Start-up Gallop Air signs deal with COMAC

Gallop Air is a new start-up from Brunei, backed by the owner of Tianju Airlines, the Tianju Group from China. Recently, the new airline signed a partnership with Chinese manufacturer COMAC to secure aircraft for its fleet.

In total, the deal is for up to 30 ARJ21-700s (including the VIP- and cargo-variant) and C919s. Once the deal is finalized, it will make Gallop Air the second foreign customer for the ARJ21, and the first for the C919.

The start-up is planning to complement state-owned Brunei Airlines but it's currently unclear which routes it will serve, and when the airline is due to commence flights. Interesting to note is that Tianju Airlines signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with COMAC for 30 ARJ21s in 2018 but has so far not taken delivery off a single one, and also not started operations with other aircraft.

Photo by Tianju Group.