AVIATION: New Cyprus-based airline launched

Cyprus-based CobaltAir announced its launch later this year as a ‘NewAge’ airline that will operate regionally and throughout Europe, initially to ten destinations using a fleet of Airbus aircraft.

CEO Peter Kelly, who has Qantas/Jetstar and Ansett experience, said that “we see Cyprus as being strategically positioned at the crossroads of the Middle East, Europe (including Russia/CIS) and Africa – and offers a mature market with a qualified and skilled labour force.”
He explained that the ‘New Age’ model takes the best attributes from both the low cost and the full service carriers.
“We will pay great attention to innovative in-flight products, best in breed systems, friendly high service delivery levels (a service culture) and moreover, a wall-to-wall safety culture.”
CobaltAir has already hired a high calibre executive team that includes Andrew Pyne as COO (ex Avianova, Viva Macau, Cathay Pacific and British Airways) and Michael Hayden as CCO (ex Dobrolet, Avianova, Jazeera Airways and EUJet). The company is currently recruiting locally for a number of positions, even though many have been filled.
The airline has applied formally for an Air Operators Certificate (AOC) and plan to launch services by the end of this year.