flyPOP (London Stansted) is a UK-based start-up planning to launch regular passenger flights from its London Stansted hub to the Indian Tier II cities of Amritsar (Punjab) and Ahmedabad (Gujarat) during the last quarter of this year.

Though it will inaugurate operations as a virtual carrier, POP says it does plan to pursue an AOC at a later stage. As such, its initial services will be undertaken by a 378-seater, all-economy A330-300 chartered from an undisclosed firm.

POP ("People Over Profit") will operate in the budget segment and, in line with its ethos of social responsibility, will donate a minimum of 51% of its profits to fund social projects in the UK and India.

“My vision is to create an airline that, unlike any other before it, serves not just the passengers traveling between the UK and the developing world but, just as importantly, delivers tangible benefits to the communities they are visiting," Navdip Singh Judge, Chairman and Principal of POP, said. "POP will provide an ‘Enhanced-Value’ in the air and in the community.”

A 60-day crowdfunding campaign, aimed at raising GBP5 million (USD7.24 million) in initial capital requirements, will commence later this month.