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Avion Express

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Avion Express
IATA ICAO Call sign
X9[1] NVD NORDVIND
Founded2005
SubsidiariesAvion Express Brasil
Fleet size50
Parent companyEyjafjoll SAS
(owned by Avia Solutions Group)
HeadquartersVilnius, Lithuania
Key peopleDarius Kajokas (CEO)
Revenue€205.3 million (2022)[2]
Websiteavionexpress.aero

Avion Express is a Lithuanian ACMI and aircraft leasing operator headquartered in Vilnius. The company is a part of Avia Solutions Group.[3] The company performs charter flights for tour operators departing from Vilnius, but also a ACMI service for airlines.

History

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Avion Express headquarters in Vilnius

Avion Express was established in 2005 as Nordic Solutions Air Services. At that time, the airline was operating four Saab 340 cargo and passenger aircraft. In 2008 the company was re-branded to its current name Avion Express. In 2010 Avion Express was acquired by French investment company Eyjafjoll SAS, formed by Avion Capital Partners of Switzerland along with other investors.[citation needed]

In 2011 Avion Express introduced its first Airbus A320,[4] which was the first Airbus aircraft to be registered in Lithuania. In December, two more Airbus A320s were added to the fleet. In 2013, Avion Express successfully passed the IOSA Operational Safety Audit and consequently obtained an IATA registration. The last Saab 340 cargo aircraft was removed from operation in March 2013.[5] By summer of 2014, the airline was operating a fleet of nine Airbus A320s and two Airbus A319s. That same year Avion Express established a subsidiary company Dominican Wings,[6] a low-cost airline based in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. In summer 2017 Avion Express introduced Airbus A321 aircraft to the company's fleet.[7]

In June 2017, Avion Express announced that it had sold its 65% stake in Dominican Wings to the president of the company, Mr. Victor Pacheco.[8][9]

In August 2017, Avion Express signed partnership agreement with the Lithuanian Aviation Academy (VGTU A. Gustaitis’ Aviation Institute).[10] Since autumn 2017 Avion Express has also been collaborating with BAA Training on the cadet programme.[11] According to this partnership, BAA Training is training and providing pilots to fill the vacancies for the expanding fleet of Avion Express.[12] In April 2019, Avion Express announced the launch of its first MPL Training Programme with BAA Training.[13]

In 2019 Avion Express established Avion Express Malta, a subsidiary company based in Malta.[14] The company started operations in May the same year.[15]

Destinations

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Country City Airport Notes Refs
 Austria Salzburg Salzburg Airport Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart [16]
 Egypt Sharm El Sheikh Sharm El Sheikh International Airport Seasonal [17]
Hurghada Hurghada International Airport Seasonal [17]
 Jordan Aqaba King Hussein International Airport [18]
 Lithuania Vilnius Vilnius Airport Hub

Fleet

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Avion Express Airbus A320-200

As of August 2023, Avion Express operates the following fleet: [19][20]

Aircraft In Service Passengers Notes
Airbus A319-100 1 156
Airbus A320-200 48 180
Airbus A321-200 2 220
Total 50

Incidents and accidents

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  • On 3 February 2024, Vilnius International Airport was closed after Avion Express Flight 8242 (registration LY-NVL), landing from Milan Bergamo Airport veered off the runway and onto the grass whilst landing, the aircraft maneuvered back onto the runway and taxied to the terminal. The belly has received substantial damage.[21]

References

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  1. ^ "IATA - Airline and Airport Code Search". Iata.org. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
  2. ^ "Avia Solutions Group" (PDF). www.aviasg.com.
  3. ^ "About Us". Avion Express. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  4. ^ "Avion Capital Partners - News - Avion Express launches Airbus 320 Passenger Operation". acp.aero. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  5. ^ "Avion Express retires its third and final Saab 340(F) freighter". ch-aviation. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
  6. ^ UBM (UK) Ltd. "Dominican Wings Receives First Airbus". Routesonline.com. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  7. ^ "Airline for Airline: Avion Express". Flyavex.com. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  8. ^ "Avion Express sells its Shares in Dominican Wings". Newsroom.aviator.aero. 30 June 2017. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  9. ^ "Dominican Wings relaunched as a ULCC". Ch-aviation.com. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  10. ^ Gaumina, e-solution: VGTU ITSC &. "Vilniaus Gedimino technikos universitetas - VGTU". Vgtu.lt. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  11. ^ "BAA Training collaborates with Avion Express on cadet programme". Civilaviation.training. 3 October 2017. Archived from the original on 29 March 2020. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  12. ^ "Join Avion Express Cadet Programme". Baatraining.com. 16 November 2017. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  13. ^ "Avion Express to launch its first MPL Training Programme with BAA Training". Flyavex. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
  14. ^ "Avion Express established subsidiary airline in Malta - Avion Express". Flyavex. Archived from the original on 21 February 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
  15. ^ "Global Airline Guide 2019 (Part One)". Airliner World. October 2019: 20.
  16. ^ "Avion Express Adds Vilnius – Salzburg in 1Q24". AeroRoutes. 25 October 2023. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  17. ^ a b Migonytė, Sigita. ""Tiketa Tour" pradėjo skrydžus į Egiptą". vz.lt (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  18. ^ "Avion Express Adds Vilnius – Aqaba Service in NW23". AeroRoutes. 25 October 2023. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  19. ^ "Fleet Archive". Avion Express. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  20. ^ ""Avion Express" išplėtė orlaivių parką iki 50-ties lėktuvų". 15min.lt/verslas (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  21. ^ "A passenger plane skids off the runway at Vilnius Airport, airport closed". lrt.lt (in Lithuanian). 3 February 2024. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
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