SolitAir launches Bucharest freighter service to expand EU network

Dubai-based B2B airport-to-airport cargo carrier SolitAir has announced the launch of direct cargo services to Bucharest’s Otopeni International Airport (OTP) in Romania. Operating from its principal hub at Dubai World Central (DWC), the new route represents the airline's second destination within the European Union. The scheduled service directly connects SolitAir’s well-established air network across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia to a key European market of 19 million people, further strengthening the trade corridor connecting the Global South to the EU single market.

The launch of the Bucharest route comes just a few weeks after SolitAir inaugurated its DWC-EU corridor with initial flights to Sofia, the capital city of Bulgaria. This swift expansion into European airspace has been made possible by the carrier obtaining its ACC3 (Air Cargo and Mail Carrier from a Third Country) security designation, granted by the Belgian Civil Aviation Authority. The ACC3 status authorises SolitAir to transport air cargo and mail directly into the European Union and European Economic Area in full compliance with rigorous EU aviation security requirements. When combined with its existing UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) Air Operator’s Certificate and EASA Third Country Operator (TCO) authorisation, the designation completes the regulatory framework required for SolitAir to run scheduled freighter operations across the EU.

Commenting on the strategic milestone, Hamdi Osman, Founder & CEO of SolitAir, said: “Romania sits where the Black Sea trade routes meet the EU single market and that's exactly the kind of corridor SolitAir exists to serve. Every new route we open is a promise to our customers: reliable capacity, on time, every time. That's the main thing, and it stays the main thing as we grow across Europe and the entire Global South.”

Romania is rapidly emerging as a premier air cargo and logistics hub within Southeast Europe. This position is anchored by its strategic access to Black Sea trade routes through the Port of Constanța, full Schengen border integration, and extensive investments in regional multimodal transport infrastructure. Economic links between Romania and the UAE have broadened considerably, with bilateral trade exceeding $500 million in 2025 according to UN Comtrade statistics. Romanian exports to the UAE reached $405.75 million, while imports from the UAE stood at $105.02 million. Core areas of bilateral cooperation include technology, transportation, logistics, real estate, energy, and food security. Principal exports from Romania to the UAE comprise machinery, wood products, and cereals, whereas imports into Romania from the UAE are led by perfumes, iron structures, and raw aluminium.

To serve these expanding trade lanes, SolitAir operates a fleet of seven Boeing 737-800 BCF freighters, each offering a 20-tonne payload capacity. These aircraft are optimised for the reliability, range, and versatility necessary to carry specialised goods, including dangerous goods, pharmaceuticals, temperature-sensitive perishables, high-value freight, and oversized cargo. Looking ahead, the carrier is aiming for fleet growth to 20 aircraft, operating out of its 20,440-square-metre cargo hub facility at Dubai World Central (DWC), Al Maktoum International Airport.