(2010-01-March) New cargo contract awarded
Avion Express has been awarded a new contract to operate a daily cargo service in Norway on behalf of Bridges Worldwide, a leading provider of neutral network solutions to the international courier and express community.
"Avion Express is delighted to fly again for Bridges Worldwide, our old customer for whom we used to fly various routes in Scandinavia and Baltic Sea region in the past. We are set to provide a reliable and efficient service which is expected from us by a highly demanding customer and we are looking to expand our co-operation in the future", says Aleksei Lupitski, Managing Director of Avion Express.
(2009-09-September) New scheduled passenger destination
Avion Express in co-operation with Vulkan Travel and Storuman Airport is opening a new destination in Sweden by adding stopover at Kramfors/Solleftea airport to the route between Storuman and Stockholm-Arlanda. Inaugural flight will depart from Kramfors on 15th of September 2009. Avion Express will offer 11 round trip flights per week to/from Kramfors to cater business and leasure travellers demand. Route is operated with a Saab 340 aircraft with 33 seats. Passengers will be offered complimentary snacks and soft drinks during the flight.
"New route is a result of close co-operation between Avion Express, Vulkan Travel and Storuman airport. Our aim is to offer more options for domestic Swedish travel market and at the same time to boost the load factor on our Storuman-Arlanda route", says Aleksei Lupitski, Managing Director of Avion Express.
For more information and ticket booking please visit http://www.avionexpress.se
Vulkan Travel press release
English http://avionexpress.lt/uploads/press/PRESS%20RELEASE%202009-09-09%20eng.pdf
Swedish http://avionexpress.lt/uploads/press/PRESS%20RELEASE%202009-09-09%20swe.pdf
(2009-01-September) Contract with Loganair extended
Avion Express has extended an ACMI contract with Scottish airline Loganair for 1 year more.
“Flying Royal Mail routes in Scotland on behalf of Loganair is a very demanding and challenging operation with zero tolerance for any delays. During past 6 month Avion Express has proved its reputation of reliable and customer focused service provider by achieving 99%+ dispatch reliability over more than 600 flights operated on this contract. We are looking forward to maintain highest possible level of customer satisfaction and to expand our co-operation with Loganair in the future”, says Aleksei Lupitski, Managing Director of Avion Express.
(2009-03-August) New cargo contract awarded
Avion Express has in the middle of the financial turmoil succeeded in placing one Saab 340 Cargo on a contract. The aircraft will operate to/from five airports within Scandinavia on behalf of TNT. "The deal has been off and on for a while and finally we found a solution to start up the long awaited service. We have still one more cargo aircraft available in the fleet and naturally our aim is to place this unit as well.", says Per Weithz.
(2009-27-March) Part-145 approval.
Avion Express has been granted Part-145 approval. As a result Avion Express will further increase its flexibility. The approval initially includes capability to perform 400 hour inspection. In the near future the 800 hour check will be the step to take. A separate arm of the Part 145 will also focus in attracting third party customers for any airplane type.
(2009-16-March) Changes to the top management of Avion Express.
Avion Express has appointed a new Managing Director, Aleksei Lupitski. Aleksei has a vast experience in administrating airlines and has an extensive network of contacts in the cargo and passenger market.
"it is always a challenge to run airlines. In Avion Express I see a great deal of potential and altogether the airline is well prepared to navigate through the present turbulence in the aviation market and in turn stand strong when next upturn will come. I always look forward to a challenge and the task of running Avion Express suits me very well" says Aleksei.
The former Avion Express Managing Director will enter the board of Avion Express.
"Aleksei is a perfect match in our aim to strengthen the Management at our head quarter in Vilnius. Aleksei´s know-how in the aviation industry and his documented experience and leadership skill is of high value to us" says Per Weithz who from now on will focus in developing the airline further in to the aviation sector.
(2009-04-March) New contract awarded to Avion Express.
Avion Express has in co-operation with Loganair signed an ACMI contract operating mail flights in Scotland, UK.
"By the time we were approached till the time the contract was signed it took no more than two days to have crew and aircraft and necessary permits in place to launch the operations. It shows that Avion Express on very short notice are able to positioning itself wherever the customer may have a requirement and I am very pleased about this fact" says Per Weithz, Managing Director of Avion Express.
He further explains; "it is an achievement to place aircraft on a contract in the current market situation, which in practice is non-existent".
(2009-11-January) New scheduled passenger services.
Avion Express signed an agreement with the Swedish airport Storuman as a result of winning the tender incorporating twice daily service between Storuman Airport and Stockholm Arlanda airport.
"The contract awarded is a success for Avion Express as we yet again will reintroduce passenger services. We have been part of similar solutions in the past operating schedueld services on behalf of Air Åland during two years time, by that time it included four Saab 340 aircraft. We are pleased to enter the passenger arena again and will look for further opportunities and not only in the Swedish domestic market" says Per Weithz the Managing Director of Avion Express.
(2008-15-December) Aviation specialist towards new goals
Johann Karason who during a six months period assisted Avion Express in creating added values to the company has now completed his task and will move on to further appointments. The Managing Director Per Weithz has been very pleased with the work performed by Johann, who was the creator behind the contract signed with Storuman Airport.
"The expected added value and his expertise has helped us a lot, it has been a pleasure to work with Johann Karason and I wish him all the best for his new venture, he will now be head of the Avico aviation company based in Arizona, US" says Per
(2008-14-October) Services outsourced.
Avion Express has taken on a project which involves taking part in and supervising the redelivery of one Saab 340 passenger model currently leased by Nordic Regional Airways based in Arlanda, Sweden. It is likely that the aircraft will be added to Avion Express' fleet as the forth aircraft but negotiation are ongoing as to what projects the aircraft can be placed on.
(2008-01-October) Third Saab 340 cargo test-flown.
The third cargo aircraft to be added to the fleet will be test-flown this week out of Linköping where the aircraft has been on maintenance for the last few months. Some delays were in the final work being completed on account of summer holidays and engine requirements. Once the aircraft has been issued its C of A by the Lithuanian authorities it is expected to be signed on a long term charter agreement but Avion Express has been in close talks with several potential clients. The aircraft bearing registration mark LY-NSB comes on lease from Avion Aircraft Trading, the parent company of Avion Express.
(2008-01-September) Captain Martin Steisner appointed Chief Pilot
Captain Martin Steisner has been appointed Chief Pilot of Avion Express. Captain Steisner brings with him great experience in operating the Saabs and he will play a big role in improving company procedures to further increase the reliability of our fleet.
"The SOPs and the adherence to them plays a big role in keeping technical reliability at a maximum and it will Captain Steisner priority to see to it that we get the most out of these machines" says Per Weithz Managing Director adding
"I would like to take the opportunity to welcome Martin to his new post and I wish him every bit of success".
(2008-21-August) Avion Express starts operating scheduled services between Riga and Västerås in Sweden for Bridges.
(2008-30-June) Avion Express signes a Saab 340A Cargo Aircraft with Air Charter Services (ACS) in the UK
Avion Express has today signed an agreement with ACS, which calls for one Saab 340A Cargo aircraft to be based in East Midlands under ACS' managed fleet arrangement. The agreement is a one year agreement where ACS will be handling all the marketing of the said unit as well as have total commercial control.
"This is a milestone for Avion Express at a point where the airline is entering the cargo market again after absence since last year. It is important for Avex to partner up with a strong and steady partner who has great experience in the ad-hoc cargo market. I am very pleased with the signing and I look forward to seeing Avex being elevated to a higher platform, there is more to come!"
said Johann Karason, who is representing the majority shareholder's interest and assisting the company's management in an ongoing reform said to bring an even stronger Avion Express to the market, be it in the cargo or passenger sector.
Avion Express is now expecting the next two Cargo Aicraft to be ready at the end of June but the company has seen some delays with current maintenance organizations which has prompted the company to sign up with OLT in Bremen to bring back one of those units into service. The other remains in Linköping with TAM, which has been a long term service provider.
(2008-27-June) Avion Express reaches agreement with OLT Maintenance Facility in Bremen.
Avion Express has reached an agreement with German Maintenance Facility OLT in Bremen to performed the required maintenance on one of the three Cargo aircraft that are due to be entered into service with the airline this summer. The aircraft in question had been lined up with Swedish maintenance provider TAM in Orebro but due to a very heavy work schedule along with midsummer kicking in the slot had shifted towards August. Mr. Johann Onfjord Karason, recently appointed by Avion Aircraft Trading to look after its Lithuanian investment said
"this delay would have proven to be devastating for us, we have been waiting too long for the delivery of this aircraft and we simply had to act on the delay. With OLT coming to the rescue we are gaining one month of revenue. I also have full confidence in the German facility and I am confident this will mark the beginning of a long relationship with them if all goes well. We understand TAM's situation and we will continue our relationship with them as well but its always wise not to keep all eggs in one basket".
The company is hoping that the aircraft will be ready at the end of July provided that there are no big surprises.
(2008-17-June) The first of the three Saab 340A Cargo signed off at Ostrava
Today the first of the three Saab 340A cargo aircraft that will be added to the fleet was signed at the Jobair maintenance facilities in Ostrava. The aircraft will be deployed to central Europe to be standby for ad-hoc availability. The Aircraft, which carries 3,8 tons and is considered to extremely fuel efficient will be a good addition to the ad-hoc market where demand is quite high at the moment for turbo props given the enormously high fuel rates.
(2008-10-May) Avion Aircraft Trading hf brings in consultant to further strengthen infrastructure
The majority shareholder Avion Aircraft Trading hf has brought in former VP Sales & Marketing of Air Atlanta Icelandic, Mr. Johann Onfjord Karason, to work with the management of the Airline in what it says is a step towards further strengthening the Airline in its re-entry into the cargo sector. Mr. Karason was with the once largest ACMI operator in the world, Air Atlanta Icelandic, for 15 years and he has 12 years experience of operations and sales and marketing. This will prove to be a strong reinforcement to Avion Express where the goal has been set high. With this addition the company is adamant that it will reach new heights and its potential will be transformed into reality.
(2008-01-May) Three Saab 340A Cargo to be added to the fleet
Three Saab 340A cargo aircraft will be added to the fleet in the coming weeks. The Aircraft, which are currently in Ostrava, Malmö and Orebro will all be taken for maintenance and brought back into service from their respective storage programs. Jobair in Ostrava has currently accepted to work on the first one, msn 037, which is expected to be ready by the end of the month. Avion Express is currently in discussions with MRO's in Sweden to assist in getting the other two aicraft back into service. All three Aircraft are owened by Siemens Financial Services AB.
(2008-28-April) Icelanders take over Swedish airlines
A disagreement between founder Per Weithz and previous part owner, Gothenburg based Nordic Solutions Air Services took a new direction as Icelandic based Avion Aircraft Trading HF. swept in to acquire a majority stake in the Vilnius based airline. The Managing Director, Per Weithz states
“I am very pleased with the new owners as they have a wealth of experience in the aviation business and they have the financial strength to take this company to new heights and give us the backing we need here in Lithuania. This also means we will be adding three more Saab 340A in cargo configuration to our fleet and possibly one passenger aircraft as well increasing our fleet size to seven or eight aircraft”.