KlasJet

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KlasJet
IATA ICAO Callsign
KLJ KLASLINE
Founded2013
Fleet size14
Parent companyAvia Solutions Group
HeadquartersVilnius, Lithuania
Key peopleJustinas Bulka (Managing Director)
Websitehttps://klasjet.aero/

KlasJet is a Lithuanian charter airline that specializes in business-class charter flights. Having its headquarters located in Vilnius, it is a subsidiary of Avia Solutions Group offering VIP charter flights, ACMI services and in-flight management services in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia with its B738 fleet.

History[edit]

LY-KDT, Boeing737-500 (KlasJet)

KlasJet was founded in October 2013 by Avia Solutions Group. Its first aircraft model was Bombardier Challenger 850.[1]

KlasJet was awarded an AOC certificate in 2014 and began to carry out commercial flights. KlasJet has added one more Challenger 850 aircraft and finished operations with the jet in 2019.[2]

In 2015, KlasJet added Hawker 800XP to its fleet. The airline finished using the aircraft for operations in 2019.[3]

In 2016, KlasJet purchased the first Boeing 737-500 and started the refurbishment. In 2017 the company received a type-A license for commercial operations allowing flights with over 20 passengers on board, and started operating flights with the refurbished VIP Boeing 737-500.[4] 

During the 2017-2018 Euroleague season, KlasJet transported players of the Lithuanian basketball club Zalgiris Kaunas.[5][6] In February 2018, the Canadian men's ice hockey team arrived at the Olympics in South Korea and chose the Boeing 737-500 for their transportation.[7] The model was properly configured for its use as a sports team aircraft.[8]

By 2018-2019, KlasJet had added four more of the same-model aircraft, VIP Boeing 737-500, to its fleet.[9][10][11][12]

In March 2020, KlasJet free of charge transported the shipment with dozens of thousands of medical masks and gloves to Lithuania.[13] In June 2021 KlasJet repatriated citizens stranded by COVID-19 from Ghana to South Korea.[14]

In 2020, in collaboration with cargo airline Bluebird Nordic, KlasJet added air cargo services to its portfolio and expanded its fleet by contracting a cargo aircraft Boeing 737-300. The company has operated the jet until 2021.[15]

Since 2021, KlasJet pilots have been participating in the Pilot Peer Support Program (PPSP) through BAA Training.[16]

In December 2021 KlasJet transported two rescued wild animals to northern Tanzania. The transportation was unprecedented since both animals were transported inside the cabin of KlasJet Boeing 737-500.[17]

In February 2023, it launched ACMI (a short for "Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance") services and added eight Boeing 737-800 aircraft to its fleet.[18][19][20] Also, in February, the first of two, Boeing 737-500, aircraft was moved to Dubai World Central for leasing with another, Boeing 737-300, to be moved a month later. In March 2023, the company introduced its Boeing 737-300 for the UK market and has decided to move two aircraft to Dubai World Central (DWC).[21][22][23]

Aircraft Fleet[edit]

As of 2023, KlasJet's charter fleet consists of the following aircraft:

Aircraft type Quantity
Boeing 737-500 3
Boeing 737-300 2
Boeing 737-800 7
Challenger 850 1
Boeing 737 BBJ2 1
Total 14

References[edit]

  1. ^ Rekvizitai.lt. "KlasJet". Rekvizitai.lt. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  2. ^ "Lithuania's KlasJet secures AOC, begins operations". ch-aviation. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  3. ^ "Lithuania's KlasJet adds a maiden Hawker 800XP". ch-aviation. Retrieved 2023-05-17.
  4. ^ Sarsfield2017-07-04T16:26:13+01:00, Kate. "KlasJet adds VIP 737-500 to its charter fleet". Flight Global. Retrieved 2023-05-17.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ Press (2019-11-11). "Research Reveals a Shocking Fact Behind Some Athletes' Success". Aviation News - Aviation Voice. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  6. ^ "Kauno "Žalgiris" surado naują pagrindinį rėmėją | Eurolyga | 15min.lt". 2020-02-18. Archived from the original on 2020-02-18. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  7. ^ "News in Aviatioin Industry, Avia Solutions Group | AviaSG". aviasg.com. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  8. ^ Dominykas (2018-02-08). "Canadian Ice Hockey Players Arrived to Olympics With Unique Boeing 737 - Aviation News". Aviation News - Aviation Voice. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  9. ^ Press (2019-09-24). "Fly in Style: Luxurious Boeing 737-500 Refurbishment by KlasJet". Aviation News - Aviation Voice. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  10. ^ Dominykas (2019-07-23). "KlasJet Strengthens Its Positions in Business Aviation". Aviation News - Aviation Voice. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  11. ^ Dominykas (2019-01-18). "KlasJet Becomes a Leading Player in Business Aviation". Aviation News - Aviation Voice. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  12. ^ Sheppard, Ian. "KlasJet Adds Two Boeing 737s for VIP Charter". Aviation International News. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  13. ^ "Help from China: thousands of medical masks and gloves sent to Lituania". DELFI. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  14. ^ Siebenmark, Jerry. "KlasJet Takes On 'Most Demanding' Repatriation Mission". Aviation International News. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  15. ^ Tamm, Heike (2020-04-28). "KlasJet adds cargo services to its portfolio by collaborating with BlueBird Nordic". AviTrader Aviation News. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  16. ^ Sponsored (2021-09-01). "BAA Training Introduces a PPSP to Its Flight Students and Instructors". Aviation News - Aviation Voice. Retrieved 2023-05-17.
  17. ^ "Simba the lion and Eve the leopard board an exclusive flight to Tanzania - AeroTime". 2021-12-03. Retrieved 2023-05-17.
  18. ^ Orban, André (2023-02-09). "KlasJet begins ACMI operations and adds 8 Boeing 737-800 aircraft to fleet". Aviation24.be. Retrieved 2023-05-17.
  19. ^ Field, James (2023-02-11). "KlasJet Bolsters ACMI Offering With Eight More 737-800s". AviationSource News. Retrieved 2023-05-17.
  20. ^ Orban, André (2022-08-29). "Private jet operator KlasJet expands fleet with 15 Boeing 737NGs and 3 VIP aircraft". Aviation24.be. Retrieved 2023-05-17.
  21. ^ Italiavola (2023-02-25). "KlasJet mette due aerei VVIP a Dubai". Italiavola & Travel (in Italian). Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  22. ^ "KlasJet introduces luxury Boeing 737-300 for UK market - AeroTime". 2023-02-15. Retrieved 2023-04-14.
  23. ^ "KlasJet stations refurbished Boeing 737-300 in the UK". Business Jet Interiors. 2023-02-20. Retrieved 2023-04-14.