AirTanker Services
| Company type | Private company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aviation, Aircraft leasing, Airline operations |
| Founded | June 14, 2007 |
| Headquarters | Carterton, Oxfordshire , England, United Kingdom |
Area served | United Kingdom, international (military and civilian charter) |
| Products | Aircraft leasing, Operational management of Airbus A330 MRTT fleet |
| Owner | Consortium including Airbus, Rolls-Royce plc, Equitix Investment Management Limited, Cobham plc, Babcock International, Thales Group |
| Parent | AirTanker Holdings Limited (related) |
AirTanker Services Limited, a private company registered in England and Wales on 14 June 2007 (company number 06279646), operates the British airline AirTanker (IATA: 9L, ICAO: TOW, callsign: TOWLINE) and specializes in aircraft leasing and operational management.
The UK Government contracts AirTanker Holdings Limited (company number 06279650, also incorporated on 14 June 2007) to own and manage a fleet of fourteen Airbus A330 MRTT multi-role tanker transport aircraft. These aircraft, derived from the civilian Airbus A330-243 wide-body airliner, have been modified to meet military standards by Airbus Military (now Airbus Defence and Space), primarily serving the Royal Air Force (RAF).
AirTanker Services Limited is responsible for operating this fleet for the RAF, where the aircraft are designated as Voyager. These planes function as the RAF’s exclusive aerial refuelling assets and are also equipped for military troop transportation, cargo carriage, and aeromedical evacuation. To generate additional income, AirTanker Services utilizes reserve aircraft for civilian airline operations via short-term charters or extended damp-lease or wet lease agreements with commercial carriers.
Ownership of both AirTanker Services Limited (ATS) and AirTanker Holdings Limited (ATH) is held by a consortium with varying shares, including Airbus, Rolls-Royce plc (holding 23.5% in ATS; previously 23.1% in ATH), Equitix Investment Management Limited (23.1% ATH), Cobham plc, Babcock International, and Thales Group. The companies share their headquarters at AirTanker Hub located at RAF Brize Norton, Carterton, Oxfordshire, England (OX18 3LX).
Overview
In March 2008, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) awarded the Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft (FSTA) contract to AirTanker Holdings Limited (ATH) to supply the Royal Air Force (RAF) with air transport and aerial refuelling capabilities. This agreement covered fourteen Airbus A330 MRTT aircraft fully converted to Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) specifications, replacing the RAF’s outdated Vickers VC10 and Lockheed TriStar tanker fleets. The civilian operator, AirTanker Services Limited (ATS), holds a UK Civil Aviation Authority Type A Global operating licence that authorizes commercial passenger, cargo, and mail services on aircraft configured with more than twenty seats.
To support operations, new infrastructure named AirTanker Hub was established at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, serving as the operational centre for both ATH and ATS. The fleet operates under dual registration—registered on both UK civilian and military registers—allowing seamless transition between military and civilian roles. For instance, airframe MSN 1555 bore the military registration ZZ341 in 2015 before being demilitarised and leased commercially as G-VYGL.
On 12 May 2012, reservists from No. 10 Squadron of the RAF began flying the militarised Airbus A330 MRTT Voyager from RAF Brize Norton to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. After receiving certification from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), ATS conducted its inaugural charter flight for the MoD in January 2013. Following resolution of issues with refuelling drogue baskets, operational aerial refuelling missions commenced in May 2013. By late that year, No. 101 Squadron retired its VC10s and merged operations with No. 10 Squadron using Voyager aircraft.
Starting October 2013, ATS initiated twice-weekly scheduled passenger services between RAF Brize Norton and RAF Mount Pleasant in the Falkland Islands utilizing a demilitarised Voyager outfitted with 291 premium economy seats. These flights primarily transport military personnel, contractors, freight, and cargo but also accept civilian paying passengers. Due to runway problems at RAF Ascension Island, refuelling stops were relocated first to Cape Verde from October 2019 to March 2020 and temporarily to Dakar during the COVID-19 pandemic period. In June 2020, an AirTanker A330-243 (G-VYGM) established a non-stop flight distance record by flying from Brize Norton to Mount Pleasant in just over fifteen hours, surpassing a previous record set by a VC10 in 1987. Refuelling operations at Ascension Island resumed in May 2023 following runway repairs.
Since late 2014, up to two RAF Voyager KC3 aircraft have supported Operation Shader combat missions by providing aerial refuelling services to coalition fighters including Typhoons, F-35Bs, AV-8B Harriers, and F/A-18 Hornets. These Voyagers are assigned to No. 903 Expeditionary Air Wing stationed at RAF Akrotiri.
In May 2015, ATH leased a demilitarised A330-243 (G-VYGK) to Thomas Cook Airlines for long-haul holiday flights originating from UK airports such as Glasgow, Manchester, and London Stansted. This lease lasted three years; a second aircraft was added under lease in April 2017. Subsequently, other demilitarised Voyagers were leased out to Jet2.com starting mid-2017.
In early 2016, an RAF Voyager KC3 (ZZ336) was modified for VIP transport catering to senior UK government officials and members of the Royal Family while maintaining its tanker capabilities. The interior was reconfigured to include fifty-eight business class seats along with one hundred premium economy seats and installed with secure communications and missile detection systems. Initially painted matte grey like other military Voyagers, it was repainted in mid-2020 with a gloss-white 'Global Britain' livery featuring a stylized Union Jack design and named Vespina.
On 13 July 2016, ATH reached Full Service Date for the FSTA programme by delivering all fourteen Airbus A330-243 MRTT aircraft within schedule and budget.
In 2017, ATS opened an operating base at Manchester Airport to bolster its civilian leasing activities and seconded cabin crew personnel to Thomas Cook Airlines to improve training cooperation.
In 2022, ATS was awarded a contract by Airbus Defence and Space on behalf of the European Defence Agency to provide engineering support services—including maintenance of Rolls-Royce Trent engines and Cobham refuelling pods—for the Multinational MRTT Fleet operated by six NATO partner countries based in the Netherlands and Luxembourg.
Personnel and support
AirTanker Holdings Limited retains ownership of the full complement of fourteen Airbus A330-243 aircraft as stipulated in its agreement with the UK government. The operation and comprehensive support services—including maintenance, operational oversight, crew training, and dedicated flight personnel—are managed by AirTanker Services Limited. For missions conducted under the Royal Air Force banner (ICAO designator: RAF), this encompasses military pilots and engineers designated as 'Sponsored Reservists'.
The surge fleet consists of demilitarised, demodified A330-243 aircraft utilized for civilian charter flights or wet lease arrangements. These are flown by AirTanker’s civilian pilots, with cabin attendants provided by the respective commercial airline.
Fleet
Under a 27-year contract, AirTanker Holdings Limited supplies fourteen Airbus A330 MRTT aircraft, which are derived from the A330-243 commercial airliner featuring a dual-aisle cabin configured in a two-four-two seating arrangement. Each plane is equipped with two Rolls-Royce Trent 772B-60 turbofan engines, each delivering take-off thrust and continuous power ratings. The aircraft can carry up to of fuel.
RAF Voyagers are capable of offloading up to of fuel from both wing and fuselage tanks through hose-and-drogue refuelling systems. They offer a loiter endurance of approximately four hours and have an operational range exceeding from their home base.
Originally, the fleet was divided into a 'core' group of nine military-configured aircraft—eight bearing UK military registrations beginning with ZZ330 and one civilian-registered (G-VYGJ) dedicated to the South Atlantic Air Bridge—and a 'surge' fleet composed of five demilitarised civilian-registered planes used for commercial revenue generation. The surge fleet remains available for recall to military service. This distribution was later adjusted to ten military-registered core aircraft alongside four civilian-registered surge planes.
Versions
The fourteen aircraft operated by AirTanker Holdings Limited carry official designations aligned with their primary operator's ICAO airline designator:
Royal Air Force (RAF)
Primarily flown by RAF military Sponsored Reservist pilots and cabin crews drawn from No. 10 Squadron RAF, No. 101 Squadron RAF, and No. 1312 Flight RAF, under the management of AirTanker Services Limited. Except for the VIP-modified Vespina, all aircraft feature a matte low-visibility grey paint scheme adorned with RAF insignia, identified by British military registration marks:
- Voyager KC2 — 3 aircraft: militarised Airbus A330-243 MRTTs equipped with two Cobham 905E hose-and-drogue pods mounted under the wings, supporting probe-equipped fast jets such as the Eurofighter Typhoon and Lockheed Martin F-35B.
- Voyager KC3 — 7 aircraft: similar to KC2 but fitted with an additional centreline Cobham 805E Fuselage Refuelling Unit (FRU), enabling higher fuel transfer rates suitable for larger military transports like the Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules and Airbus A400M Atlas.
AirTanker (TOW)
Operated by civilian crews employed by AirTanker Services Limited, these planes fulfill wet or damp lease roles. Their livery varies between white adorned with lessee airline logos or a low-visibility matte grey branded with AirTanker markings, such as airframe G-VYGJ assigned to the South Atlantic Air Bridge. They bear British civilian registration numbers:
- A330-243 — 4 aircraft: demilitarised A330 MRTTs configured exclusively as civilian passenger airliners for short-term charter or extended lease agreements.
| Military reg.[1] |
Civilian reg.[1] |
MSN | Type & Designation |
Operator (ICAO) / User |
Passenger Capacity & Class |
Home Base (IATA / ICAO) |
Service Entry see note 1 |
Year Built | Notes / Livery / Operations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZZ330 | 1046 | Voyager KC2 | RAF | 291 premium economy | RAF Brize Norton (BZZ / EGVN) | 2011 Dec 21 | 2009 | Initially F-WWKH, then EC-337 | |
| ZZ331 | 1248 | Voyager KC2 | RAF | 291 premium economy | RAF Brize Norton (BZZ / EGVN) | 2012 Dec 19 | 2011 | Initially F-WWYE, then EC-331 | |
| ZZ332 | 1275 | Voyager KC3 | RAF | 291 premium economy | RAF Brize Norton (BZZ / EGVN) | 2013 Apr 26 | 2011 | Initially F-WWKJ, then EC-330 | |
| ZZ333 | 1312 | Voyager KC3 | RAF | 291 premium economy | RAF Akrotiri (AKT / LCRA) | 2013 May 29 | 2012 | Initially F-WWYF, then EC-337; supports Operation Shader | |
| ZZ334 | 1033 | Voyager KC3 | RAF | 291 premium economy | RAF Akrotiri (AKT / LCRA) | 2014 Jul 31 | 2009 | Initially F-WWKJ, then EC-335; supports Operation Shader | |
| ZZ335 | 1334 | Voyager KC3 | RAF | 291 premium economy | RAF Brize Norton (BZZ / EGVN) | 2013 Jun 29 | 2012 | Initially F-WWTV, then EC-338 | |
| ZZ336 | 1363 | Voyager KC3 VIP transport (Vespina) | RAF VIP transport | 58 business, 100 premium economy | RAF Brize Norton (BZZ / EGVN) | 2012 Nov 30 | 2012 | Converted to VIP in 2016; Union Jack 'Global Britain' livery since 2020 | |
| ZZ337 | 1390 | Voyager KC3 | RAF | 291 premium economy | RAF Mount Pleasant (MPN / EGYP) | 2014 Jan 29 | 2009 | Supports No. 1312 Flight RAF and QRA Typhoon jets | |
| ZZ338 | 1419 | Voyager KC3 | RAF | 291 premium economy | RAF Brize Norton (BZZ / EGVN) | 2014 May 29 | 2013 | Initially F-WWTN, then EC-331 | |
| ZZ339 | G-VYGJ | 1439 | A330-243 | AirTanker (TOW) for RAF | 291 premium economy | RAF Brize Norton (BZZ / EGVN) | 2014 Aug 14 | 2013 | Low-visibility matt-grey with AirTanker logos; South Atlantic Air Bridge |
| ZZ340 | G-VYGK | 1498 | A330-243 | AirTanker (TOW) for RAF (ex Thomas Cook UK Airlines) | 320 economy when leased | RAF Brize Norton (BZZ / EGVN) | 2015 Feb 05 | 2013 | Low-visibility white livery |
| ZZ341 | G-VYGL | 1555 | A330-243 | AirTanker (TOW) for Jet2.com | 327 economy | Manchester Airport (MAN / EGCC) | 2015 Jun 22 | 2013 | White Jet2.com livery |
| ZZ342 | G-VYGM | 1601 | A330-243 | AirTanker (TOW) for Jet2.com (ex Thomas Cook UK Airlines) | 327 economy | Manchester Airport (MAN / EGCC) | 2016 Feb 24 | 2014 | White Jet2.com livery |
| ZZ343 | 1610 | Voyager KC2 | RAF | 291 premium economy | RAF Brize Norton (BZZ / EGVN) | 2016 Jul 13 | 2014 | 14th and final Voyager introduced into service |
Notes:
- The dates listed as service entry correspond to delivery at RAF Brize Norton following MRTT conversion; original manufacture dates were earlier, with the earliest first flight on 4 June 2009.
- One Voyager KC3 (registration ZZ337) is permanently stationed at RAF Mount Pleasant supporting No. 1312 Flight RAF’s A400M Atlas and Quick Reaction Alert Eurofighter Typhoons. Additionally, a demilitarised A330-243 operated by AirTanker provides twice-weekly flights on the South Atlantic air bridge between RAF Brize Norton and Mount Pleasant.
Accidents and incidents
On 9 February 2014, an RAF Voyager KC3 (ZZ333) operating flight ISF 63JW from RAF Brize Norton to Camp Bastion was carrying 189 passengers alongside nine crew members. At 15:49 UTC, while flying over the Black Sea within Turkish airspace, the aircraft experienced a rapid altitude loss of 4,440 feet within 27 seconds from its cruising altitude of 33,000 feet. During this descent, the aircraft reached a peak descent rate of 15,800 feet per minute and recorded an indicated airspeed of 358 knots (Mach 0.9). The co-pilot had briefly left the cockpit when the descent started. Upon returning, he managed to regain control amid warning alarms and severe turbulence.
This abrupt drop resulted in injuries to 25 passengers and seven crew members, with some individuals hitting the cabin ceiling; medical staff onboard provided immediate assistance. The g-forces recorded peaked at -0.56 g during the rapid descent and +2.06 g during the recovery phase. Following the event, the aircraft diverted to Incirlik Air Base in Turkey and completed a safe landing.
As a result of this incident, all RAF Voyager aircraft were grounded for twelve days. An investigation by the UK Military Aviation Authority determined that the root cause was the captain’s DSLR camera, which had been improperly stored and became lodged between his armrest and side-stick controller. This obstruction caused the side-stick to be pushed forward when the captain adjusted his seat.
See also
- Titan Airways — private charter operator utilizing an Airbus A321-253NX NEO painted in 'Global Britain' livery for VIP transport
External links
- AirTanker.co.uk — official site
- @AirTanker — Twitter account
- Facebook page
- YouTube channel
- Instagram profile
- LinkedIn page