Market Intelligence: -Airline Aircraft Orders

Avia Solutions Group Acquires Australian Airline Skytrans

Avia Solutions Group, the world’s largest ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance) provider with a fleet of 199 aircraft, has signed a Share Purchase Agreement to acquire Australian airline, Skytrans. The acquisition process is planned to be completed in March 2024, subject to the fulfillment of specific transaction conditions.

Skytrans is an Australian-owned and operated airline and air charter business. The airline operates Regular Public Transport (RPT) and charter services, with a current fleet spanning 13 regional aircraft.

The acquisition of Skytrans will grant the group an Air Operator Certificate (AOC) in Australia, allowing it to operate both passenger and cargo flights. This is a significant step in the strategic expansion of the group in the Asia-Pacific region. Avia Solutions Group currently holds 11 AOCs globally. By the end of 2024, the group aims to establish and acquire 7 additional airlines in various countries, including Brazil, Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia, Australia, Indonesia, and Turkey.

“One of the main strategic objectives of the group is to expand into markets that have the opposite seasonality to Europe. Australia is a new addition to our group’s global footprint, where we see significant potential and growth opportunities, enabling us to offer ACMI services”, says Jonas Janukenas, CEO of Avia Solutions Group.

CEO of Skytrans, Alan Milne, highlights the new possibilities that the company will unlock after joining the Avia Solutions Group family. “Becoming a part of the group will give us the chance to benefit from the best business practices and experience, as well as expanding our operations, fleet, and geographic reach, while strengthening our position in the market”.

Avia Solutions Group is the parent company to SmartLynx Airlines, Avion Express, AirExplore, KlasJet, Magma Aviation, and more, operating worldwide. The group also comprises a leading global provider of MRO services, FL Technics, with 100 line maintenance stations worldwide and maintenance hangars in Lithuania, Indonesia, and the United Kingdom. Furthermore, Avia Solutions Group also operates the largest independent pilot training organization, BAA Training, with schools in Spain, Lithuania, and Vietnam.

Source: Avia Solutions Group

Related Posts

Dubai-based Aircraft Lessor and Indian Airline Announce Lease Agreement for Turboprop Jets

Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) Ltd announced that it has reached an agreement with FLY91 for the lease of 2 ATR 72-600 aircraft. The aircraft are scheduled to deliver in 2024 and are expected to be the first aircraft to enter FLY91’s fleet.

FLY91 is a regional carrier that strives to enhance air connectivity from tier 2 and tier 3 towns across India. Founded by industry veterans and backed by professional funding, FLY91 aspires to make air travel accessible to every Indian. This vision is reflected in their selection of ATR 72-600 fleet, which is a smart choice for efficient and sustainable operations from most regional airports in the country.

Commenting on the announcement, Firoz Tarapore, Chief Executive Officer of DAE, said, “We are delighted to have reached an agreement with FLY91 as their first operating lessor, supporting their vision to enhance regional connectivity in India. We thank FLY91 for their trust in DAE as a partner and look forward to deepening this relationship over time.”

Manoj Chacko, Chief Executive Officer of FLY91, added, “India’s aviation sector is expanding at an unprecedented rate, and FLY91 is proud to be part of this growth story. We are firmly committed to the country’s development through last mile air connectivity, that aim to serve the unserved & under-served cities in India. As we prepare for take-off, our focus is to provide safe, reliable, and comfortable flights to our customers. We are thrilled to partner with DAE on this exciting journey and are thankful for their reaffirmation on FLY91’s vision for strengthening regional aviation in India”.

DAE currently owns and manages a total of 66 ATR 72-600 aircraft.

About FLY91

FLY91 (Just Udo Aviation Private Limited) is a pure play regional airline headquartered in Goa, that strives to enhance air connectivity across tier 2 and tier 3 cities in India. Founded by industry veterans and backed by professional funding, FLY91 is committed to enhance last mile air connectivity and will connect over 50 cities across India in the next five years. As part of this plan, FLY91 will induct 30 aircraft into its fleet which will be based at multiple hubs across the country. This vision is reflected in its selection of ATR 72-600 aircraft, which is a robust & established choice for safe, efficient, and sustainable operations for regional airlines globally.

About DAE

Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) Ltd is a globally recognized aviation services corporation with two divisions: DAE Capital and DAE Engineering. Headquartered in Dubai, DAE serves over 170 airline customers in over 65 countries from its seven office locations in Dubai, Dublin, Amman, Singapore, Miami, New York, and Seattle.

DAE Capital is an award-winning aircraft lessor with an owned, managed, and committed fleet of approximately 500 Airbus, ATR and Boeing aircraft with a fleet value exceeding US$17 billion. DAE Engineering provides regional MRO services to customers in Europe, Middle East, Africa, and South Asia from its state-of-the-art facility in Amman, Jordan, accommodating up to 17 wide and narrow body aircraft. It is authorized to work on 15 aircraft types and has regulatory approval from over 25 regulators globally.

Source: Dubai Aerospace Enterprise
Photo Credit: Dubai Aerospace Enterprise

Related Posts

India’s Union Minister for Civil Aviation Shri Jyotiraditya M Scindia inaugurates Asia’s Largest Aviation Expo-Wings India 2024

The largest event in the Civil Aviation sector in Asia, the mesmerizing four-day “Wings India 24” extravaganza kickstarted in Hyderabad on January 18, 2024. Spanning across commercial, general, and business aviation, the theme for the show is “Connecting India to the World in Amrit Kaal: Setting the Stage for India Civil Aviation @2047”. Held at Begumpet Airport in Hyderabad, the inaugural session of the Global Aviation Summit was inaugurated by the Union Minister of Civil Aviation and Steel, Shri. Jyotiraditya M. Scindia.

Inaugurating the event, Shri Jyotiraditya M Scindia said, “The philosophy of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbkum” truly epitomizes the objectives of civil aviation connecting the world as one family while addressing local aspiration of the ordinary citizens to fly.” The Union Minister said that Aviation sector is one of the key drivers of economic development and its growth in the emerging economies has been incredible. The aviation economy provides significant economic and social benefits as it facilitates tourism, trade, connectivity, generates economic growth, provides jobs, and provide a lifeline for remote communities and enable a rapid response during unprecedented situations. The Indian aviation sector symbolises 3As: Accessibility, Availability and Affordability.

Talking about India’s civil aviation growth story, the Minister said that India is the shining star in the Civil Aviation landscape. “Total number of domestic pax rose from 60 million in 2014 to 143 million in 2020 growing at a CAGR of 14.5% and is expected to have crossed the figure of 150 million in 2023. We are clocking more than 4.5 lakh Pax a day on a regular basis with a high of 4.67 lakh domestic passengers recently. In the six years leading to FY 2020 the number of international passengers had also grown at CAGR of 6.1 per cent. Domestic Cargo volumes handled by Indian airports in the 15 years leading to FY 2019 increased by 60 per cent while international cargo volumes increased by 53 per cent. Despite tremendous growth in recent times, India still remains highly under-penetrated market. Even if, as per projections, the number of domestic passengers reaches 635 million by FY 2030, India will still be one of the least penetrated of the 20 largest markets,” Shri Scindia said.

ShriScindia talked about ensuring State of the Art Aviation Infrastructure for Amrit Kaal.“Under guidance of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, we have already taken unprecedented steps across the spectrum to create capacities, remove bottlenecks and simplify processes and procedures and ensure that in 2047, India has an aviation system that supports a USD 20 Trillion economy. We are not only focusing on airplanes and airports, but the development and enhancement of building a holistic airline ecosystem that has strong roots across the value chain. As part of this vision, we have doubled number of Airports in the country in the last 9 years, increasing from 74 in 2014 to 149 now. Government of India has so far accorded ‘in-principle’ approval for setting up of 21 Greenfield Airports across the country out of which 12 Greenfield airports have been operationalised. We are also working on Capacity Enhancement at our Metro Airports where our overall capacity is slated to rise from 221 MPPA currently to over 468 MPPA in the next decade or so,” he informed.

The Minister said that under PMs Flagship scheme RCS-UDAN, 76 airports in Tier-3 and Tier-4 and other remote corner of the country have been operationalized, thus enhancing last mile connectivity. “Over the past 6 years, UDAN has unlocked the true potential of our country by promoting tourism, boosting trade, and empowering local economies. Airstrips and Airports languishing since 2nd World War have been transformed under this scheme and are now giving wings to flyers in the remotest parts of the country. More than 1.32 Crore people have benefited from this scheme in more than 2.5 Lakh flights. We have also provided VGF of almost Rs 3,100 crores, awarded 1300 UDAN routes and operationalized 517 routes under the scheme. To ensure seamless Last Mile Connectivity in the country we are also working promote growth of Helicopters and Small Aircrafts in India. We have conducted special UDAN rounds for Small Aircraft Schemes, Seaplane Routes and Helicopter Routes. To enhance safety of helicopter operations and provide all-weather day/night access, we are working to rollout a helicopter specific low-level IFR route using GAGAN. In addition to Aviation Infrastructure we are addressing issues of Capacity building across the value chain including Human Resources. We have liberalized policies so as to ensure adequate availability of Pilots, Cabin Crew, Engineers, etc. in the country. We have substantially increased number of FTOs in the country which shall ensure adequate supply of trained resourced for the Industry. We have been issuing record number of Commercial Pilot Licenses in the country over the last two years with the figure crossing 1,622 CPLs in 2023 which surpassed the previous best figure of 1165 CPLs clocked in 2022 by 40%,” the Minister said.

Seven major announcements were made at Wings India 2024:

  • Release of the joint knowledge paper on civil aviation by FICCI and KPMG
  • Launch of UDAN 5.3
  • Launch of the Airbus-Air India Training Centre, with the purchase of more airplanes and the setting of a flight training center in Gurugram with 10 flight simulators and 10,000 pilots being trained in the coming years
  • Airbus manufacturing contracts with TATA ASL and Mahindra Aerospace Structures Pvt. Ltd. to foster more pilots.
  • GMR and IndiGo also signed a consortium to collaborate with multiple patterns in developing sustainable training in the aerospace industry
  • Inauguration of the GMR School of Aviation
  • Deal announcement of Akasa Air with a triple order of 200 aircrafts in a period of 17 months

The event was graced by Minister of State, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Road Transport and Highways, Gen. (Retd) Dr. V.K. Singh, Minister of Road & Buildings and Cinematography, Government of Telangana, Shri Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Shri Asangba Chuba Ao.

Source: Ministry of Civil Aviation
Photo Credit: Ministry of Civil Aviation

Related Posts

Overall Indian Commercial Fleet to Increase Fourfold, Says Global Aircraft Manufacturer Boeing

According to Boeing, in South Asia led by India, there will be a demand for 37,000 pilots and 38,000 maintenance technicians. The annual growth rate of India’s air passenger traffic is projected to be 8%, resulting in the addition of over 2,500 planes in the next two decades. This is because Indian airlines fleet is expected to increase fourfold following major aircraft orders placed in the last couple of years.

Source: Boeing
Photo Credit: Boeing (shown as meta image)

Related Posts

Aircraft Lessor Receives First of 30 Ordered ATR Turboprop Aircraft for a Strong Start in 2024

On January 15, 2024 ATR kicked off the year with a significant milestone by delivering its first aircraft, ATR 72-600, to Abelo, a leading leasing company. Abelo then placed the plane to the Greek airline SKY Express. This delivery marks an important moment as it’s the first of 30 aircraft ordered by Abelo, showing ATR’s strong beginning for the year and the trust they have from customers and leasing companies.

The ATR 72-600 is a fuel-efficient aircraft that will help SKY Express improve regional connectivity in Greece. It’s replacing older models, bringing advanced features, and making operations more efficient. The aircraft is designed for a smooth and comfortable experience for passengers during regional travel.

The delivery amplifies the high demand for new turboprop aircraft, emphasizing the confidence Abelo has placed in ATR, as reflected in their substantial orderbook. This move reaffirms Abelo’s commitment to investing in cutting-edge, low-emission aviation solutions.

ATR’s strong start to the year serves as a testament to the company’s dedication to providing innovative aircraft that meet the evolving demands of the regional aviation market. With a solid track record of excellence and a focus on sustainability, ATR continues to lead the industry by driving regional connectivity and fostering economic growth globally.

Source: ATR
Photo Credit: ATR

Related Posts

Indian Airline Akasa Air Places Order for Additional 150 Boeing B737MAX

18 January 2024: Akasa Air, India’s fastest-growing airline, announced a firm order of 150 fuel-efficient Boeing 737 MAX aircraft at WINGS India 2024, Asia’s largest civil aviation event being held at Hyderabad this week.

The latest order, comprising of 737 MAX 10 and 737 MAX 8-200 jets will provide the airline a steady aircraft delivery stream through 2032, cementing the company’s domestic and international expansion plans.

With this milestone announcement, the first of its kind made at an airshow in India, Akasa Air becomes the only Indian airline in the history of civil aviation to reach an order book of over 200 aircraft within a span of 17 months of commencing operations. This landmark aircraft order is a testimony of the airline’s solid financial foundation and showcases Boeing’s confidence in Akasa Air’s future.

Speaking from the WINGS 2024 airshow at Hyderabad, Vinay Dube, Founder and CEO, Akasa Air said “This large and historic aircraft order puts Akasa on a path of becoming one of the top 30 leading airlines in the world, by the turn of this decade. Akasa’s remarkable growth testifies the sheer promise that India holds as an aviation market, and we are thrilled to be a part of this journey.

These additions to our fleet will help us bolster the strength of our operations as we expand our footprint and foray into international skies in the very near future. Each addition to our fleet brings us closer to our purpose of connecting people, places, and cultures. We are confident in our ability to be able to serve millions of satisfied travellers across the globe, as we step into the next phase of our growth”, he added.

“We are at a cusp where it is natural for our ecosystem to celebrate our financial stability, growth potential and market share. However, I am most proud of what Akasa and its employees have been able to achieve in terms of reliability and service excellence while pursuing the highest standards of safety in global aviation. This underscores our growth philosophy of expanding in step with the laser focussed delivery of industry leading customer experience”, Vinay concluded.

In 2021, Akasa Air had placed its initial order of 72 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, which was followed up with an order of 4 Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft in June 2023. This new deal in January 2024, takes the airline’s order book to an impressive total of 226 aircraft. Akasa Air currently operates a fleet of 22 aircraft and will receive deliveries of a total of 204 aircraft over the course of eight years.

Reaffirms commitment to sustainability and customer experience

Aligning with the airline’s commitment to sustainability, the 737 MAX family provides greater range and fuel efficiency, reducing fuel use and carbon emissions by 20% compared to those it replaces. In addition, the 737 MAX is a quieter airplane with a 50% lower noise footprint than replacement airplanes. The 737 MAX family also provides the lowest seat-mile costs for a single-aisle airplane as well as high dispatch reliability and enhanced passenger experience. The seats provide enhanced comfort and ample legroom and will come with USB ports, allowing passengers to charge their devices on the go. Further, in keeping with Akasa Air’s commitment to be India’s most dependable airline, a homogenous fleet will allow the airline to reduce operational complexities and offer reliable operations.

Since inception, Akasa Air has received immense appreciation for its distinguished offerings including its inflight meal service – Café Akasa, pet carriage policy – Pets on Akasa, as well as the signature warm service delivered on ground and inflight. The airline’s category-defining product, service, on time leadership and operational efficiencies have resulted in consistent passenger load factors and extremely positive customer feedback.

Akasa Air has established a strong presence connecting metros with tier 2 and 3 cities across the country. Since its launch in August 2022, Akasa Air has served over 6.3 million passengers and connects with 18 cities across India, namely Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kochi, Delhi, Guwahati, Agartala, Pune, Lucknow, Goa, Hyderabad, Varanasi, Bagdogra, Bhubaneswar, Kolkata, Port Blair and Ayodhya. Bookings for flights on Akasa Air are available on its website – www.akasaair.com, Android & IOS app as well as through travel agents and several OTAs across the country

As the airline plans to expand its footprint in India, the Middle East and Southeast Asia, this latest order will support Akasa Air’s ambitions and cater to the country’s burgeoning air travel demand, on way to becoming the largest aviation market by 2047.

About Akasa Air

Akasa Air is India’s most dependable airline, offering warm and efficient customer service, reliable operations, and affordable fares – all in the Akasa Way. Akasa’s youthful personality, employee-centric philosophy, tech-led approach, and culture of service will make this commitment a reality for all Indians. The carrier launched its first commercial flight on 07 August 2022 to support the growing demand across India. With a commitment to being socially responsible, Akasa Air has placed a firm order of 226 Boeing 737 MAX airplanes, powered by CFM fuel-efficient, LEAP-1B engines. The 737 MAX family aircraft deliver superior efficiency in reducing fuel use and carbon emissions, fulfilling the airline’s promise of being an environmentally progressive company with the youngest and greenest fleet in the Indian skies.

Source: Akasa Air

Related Posts