Avion Express CEO Darius Kajokas states that the company is focused on preparing for operations in Brazil and expanding in the Americas. He emphasizes that Esteban’s experience in this market is expected to be highly beneficial for both the company and its clients.

鈥濰aving worked in managerial positions at Aerolineas Argentinas, GOL Linhas Aereas, and Avianca, Esteban is a great leader, and I am truly glad he is joining our team. As we focus not only on obtaining AOC and starting operations in Brazil but also on continue developing the ACMI market across the Americas, having a leader with deep knowledge of the local market is very important. I am confident that Esteban’s expertise and leadership will help to drive the business of Avion Express Brasil to success by creating financial and operational benefits via ACMI services to the airlines in Brazil and the broader region of the Americas鈥�, – says D. Kajokas.

The new CEO of Avion Express Brasil, Esteban Jauregui Lorda, previously worked as the Fleet Director at Avianca. He began his aviation career in 2007 as a Technical Purchaser for Aerol铆neas Argentinas, later transitioning to the company精东影业 Fleet Department in 2009, and later on managed fleets at Brazil精东影业 GOL Airlines and at Arajet in the Dominican Republic.

鈥淚 have been following Avion Express Brasil from the very beginning. With my extensive market knowledge, I always knew that something like it was needed and that it has tremendous potential. The ACMI sector is quite undeveloped in South America due to lack of investment and would greatly benefit from Europe-based assets to offset lower demand during winter seasons. Naturally, as soon as I was given the opportunity to not only become a part of this company but to actually lead it, I said 鈥榶es鈥� with barely a moment of hesitation,鈥� said Esteban Jauregui Lorda, the CEO of Avion Express Brasil.

Esteban Jauregui Lorda also mentioned that he has an ambition that Avion Express will establish itself as the most relevant ACMI supplier in the region, opening the ACMI market and raising awareness of its advantages.

鈥淭he goal is to provide a cost-efficient, turn-key ready solution for capacity demands during peak season to the Brazilian and South American carriers. In the near term, the top priority is certification and developing a strong team to partner with local airlines to be the top-of-mind ACMI solution鈥�, – shares Esteban.

Avion Express Brasil is part of an ambitious expansion project launched by its parent company, Avion Express, to consolidate its presence in Latin America. Specializing in narrow-body ACMI operations, Avion Express now operates a fleet of over 50 Airbus A320 family aircraft. Customer airlines of Avion Express include Air France-KLM Group Airlines, British Airways Group Airlines, Lufthansa Group Airlines, SKY Airline, SunExpress, TUI, VivaAerobus, Wizzair, and many others.

Avion Express is part of Avia Solutions Group 鈥� the world精东影业 largest ACMI service company group, which operates a fleet of more than 200 aircraft. Companies belonging to the group also provide a variety of other aviation services, such as aircraft maintenance and repair, pilot and crew training, and ground handling.

Traditionally, airlines ramp up their schedules and resources for the busy summer months, leading to overcapacity and underutilized assets during the quieter winter season. This seasonal imbalance can strain finances, as maintaining profitability is challenging when aircraft and crews are underutilized in winter.

To manage these seasonal peaks and troughs more effectively, airlines are increasingly turning to ACMI (aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance) leasing, also known as wet leasing. This strategy allows airlines to lease additional aircraft, from ACMI providers such as Avion Express, along with the necessary crew and maintenance services, during peak demand periods, and return them during off-peak times.

Avion Express is a Europe-based, narrow-body ACMI and charter airline, operating a fleet of over 50 Airbus A320 family aircraft. With two decades in the industry, the airline boasts being one of the largest passenger ACMI narrow-body carrier globally by number of aircraft, number of flights and production hours also known as block hours.

鈥淭he main reason why our business exists is seasonality, because there is different seasonality between different continents,鈥� shares Avion Express CEO, Darius Kajokas in an Aviation Forum interview.

ACMI leasing offers a significant advantage in maintaining high aircraft utilization rates and operational efficiency. By using wet leases, airlines can avoid the financial losses associated with winter overcapacity and underutilized assets.

This approach also provides a buffer against unexpected demand spikes or delays in new aircraft deliveries, offering a reliable and scalable solution to capacity management.

Global infrastructure key to ACMI success shares Avia Solutions Group, CEO

• Aircraft
• Airlines

byAvia Solutions Group

2024-05-15

鈥淲e are a 鈥楤2B鈥� company, we are never in the tickets selling business, [rather] we provide our services to the airlines,鈥� shares Kajokas.

Today Avion Express, has a team of more than 1,700 professionals based across more than 15 bases during the summer season of 2024, providing services to its ACMI customers around the world. The airline operates two AOCs established in Lithuania and Malta, and is in the process of .

Avion Express is also a subsidiary of, known to be the world’s largest ACMI capacity provider.

Kajokas highlights the airline精东影业 investment to , where ACMI leasing is gaining visibility as a viable business practice for airlines in that region.

鈥淲e are reaching a tipping point in the Americas in terms of ACMI,鈥� shares Kajokas who also highlights the increasing adoption of ACMI in markets that were once closed to ACMI as a business model, including countries such as Mexico, Brazil and Argentina.

In an era of increasing seasonality, ACMI leasing provides a practical alternative to expanding owned fleets. It enables airlines to adapt to fluctuating demand without the financial strain of maintaining surplus aircraft year-round. By incorporating ACMI leasing into their strategy, airlines can optimize their operations, maintain profitability, and respond more flexibly to changing market conditions.

SmartLynx Airlines set for 100-strong aircraft fleet by 2027, says new CEO

• Airlines

byAvia Solutions Group

2024-03-28

鈥淲e are thrilled to announce the expansion of our platform to encompass aviation consumables,鈥� stated Toma Matutyt臈, CEO of Locatory.com. 鈥淩ecognizing the critical role of procurement of chemicals and other consumables in aviation operations, we are dedicated to empowering businesses with the necessary resources for success. Our newly introduced marketplace section will significantly simplify the procurement journey, enabling smooth access to essential chemicals while fostering connections with reputable suppliers.鈥� 

The introduction of the Locatory.com chemical marketplace offers a lot of additional advantages for both buyers and sellers. For buyers, the platform offers unparalleled access to a diverse range of aviation-grade chemicals and other consumables sourced from a global network of trusted suppliers. 

Traditionally, procuring aviation chemicals and consumables required direct or semi-direct dealing with various distributors and manufacturers, a laborious and disjointed process. Locatory.com streamlines this ordeal by serving as a centralized hub, presenting buyers with a comprehensive catalog of chemicals sourced from different suppliers worldwide. This consolidation enables buyers to effortlessly compare offerings, pinpoint specific chemical grades or formulations, all within a singular, user-friendly platform. 

鈥淲e have started with introduction of the globally known sellers and suppliers of aviation chemicals into our marketplace. Therefore, from now on, such distributors are already offering a wide array of items, which can be accessed via our platform together with other businesses, offering aviation parts and services 鈥� all in one place. That way, our dedicated marketplace section offers an extensive array of aviation consumables, serving the diverse needs of aircraft maintenance and operations,鈥� Matutyt臈 explains. 鈥淎nd this is just the beginning. We now have listed everything from cleaning agents and corrosion inhibitors to sealants, and the section is already growing in three key areas: the number of items listed, the geographical accessibility of the chemicals, and the number of sellers offering a variety of products at competitive prices.鈥� 

Of course, as Locatory.com goes beyond simply listing aviation consumables, the platform offers advanced search functions that allow buyers to filter products based on specific criteria like chemical type, grade, quantity, and location. That way, seller’s products are seen by the most relevant buyers actively searching for those specific chemicals in the most convenient location. 

Solving Main Challenges of Aviation Consumables Procurement 

Locatory.com is shaking things up in the aviation industry by becoming the first major marketplace to offer a dedicated section for aviation consumables. This innovative move seamlessly integrates these essential products into their existing catalog, further solidifying their position as a one-stop shop for everything, related to aviation. Customers can now ditch the hassle of searching multiple vendors 鈥� from now on, Locatory.com will cater to all their needs, be it parts, services, tooling, or even crucial aviation chemicals like sealants, fire retardants, hydraulic fluids, paints, or coatings.  

However, it精东影业 important to acknowledge that even though such aviation consumables, as, for example, aviation chemicals, may be relatively inexpensive compared to multi-million-dollar aircraft parts, their procurement and logistics pose a significant challenge. As Matutyt臈 highlights, 鈥渃onsumables are relatively cheap products, when in aerospace sector we have a part that usually costs hundreds of thousands or even more, up to millions of dollars. And it is quite well-known fact within the industry that the true complexity lies in storing and shipping aviation chemicals and other consumables.鈥� Unlike most of the major parts, these critical supplies present some unique challenges, such as limited lifespan, humidity, or temperature sensitivity. For example, many aviation chemicals have a short shelf life, requiring strict inventory management and careful consideration of purchase quantities to avoid spoilage and wasted resources. 

Moreover, certain aviation chemicals are highly sensitive to temperature fluctuations, so, maintaining proper storage and transportation conditions is necessary to preserve their efficacy and prevent them from degrading or becoming unusable. And, of course, among aviation chemicals and consumables, there are also a lot of hazardous materials, and that is posing additional risks during storage, transportation, and use. Flammability, toxicity, and corrosiveness are just a few of the concerns that demand special handling procedures, as well as adherence to various safety guidelines. 

Besides, various regulations mandate the proper tracking of hazardous materials throughout the supply chain. This requires keeping the relevant documentation and, sometimes, even additional records to ensure compliance and maintain a clear audit trail. 

Streamlined Procurement Process 

Beyond simply listing chemicals, Locatory.com simplifies the entire procurement process. The platform offers tools for requesting quotes, yet the new section for chemicals and consumables, due to the specific nature of such items will be able to select a simple 鈥榖uy now鈥� function to acquire items directly from the seller 鈥� while also having an option to collect the RFQ. This eliminates the need for lengthy exchanges of information, streamlining communication between buyers and suppliers. This comprehensive approach to procurement ensures a smoother and more efficient experience for all parties involved. 

Additionally, buyers also should be ready to benefit from a very competitive pricing as Locatory.com fosters an environment that promotes competition among suppliers. With a wider pool of vendors offering their chemicals on the platform, buyers would be able to compare prices and specifications more easily. This transparency allows them to explore more favorable deals and potentially secure lower costs for their chemical needs. 

Transparent Transactions 

The traditional chemical procurement process can often be opaque, with hidden fees or unclear terms. Locatory.com aims to provide a platform that fosters transparency throughout the transaction process.  Detailed listings with clear pricing structures, together with readily available product information.

By offering a user-friendly interface and reliable customer support, Locatory.com ensures that buyers have all the necessary tools to make choice, which will benefit their business operations. This ultimately leads to smoother transactions and increased trust between buyers and sellers in the chemical procurement industry. Sellers are also about to benefit from such expansion, as now they can more easily list a wider range of products on the marketplace. The ability to reach a wider audience of potential buyers translates into significant business advantages. 

Global Reach 

Traditional marketing methods for chemicals often involve regional trade shows or targeted advertising campaigns. Locatory.com breaks down these geographical limitations. The platform acts as a global marketplace, attracting buyers from across the globe. This allows sellers to showcase their products to a diverse pool of potential customers, increasing their chances of securing new business opportunities. By leveraging Locatory.com’s global platform, sellers can connect with buyers in different regions and tap into new markets that were previously inaccessible. This not only boosts sales potential but also fosters business growth through strategic collaborations and partnerships on a global scale. 

Reaching new customers can be expensive. Locatory.com offers a cost-effective marketing channel for sellers. By listing their products on the platform, sellers gain access to a vast network of potential buyers without the need for extensive marketing campaigns. This allows them to focus their resources on other aspects of their business while still expanding their customer base.

Proceeds from the Bonds will be used to further the Group精东影业 business development initiatives and refinance an earlier bond issuance maturing in 2024, of which US$180 million is outstanding.

Chief Executive, Jonas Janukenas, said:

“We are delighted with the strong appetite for the Group精东影业 debt, validating our view in the business精东影业 ability to deploy growth capital intelligently. We are expanding our worldwide services operations, fleet capacity and capabilities to continue delivering exceptional services to customers.”

Avia Solutions Group is the world’s largest Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance and Insurance, (ACMI) services group, operating a fleet of 212 aircraft. In the last financial year Group net profit grew over five-fold to 鈧�68.2 million, with adjusted EBITDA up 36% to 鈧�392 million on revenues up 22% to 鈧�2.3 billion.

The Group has over 12,000 highly skilled aviation professionals and comprises over 100 aviation services providers, including Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul, (MRO), pilot and crew training and ground handling, amongst others.

Citi and Morgan Stanley acted as joint bookrunners for the transaction.

During periods of peak passenger traffic, such as Europe精东影业 summer season, or aircraft capacity constraints experienced during industry-wide aircraft groundings, ACMI services provide an alternative to deep financial investment into aircraft capacity for airlines seeking to shore up their fleets.   

Jonas Janukenas,听CEO of global ACMI capacity provider Avia Solutions聽Group聽shares in an interview聽of聽the growing acceptance of ACMI聽鈥渁s a mainstream business [practice among airlines], as part of their long-term strategy.鈥�

Avia Solutions Group, based in Dublin Ireland, is known to be the world精东影业 largest ACMI capacity provider operating a fleet of 212 aircraft. 

In a , released in April 2024, Avia Solutions Group announced its audited financial results for 2023, reporting revenues of EUR 2.3 billion, up 22% from the year before. According to the statement EUR 950 million of the Group’s revenues were attributed to passenger aircraft ACMI services.

According to Janukenas, establishing global aircraft operator certificates (AOC) infrastructure is key to the ACMI business model’s success.

鈥淭o achieve good utilization, we move aircraft to opposite seasonality areas,鈥� said Janukenas in an Aviation Forum interview.

Avia Solutions Group operates 12 AOCs serving passenger and cargo ACMI businesses and is a parent company to SmartLynx Airlines, Avion Express, AirExplore, Ascend Airways, BBN Airlines Indonesia, KlasJet, Magma Aviation, Skytrans and other AOCs and aviation business entities.

SmartLynx Airlines set for 100-strong aircraft fleet by 2027, says new CEO

• Airlines

byAvia Solutions Group

2024-03-28

However, the group aims to expand its fleet and capacity to 18 AOCs by the end of 2024, including plans to establish four ACMI-dedicated AOCs in Latin America and the Asia Pacific, namely Brazil, the Philippines, Thailand, and Malaysia.

鈥淲e want to create all the infrastructure for an efficient and effective, both time- and cost-wise, network of different AOC across the globe,鈥� Janukenas highlighted.

The Dublin-based group also provides a spectrum of aviation services which include aircraft maintenance and repair services (MRO) through its subsidiary FL Technics, with technical maintenance and repair hangars in Indonesia, the United Kingdom, and Lithuania, along with 100 operational maintenance stations in various countries. 

Among the Group’s companies is the largest independent pilot training centre, BAA Training, with pilot schools in Spain, France, Lithuania, and Vietnam.

Held at the Aero City venue in Vilnius, the exclusive, invitation-only Forum brought together aviation safety experts and specialists from all across Europe. In addition to panels and keynote speeches, the event featured an extensive networking session, where representatives of different airlines, aviation companies and regulatory institutions could discuss major challenges and opportunities.

鈥淔rom its inception, we saw the Forum as a place where expertise meets experience. I鈥檓 proud to say it has exceeded our highest expectations, and we hope that it becomes an annual tradition. Enhancing safety standards industry-wide requires breaking down silos among experts from various sectors. I am glad that this Forum provided the much-needed platform for dialogue and cooperation. Sharing knowledge, experience, and lessons learned is the bedrock of safety in aviation, especially in the digital-information age,鈥� said Julius Norkunas, CEO of Aeroclass, a co-organiser of the event.

Aviation is a highly regulated industry that pays close attention not only to procedures, but also to theoretical and practical training, which encompasses activities to be taken during unforeseen circumstances. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), last year was the safest one so far, with not a single death recorded due to a crashed jet aircraft. Ugne Maciejauskaite, Head of Safety at Avia Solutions Group, said that the continuously improving safety metrics are the result of cooperation between market participants and their open dialogue when it comes to tackling daily challenges.

“The main message of the conference is a reminder that, since it精东影业 simply not possible to anticipate and describe all possible emergency scenarios, aviation specialists must be flexible and capable of reacting quickly under all circumstances. Potential sources of risk that stem from technical errors and the human factor as well as a myriad of external causes are proliferating year to year, which makes it crucial to always stay one step ahead and to keep one精东影业 bearings even when the situation is not a textbook one,鈥� said Ugne Maciejauskaite.

Aviation safety map

Among the speakers of the Forum were John Franklin, Head of Safety Promotion at the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), representatives of different airlines, as well as Vidmantas Pleta, Director of the Department of Civil Aviation at the Lithuanian Transport Competence Agency, Henrikas Armoska-Eismontas, Head of Emergency Planning at Lithuanian Airports.

According to John Franklin, the aviation community features several key elements that help ensure safety:

鈥淥ne of our main priorities is the mindset of those working in the industry, which must be grounded in efforts to continuously promote safety and trust. Other important factors include qualified and well-trained specialists capable of ensuring aviation safety, as well as the infrastructure it requires.鈥�

According to the representative of EASA, such events dedicated to aviation safety help to reduce the gap between theory and daily practice.

Founded in 2002, EASA is responsible for the aviation safety and environmental protection standards of the European Union as a whole. EASA inspects and certifies not just aircraft in general, but even such tiny details as the bolts used in them. During recent years, the organisation精东影业 remit has expanded further, today encompassing such areas as cybersecurity and the safe operation of drones.

Special attention to the NATO Summit in Vilnius

Henrikas Armoska-Eismontas, Head of Emergency Planning at Lithuanian Airports, paid much attention to NATO Summit 2023 鈥� one of that year精东影业 major events.

鈥淭he NATO Summit in Vilnius was an exceptional event, reminding us of the continuous need to anticipate and deal with different emergency scenarios. No matter whether the risk comes in the form of aircraft accidents, ground incidents, sabotage, threats, dangerous cargo, fires, or natural disasters, we remain steadfast in our commitment to ensure the safety of our passengers and staff鈥�.

Intensive preparations for the NATO Summit took almost half a year, with almost 700 people working at the airport during the event itself to ensure security and seamless logistics. In addition, a centralised Control Centre, which united representatives of all the agencies and private companies taking part in the process, was set up to facilitate things on the days of the Summit. When speaking of the event, Mr.  Armoska-Eismontas emphasised that everything had to be timed by the minute, if not by the second:

鈥淯nlike in the case of regular flights, aircraft carrying heads of states announced their exact times of arrival only shortly before landing. For every aircraft to land safely, all the specialists involved in the process 鈥� from air navigation and ground handling experts to motorcade drivers and on-duty firefighters 鈥� had to work with extreme precision and coordinate their every move鈥�.

The airports of Vilnius and Kaunas also faced some additional challenges due to unusually large aircraft, the wingspan of which reaches as many as 80 meters. Among them was the Air Force One, which flew in the US President. To enable such a large aircraft to safely turn around in the apron, Vilnius Airport even had to physically remove one of its light poles.

Having succeeded in bringing together representatives of both the public and private sector, Aeroclass plans to host more events of a similar nature in the future.

In the coming weeks, Avion Express Brasil is expected to receive feedback on its manuals and other documentation already submitted to ANAC. This is anticipated to lead to the successful conclusion of Phase 3 and the completion of the AOC certification process this year, allowing the airline to commence ACMI operations in Q4 2024.

Counting 19 years in operations, Avion Express, an ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance) airline, has two AOCs 鈥� as issued by Lithuania and Malta. The airline has undertaken an ambitious expansion project to strengthen its presence in the Latin American market with its subsidiary in Brazil, following recent collaborations with airline partners in other countries of the region, including Mexico, Chile, and Dominican Republic.

Darius Kajokas, Avion Express CEO, highlights the company’s strategic intent to expand its global presence. He states, “Avion Express has firmly established itself in Europe, and to make sure we continue growing, our strategic focus in past several years extends to other markets, including The Americas, Asia, Africa, and other regions. ACMI would be rather novel business model in the Brazilian market, which has more than 100 million passengers per annum. Avion Express Brasil aims to commence operations with up to 10 aircraft, with plans to scale up to 25 aircraft by 2027/2028.鈥�

Specializing in narrow-body ACMI operations, Avion Express now operates a fleet of over 50 Airbus A320 family aircraft. Customer airlines of Avion Express include Air France-KLM Group airlines, British Airways Group airlines, Lufthansa Group airlines, SKY Airline, SunExpress, TUI, VivaAerobus, Wizzair, and many others. The company currently has a team of over 1,700 professionals and more than 17 bases globally.

Avion Express is part of Avia Solutions Group 鈥� the world精东影业 largest ACMI service company group, which operates a fleet of 212 aircraft. Companies belonging to the group also provide a variety of other aviation services, such as aircraft repair, pilot and crew training, and ground handling.

Out of recovery mode and on a growth trajectory, aviation is now struggling to meet the rising demand for air travel. Talent shortage is at the root of the challenge. Aviation professionals who left the sector during the pandemic downturn are slow to come back, and the numbers of new specialists cannot quench the industry精东影业 thirst for fresh talent. For instance, projections show that the global pilot shortage could reach .

For Sandra Diaso, Head of Human Resources at KlasJet, the key to bringing people into aviation 鈥� and keeping them there 鈥� is treating them as individuals. We sat down with Sandra to discuss the continuous demand for new talent, the role of high-tech in HR, and the importance of the human touch in aviation.

Tell us a little bit about your general experience in the aviation industry.

The first thing I鈥檇 say is that, in aviation, you can never claim to be an expert. It精东影业 a continuous process of learning from experience. With that said, I have been working in the industry for  almost a decade now, so I do have quite a bit of accumulated knowledge. Especially since I鈥檝e had the opportunity to observe the industry from different angles.

I started out as a Training Manager, and was responsible for organising trainings for pilots and cabin crew. After a year of doing that, I was invited to join the company精东影业 HR department, where my job was handling recruitment and payroll.

For the past three years, I鈥檝e been the Head of HR, which massively expanded the scope of my work, as I鈥檓 now responsible for both the administration and the flying personnel of the entire organisation, globally. As I like to say, 鈥�24 hours in a day is not enough鈥�.

What industry-related challenges have you been facing in your daily work?

Aviation is a truly global business, meaning it精东影业 sensitive to any turbulence coming from economic development, changes in oil prices, geopolitical shifts, war, border closures 鈥� and tons of other events that send waves across the world.

The primary concern for aviation today is, however, safety. During COVID, the common prediction was that it would take us 2-3 years to rebound when it was over. As it turned out, it took several months. For this reason, demand for aircraft, flying personnel, cabin crews, and pilots is still very high. This, in turn, means that standards have dropped off slightly as airlines are forced to prioritise quantity over quality. So, the question of how to maintain, and increase, safety is definitely a top priority.

Regarding opportunities 鈥� in the 21^st century, there精东影业 no shortage of those! With modern IT and AI technologies, we can optimise our daily activities 鈥� and this includes HR 鈥� to an unprecedented degree. This enables us to work faster, be more productive, and further up our game in terms of quality.

Speaking of AI, do you see any potential applications of it to aviation that we could look forward to?

In aviation as a whole, extensive adoption of AI solutions may not happen very soon, because our industry is very strictly regulated. Specifically in HR, on the other hand, we鈥檙e already using an AI-powered recruitment system and it精东影业 a really big help. For instance, once an applicant uploads his resume, the system uses the information it contains to automatically create a user account for that applicant. This reduces the need for that manual work. It can also predict, with some accuracy, the applicant精东影业 key skills, qualifications, and other characteristics.

What is your strategy for attracting top talent?

The labour market has already changed quite a bit, in part because of generational turnover. In response to what young people care about the most, we鈥檝e de-emphasised salary, and are now focusing more on employer branding, work-life balance, commitment to innovation, and rapid career advancement. Let me expand a little bit on that. So, as far as the employer branding is concerned, we are concentrating on communicating how we are a dynamic and elite option, but also supportive and nurturing. A good work life balance is something that is expected so it精东影业 important for us to emphasise that burnout and overwork do not need to go hand in hand with a career in aviation. Then there精东影业 the fact that young people want fast career paths, they are, after all, eager, and can be quite impatient. That精东影业 why some of our programs like our Cadet Academy are so vital, as they allow us to give qualified and ambitious talents the help they need to climb the professional ladder. That精东影业 why we have the slogan,鈥漧earn with Klasjet.鈥�  But more than anything else, the biggest thing for us is building that personal bond and making sure that we keep it going. You need to make sure that you actually take the time to meet people in person and keep that personal connection going throughout their training and into their working life. That精东影业 why face to face is so important for us. We also are working to find the talent young and give them the help they need, both in terms of financial support via the funding and mentoring that they need to get into the industry.

Are you able to address the shortage of qualified pilots in any way?

Since this is undoubtedly going to remain a problem for years to come, we鈥檙e already taking some proactive steps to address the shortage through direct intervention. Specifically, we鈥檙e launching a cadet academy, which is very similar to traditional flight academies, but exclusively available to our employees. This initiative not only helps us cultivate our own qualified pilots but also strengthens our workforce by investing directly in those who already contribute to our operations. Graduates of our cadet academy will receive Type-R certification, enabling them to operate within our Boeing fleet. Additionally, they will have the opportunity to join our company as pilots, where they can accumulate flying hours and become invaluable assets to our team. By fostering growth and loyalty among our people, we鈥檙e building a stronger future for our airline.

How do you foster a positive working environment and promote employee engagement?

As we continue to expand 鈥� just last year the company grew by 221%! 鈥� we鈥檙e trying to keep our human touch, rather than become a massive, impersonal organisation that people feel increasingly alienated by. For instance, I know everyone精东影业 names, I know their stories, we chat, I inquire about their families. And it really works!

We鈥檙e also trying to meet the high demand for training and fast career advancement opportunities, and to engage with employees directly through face-to-face conversations and a variety of initiatives. To this end, we hold weekly or monthly meetings, and every quarter I personally go to visit different bases. I talk to people there, ask them about how they鈥檙e doing. With this alone, I鈥檝e found, half the problems resolve themselves automatically. We also have an insider精东影业 newsletter, where everyone 鈥� from office workers to pilots and flying personnel 鈥� is free to share their achievements, progress, interesting stories, what have you. This is also a good way to reduce the gap between employees who don鈥檛 normally come into contact.

What are you doing to ensure equal opportunities at work and minimise discrimination?

Our goal is to create a fair and respectful environment for all. Performance is what matters, in the end, so we鈥檙e focusing on people精东影业 skills and abilities, not their age, gender, race, or anything else. To make it really clear to our employees that we genuinely care about this, we also hold special annual training sessions. 

Having recently achieved such extraordinary growth, we now have employees from all five continents 鈥� which is great, because one of our key values as a company is unity! We highly value the insights, suggestions, and ideas that people of different backgrounds and cultures bring to the table.

Do you have a sense of what the future holds for HR specialists in your industry?

One crucial thing is that, if you want to be at least one or two steps ahead of the competition, you must be proactive. More specifically, you must stay up to date on whatever精东影业 going on around you 鈥� in other airlines, aviation-related companies and brands, the list goes on. This is necessary to have a clear picture of where you stand in relation to other airlines, and to be able to plan and make informed decisions.

Another thing we鈥檙e likely to see more of in the future is fostering employee development in-house. For instance, there aren鈥檛 very many HR specialists experienced in aviation, which makes it important to pass down your knowledge to those around you. This creates new opportunities for others 鈥� and, why not, makes your own job that much easier.

What sets KlasJet apart in this very competitive environment?

I think that our low turnover of staff is the best illustration of what I hope we are doing right. As I said before, the real key is to focus on the individuals. First, of course, successful candidates need to have the talent and potential to go the distance. We are very exacting here when it comes to selecting talent. But it精东影业 important to note that anyone is welcome here at KlasJet, as long as they measure up to our standards for performance. This is also something that we apply to ourselves as well. Then once you join us, we will do everything we can to support and develop you. And here, as I mentioned earlier, we really privilege building long lasting one to one relationships. We want to be a recognisable face, not just an email address. Through thick and thin, we are there to offer fully informed advice, the best training, and a supportive ear. That is why I think we can say that we stand out in the market.

Vitalis Dudys, BGS Group精东影业 Head of Commerce, commented: “We are glad to keep working closely with SkyUp . Adding more locations to the scope of our cooperation signifies even stronger ties and a long-term outlook.”

The partnership between the two companies started with ground handling at Vilnius International Airport in Lithuania in September 2022. Under the renewed agreement, BGS will be providing services to both SkyUp Airlines and  SkyUp MT Limited.

鈥淲e are delighted to see our partnership with BGS flourishing and expanding to new horizons. A year ago, we began with one airport, but now we have multiple ones, and we firmly believe this is just the beginning. SkyUp is venturing further and consolidating its position as a reliable ACMI provider in the European market. Undoubtedly, a trustworthy partnership is one of the fundamental factors behind this growth鈥�, said Dmytro Sieroukhov, General Director at SkyUp.

SkyUp is an aviation brand with Ukrainian roots that operates two airlines, namely SkyUp Airlines LLC (PQ; SQP) registered in Ukraine and SkyUp MT Limited (U5; SEU) registered in Malta (EU). Established in 2017, now SkyUp is an international ACMI and charter provider. With a fleet of modern Boeing-737 aircraft, SkyUp has swiftly risen to prominence, earning accolades for its dynamic growth and community initiatives, including substantial contributions to medical aid and children’s welfare. BGS is part of the Avia Solutions Group 鈥� the world精东影业 largest ACMI service company group, which operates a fleet of 212 aircraft. Companies belonging to the group also provide a variety of other aviation services, such as aircraft repair, pilot and crew training, and ground handling.

A UK AOC ensures unrestricted access to the UK ACMI and charter market, enabling ASG to increase its market share in this high-value market and worldwide. The airline plans to operate a fleet of two Boeing 737 aircraft this year and to further expand its fleet in the future.

鈥淥btaining the Air Operator Certificate and license takes a huge amount of work and resources and I鈥檓 extremely proud of everyone involved that we have been able to achieve this in time for the summer season. We will now focus on repaying the faith of our launch customer and establishing our sister company, Ascend Airways Malaysia. Our aim is to move our capacity seasonally between UK and Malaysia to access the growing South-East Asian market and maintain year-round utilisation,鈥� says Alastair Willson, the CEO of Ascend Airways.

Irish based Avia Solutions Group currently holds twelve AOCs internationally and aims to establish and acquire four additional airlines across various countries, including Brazil, Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia by the close of 2024.