FlyLal Group

Avia Solutions Group is a Lithuanian-owned ACMI (aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance) provider and holding company. Established in 2010 in Vilnius, it moved its headquarters to Dublin, Ireland in 2023, and has additional offices around the world. As of January 2024, the company maintained a fleet of over 200 aircraft among the group's subsidiaries, with annual revenue of €2 billion.

History

The history of Avia Solutions Group began in 2005 when Lithuanian Airlines (LAL), the national airlines of Lithuania, was privatized. LAL investment management acquired 100% of the airline shares for 7.53 million Euro. The airline was re-branded as FlyLAL and several related companies were registered, including Baltic Ground Services (ground handling), FL Technics (aviation maintenance, repair, and operations), and Bilietų Pardavimo Centras (travel agency). In 2005, FL Technics was founded. The company opened its first hangar at Vilnius International Airport. In November 2006, Baltic Aviation Academy (now known as BAA Training) was founded, to provide professional training for aviation specialists. In 2007, JetMS was founded under the name FL Technics Jets. In 2007, Aviation Asset Management was founded (now known as AviaAM Leasing). In 2008, a charter airline called Small Planet Airlines was founded.

In 2010, the LAL companies were consolidated into Avia Solutions Group, and the group was listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange in 2011. In November 2018 it was delisted from the WSE. In 2021, the group received €300 million in financing from US-based investment management company Certares. The company moved its headquarters from Lithuania to Cyprus, and then from Cyprus to Dublin in May 2023. The company is Ireland's second largest aviation business after Ryanair.

In 2024, Avia subsidiary Ascend Airways was granted an Air Operator Certificate. It proposes to fly out of London Gatwick and Southend in England. In 2024, ASG announced plans to expand to the United States, partnering with Impact Investments, an investment firm headed by former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. In addition to financial support, the firm will advise on further strategic development in the US.

On November 12 2024, Avia ordered 40 Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft for delivery to its various ACMI airlines from 2030, with an option for an additional 40. Distribution amongst the groups subsidiary airlines is yet to be confirmed.

The company inaugurated its first Global Services Center in Manila, the Philippines, in December 2024. It supports the technical, flight operations and MRO organizations of Avia Solutions Group.

In February 2025, Brasil's aviation authority (ANAC), certified Avion Express Brasil, a subsidiary of Avion Express, a division of Avia Solutions Group, with an AOC, becoming Brasil's first ACMI operator.

Skytrans, an Australian subsidiary of Avia Solutions Group, received its AOC in March 2025, allowing it to begin ACMI operations. As a result, Skytrans added an Airbus A319 to its fleet of aircraft.

Business model

Avia Solutions Group is a holding company with subsidiaries specializing in various aircraft related businesses, including aircraft maintenance; repair and overhaul (MRO); leasing and trading of aircraft; ground handling and fueling; aviation training; personnel resourcing; and business and corporate aviation, in addition to its primary function as an ACMI provider. Among its notable subsidiaries are: SmartLynx Airlines, Avion Express, Magma Aviation and KlasJet. Some of its customers include: Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines, Wizzair, Ryanair and SAS. The group also organizes humanitarian flights, airlifts, airdrops, search and rescue, evacuation and other aircraft leasing for the United Nations, world governments and other aid groups. The company flies about 6 million passengers per year, and has over 12,000 employees located in 100 offices around the world.
As of March 2024, the company owns twelve AOC-certified airlines, with a plan to purchase seven more within the year.
Gediminas Žiemelis is the founder, chairman and majority owner of the company, and Jonas Janukenas is the CEO.

Subsidiaries

As of 2024, Avia Solutions Group controls the following companies under the following business areas:

ACMI

* AirExplore
* AMGA
* Arcus Air Logistics
* Ascend Airways
* Ascend Airways Malaysia
* Asia Pacific Leasing
* Avion Express
* Avion Express Brasil
* Avion Express Malta
* BBN Airlines
* Bluebird Nordic
* KlasJet
* Magma Aviation
* Skytrans
* SmartLynx
* SmartLynx Estonia
* SmartLynx Malta
* Thai SmartLynx Airlines

Aircraft Leasing

* AviaAM Leasing

Aviation Media and Events

* AeroTime Hub
* Air Convention
* Seven Live!

Aviation Training

* AviationCV.com

* BAA Training

Business and Corporate Aviation

* Biggin Hill FBO

* KlasJet

Cargo Aviation

* Arcus Air
* Magma Aviation

Charter Broker

* Chapman Freeborn

* Skyllence

Ground Handling

* Aviator

* BGS

MRO

* Chevron
* Flash Line Maintenance
* FL Technics
* Helisota
* JETMS
* Storm Aviation
* Wright International

Online Platforms

* Aeroclass.org
* Air Convention
* Locatory
* Momook
* Sensus Aero

Public Transport Solutions

* Busnex

Railway Freight

*BGS Rail

References

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Transport companies of Lithuania
Airline holding companies
Companies based in Vilnius
Transport companies established in 2005
Companies listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange
Lithuanian companies established in 2005