Airbus Updates No.4385

 

airBaltic resumes all Airbus A220 in-house ops

airBaltic (BT, Riga) has ended the wet-leasing in of all aircraft and will operate all of its in-house flights using its own A220-300s during the Winter 2024/25 season.

"Our adaptability this past summer allowed us to maintain all planned operations despite external challenges. Our first priority is always to deliver the best customer experience through focusing solely on our A220-300 fleet, while we have sufficient aircraft availability, and we're committed to expanding and strengthening our fleet to support the growing demand for air travel from our passengers," President and CEO Martin Gauss said.

The Latvian carrier operates forty-eight A220-300s and has 42 more on firm order from Airbus. One delivery is expected "soon." The airline had been forced to resort to multiple wet leases during the summer season largely due to Pratt & Whitney PW1500G engine issues. The ch-aviation fleets module shows that ten A220s are currently inactive.

Gauss told ch-aviation before the peak season that while the situation had improved compared to 2023 (when airBaltic had to wet-lease in up to 14 aircraft), it was not good enough to avoid the use of supplemental ACMI. As of October 2024, the airline contracted six aircraft: three A319-100s (two from Carpatair and one from Avion Express) and three A320-200s (two from Heston Airlines and one from Avion Express). All of them ended operations for airBaltic on October 26, 2024.

airBaltic continues to pursue opportunities to wet-lease its own A220s out to other carriers. Sixteen of its A220s are currently operating for Lufthansa Group carriers: seven for Swiss, five for Eurowings, and four for Lufthansa.

Airbus Updates No.3929

 

Malta's Valletta Airlines adds first aircraft, an A320

Valletta Airlines Airbus A320-200© Valletta Airlines

09.02.2023 - 12:15 UTC

Valletta Airlines (HOT, Malta International) has registered its first aircraft, an A320-200 - 9H-NZL (msn 2388) - Transport Malta records show.

The 18-year-old jet was transferred from Heston Airlines (HN, Vilnius), a Lithuanian ACMI/charter specialist which has been contracted to provide supporting services to the Maltese start-up. Valletta Airlines has yet to secure its own Air Operator's Certificate, while the aircraft remains under maintenance at Varna airport.

The airline plans to launch as an ACMI/charter specialist with the single A320, prior to adding a further two A320s and two A330-200s by the end of 2023. It is owned by Air Valletta Group, a holding backed by private Cypriot investment.

Airbus Updates No.3497

 

Lithuania's Heston Airlines signs for three A330s

Airbus A330-200© Airbus

05.08.2021 - 13:31 UTC

Heston Airlines (HST, Vilnius) has signed an agreement with Avolon for the lease of three A330-200s, with the first unit due for delivery by mid-August 2021 and all three to arrive by mid-October 2021.

ch-aviation understands the Lithuanian ACMI/charter specialist will add two aircraft in a makeshift freighter configuration with passenger seats removed at this time, while the third one will be outfitted with a standard passenger cabin.

Although the carrier did not disclose the aircraft's identity, ch-aviation research has revealed that they will be ex-Aeroflot stock - VQ-BBE (msn 1014), VQ-BBF (msn 1045), and VQ-BBG (msn 1047). The aircraft are between 12 and 12.2 years of age and were operated by the Russian flag carrier since delivery. They were retired between February and May 2021 and are currently undergoing maintenance and partial conversion at Hong Kong Int'l airport.

Heston Airlines, which secured its Air Operator's Certificate in May 2021, currently operates two A320-200s on operating leases from Genesis Aircraft Services. The airline has already signed a third A320-200, msn 2388, from the same lessor.

Airbus Updates No.3106

 

Lithuania's Heston Airlines adds first A320

Illustration of Heston Airlines Airbus A320-200© Heston Airlines

22.03.2021 - 07:07 UTC

Heston Airlines (HST, Vilnius) has taken delivery of its first aircraft, A320-200 LY-FJI (msn 2157), as it inches towards its planned April launch.

The 17.2-year-old Airbus narrowbody, previously operated by Estonia's Airest (AEG, Tallinn Lennart Meri), was ferried to Vilnius on November 17, 2020, and has since been under maintenance at the Lithuanian airport. Heston Airlines said it was registered in Lithuania on March 17, 2021.

The aircraft is owned by CRA Aircraft Ireland and managed by Seraph Aviation Management, the ch-aviation fleets ownership module shows.

The carrier plans to add two more A320s shortly. Chief Executive Jonas Rinkauskas confirmed to ch-aviation they will be LY-VUT (msn 3275), a 13.5-year-old ex-Tigerair Australia jet which is owned by Genesis Aircraft Services and managed by Seraph Aviation Management, and LY-NZL, whose identity remains undisclosed due to ongoing talks with lessors. Previously, the carrier indicated it would add msn 2112 but that is no longer planned. LY-VUT is expected to deliver on April 15, 2021.

The start-up's parent, Heston Aviation, is working together with lessor Genesis Aircraft Services to establish the airline as an all-A320 Family charter and ACMI specialist.

Heston Airlines has yet to obtain its AOC.

Airbus Updates No.2968

 

Lithuania's Heston Airlines contracts first Airbus A320

Illustration of Heston Airlines Airbus A320-200© Heston Airlines

18.12.2020 - 04:28 UTC

Heston Airlines (Vilnius) will take delivery of its first A320-200, LY-FJI (msn 2157), in the first quarter of 2021 and intends to shortly add a further two units of the type ahead of its planned launch.

The 16.9-year-old Airbus narrowbody was ferried from Tallinn Lennart Meri to Vilnius on November 17, 2020, following its retirement by the previous operator, Airest (AEG, Tallinn Lennart Meri). The aircraft is owned by CRA Aircraft Ireland and managed by Seraph Aviation Management, the ch-aviation fleets ownership module shows. For now, it remains registered as ES-LAA in Estonia and will be re-delivered by Airest in due course.

The second A320 for Heston Airlines will be LY-VUT (msn 2112), a 17.3-year-old aircraft owned by Genesis Aircraft Services and also managed by Seraph. The aircraft was last operated by Pan Pacific Airlines (8Y, Manila Ninoy Aquino Int'l) through January 2020. It is currently registered as LZ-GNF and stored at Shannon airport.

Heston Airlines' third A320-200 will be registered as LY-NZL, according to its website. The airline told ch-aviation that it was still negotiating the deal with the lessor and, as such, did not identify the aircraft.

The ACMI/charter start-up has yet to secure an Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) in Lithuania.