Atlantic Star Airlines (London Luton) is planning to wet-lease a B757-200 WIN. from Icelandair (FI, Reykjavik Keflavik) ACMI subsidiary Loftleidir Icelandic (Reykjavik Keflavik) for use on flights between the British Overseas Territory of St. Helena, situated in the South Atlantic Ocean, and London beginning 2016.

In an interview with FlightGlobal, CEO Richard Brown said the possibility of transitioning to a dry-lease contract after the first year of operations is currently being considered along with additional aircraft to suit demand.

Brown said the start-up's business plan has already been formulated with a look to focus not only on the island's niche tourism market, but also on the cargo market.

Flights will not operate direct, he said, but rather via a technical stop in either Europe or Africa with a stop in Cape Town International on the inbound. Other services being considered include shuttle services to Ascension Island, Ascension Island, and Mount Pleasant International in the Falkland islands, as well as flights to West and South Africa.

Once the requisite traffic rights have been applied for and secured, flights would likely begin in February 2016, though this is contingent on St Helena's only airport - still under construction - being ready.