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| Founded | 2005 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AOC # | LT.AOC.003 in Lithuania
MT-56 in Malta 16,474/SPO in Brazil | ||||||
| Operating bases | Vilnius | ||||||
| Subsidiaries | Avion Express Malta Avion Express Brasil | ||||||
| Fleet size | 55 | ||||||
| Parent company | Eyjafjoll SAS (owned by Avia Solutions Group) | ||||||
| Headquarters | Vilnius, Lithuania | ||||||
| Key people | Darius Kajokas (CEO) | ||||||
| Revenue | €205.3 million (2022)[2] | ||||||
| Website | avionexpress | ||||||
Avion Express is a provider of ACMI (aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance) services to other carriers. Headquartered in Vilnius, it operates a fleet of 55 Airbus A320-family aircraft and holds air operator certificates in Lithuania, Malta and Brazil, with additional certificates under development in the Philippines and Mexico.[3]
History
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 passed the IOSA Operational Safety Audit and 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 the summer of 2017, Avion Express introduced Airbus A321 aircraft.[7] In June 2017, Avion Express announced that it had sold its 65% stake in Dominican Wings to the president of the company.[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][12][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]
In early 2025, the company’s Brazilian subsidiary, Avion Express Brasil, received its air operator certificate (AOC), with plans to operate up to 25 aircraft by 2028.[16] As of 2025, Avion Express holds AOCs in Lithuania, Malta, and Brazil, with an AOC under development in the Philippines and Mexico.[17] Avion Express is in the process of obtaining an AOC in Mexico.[18]
Fleet
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As of June 2025, Avion Express operates the following fleet:
| Aircraft | In service | Passengers |
|---|---|---|
| Airbus A320-200 | 54 | 180 |
| Airbus A321-200 | 1 | 220 |
| Total | 55 |
Incidents and accidents
- 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 received substantial damage.[19]
References
- ^ "IATA - Airline and Airport Code Search". Iata.org. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
- ^ "Avia Solutions Group" (PDF). www.aviasg.com.
- ^ "About Us". Avion Express. Retrieved 12 October 2021.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Avion Express retires its third and final Saab 340(F) freighter". ch-aviation. Retrieved 13 May 2018.
- ^ UBM (UK) Ltd. "Dominican Wings Receives First Airbus". Routesonline.com. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
- ^ "Airline for Airline: Avion Express". Flyavex.com. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
- ^ "Avion Express sells its Shares in Dominican Wings". Newsroom.aviator.aero. 30 June 2017. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
- ^ "Dominican Wings relaunched as a ULCC". Ch-aviation.com. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
- ^ Gaumina, e-solution: VGTU ITSC &. "Vilniaus Gedimino technikos universitetas - VGTU". Vgtu.lt. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Join Avion Express Cadet Programme". Baatraining.com. 16 November 2017. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
- ^ "Avion Express to launch its first MPL Training Programme with BAA Training". Flyavex. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
- ^ "Avion Express established subsidiary airline in Malta - Avion Express". Flyavex. Archived from the original on 21 February 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
- ^ "Global Airline Guide 2019 (Part One)". Airliner World. October 2019: 20.
- ^ Aviacionline. "Avion Express Brasil Secures AOC, Targets 25-Aircraft Fleet by 2028". Aviacionline | Aviacionline es el sitio de aviación en español más leído del mundo. Presenta noticias de aerolíneas, aviones, aeropuertos, y demás. (in Spanish). Retrieved 25 June 2025.
- ^ "About Us - AVION EXPRESS". avionexpress.aero. Archived from the original on 9 June 2025. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
- ^ Daniel Martinez Garbuno (5 May 2025). "Lithuania's Avion Express eyes Mexican AOC by 2027". ch-aviation.
- ^ "A passenger plane skids off the runway at Vilnius Airport, airport closed". lrt.lt (in Lithuanian). 3 February 2024. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
External links
Media related to Avion Express at Wikimedia Commons
