Fly Salone (London Gatwick) has chartered a B757-200 from Icelandair (FI, Reykjavik Keflavik) for flights between London Gatwick and the capital of Sierra Leone, Freetown. According to Skyliner Aviation TF-FIW (msn 24838) began commercial operations for the UK-based start-up on December 11.

Fly Salone is attempting to fill the gap in the market left by British Airways (BA, London Heathrow) following its withdrawal from Liberia and Sierra Leone in August last year during the height of the West African Ebola epidemic.

As such, the resumption of flights was set in action in November when the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared Sierra Leone Ebola-free. This then paved the way for the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to lift a ban on flights to the West African nation earlier this month.

Registered and operating out of the United Kingdom, Fly Salone Airlines Ltd is the brainchild of Jay Saleh, Chairman and the lead financier, Sam Sabrah, the Managing Director, and Struan Johnston, aviation specialist responsible for strategy and operations.