s fleet and the only one of its kind to be operated by a Romanian company. With a configuration of two classes, Business and Economy, it has a range of up to 14 hours of non-stop flight, covering distances of over 13,400 km.
The new aircraft is planned to enter service immediately after its arrival in Bucharest, with the first flights to be operated as charter flights to distant destinations in Asia. Thus, Romanians choosing to spend their winter holidays on the sunny beaches of the Asian continent will have the opportunity to travel on a direct flight, with a duration of approximately 12 hours, avoiding the usual stopovers at Middle Eastern airports.
“We are pleased to confirm that, before the end of the year, we have fulfilled all our objectives and promises to our passengers. HiSky is today the only Romanian company authorized to operate scheduled flights to the United States and the first to have the capability for direct flights to the most popular destinations around the world. As we promised, we are preparing to launch, soon, the first USA flights, which we will operate with the A330. However, until then, we have good news for Romanian tourists who choose a holiday in Asia, during the Christmas and New Year period. They will be the first passengers to travel with our new aircraft on a direct flight from Bucharest,” states Iulian Scorpan, CEO of HiSky.
With the addition of the 8th aircraft to its fleet, HiSky reaches a capacity of over 1500 seats. Earlier this year, the airline acquired two more new aircraft, A321neo, with a range of 7,400 km. In the winter season, HiSky operates regular and connecting flights from airports in Bucharest, Cluj Napoca, Iași, Baia Mare, and Chișinău, to 26 domestic and international destinations.