Avion Express Brasil is a Brazilian startup airline, ACMI and aircraft leasing operator headquartered in São Paulo. The airline is a subsidiary of Lithuanian Avion Express and part of Irish group Avia Solutions Group. The intention of the new airline is, like the parent company, to carry out charter flights for tourism agencies, cargo and mainly to meet the growing demand for ACMI leases for airlines in Latin America.[1]
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| Founded | April 19, 2023 | ||||||
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| Commenced operations | TBA | ||||||
| Hubs | TBA | ||||||
| Fleet size | 1 (+4) (as of November 2024) | ||||||
| Parent company | Avion Express | ||||||
| Headquarters | São Paulo, Brazil | ||||||
| Key people | |||||||
| Website | avionexpress | ||||||
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History
editEstablishment (2023-present)
editThe creation of the new Brazilian airline was announced on April 19, 2023, by the chief executive officer (CEO) of Avion Express, Darius Kajokas, through a publication on his personal profile on the social network LinkedIn, immediately announcing the hiring of an chief operating officer (COO) and a chief technical officer (CTO) to assist in the Avion Express Brasil certification process before the National Civil Aviation Agency of Brazil (ANAC).[2][3]
According to the executive, the airline will be based in São Paulo and will operate a fleet of Airbus A320 narrow-body aircraft, offering cargo and passenger flights.[4] The new airline's operations are expected to begin with 5 aircraft, with the ambition to increase the Avion Express Brasil fleet to up to 25 aircraft by 2028. This fleet will include Airbus A321F planes, which will support the company's freight operations, added.[5]
In an interview with the specialized aviation portal ch-aviation, Kajokas indicated that he hoped to obtain the air operator's certificate (AOC) from Avion Express Brasil in the fourth quarter of 2023, but in a realistic scenario, due to bureaucracy, this should only happen in the first or second half of 2024. He also refused, at that time, to specify whether the new airline will have São Paulo Guarulhos International Airport or São Paulo Congonhas Airport as its hub.[6]
Although Avion Express has firmly established itself in Europe, the executive also highlighted that the decision to launch a subsidiary in Brazil is in line with plans to expand to other markets, such as Latin America and Southeast Asia, highlighting the size of the Brazilian market as a key factor in choosing the country to establish the group's new airline. This strategic decision is also aligned with the initiatives launched by the Brazilian Government through (ANAC) to encourage the entry of foreign airlines into the Brazilian market within the scope of the "Voo Simples" (Simple Flight, in English) and 'Fly2Brazil' initiatives, which facilitate and speed up the processes for obtaining an air operator's certificate.
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On December 28, 2023, through its website, Avion Express confirmed that it officially started its process to obtain the AOC in Brazil and the hiring of two Brazilian executives who will head Avion Express Brasil, Paulo Tarter as COO and Ruy Carlos Nogueira Lotz as CTO. The expectation is to obtain certification and begin operations in the third quarter of 2024.[7][8]
On February 8, 2024, the Brazilian aviation portal AeroIN, citing sources close to Avion Express, confirmed the arrival of the first of five Airbus A320s in Brazil in June, when certification flights will begin, the last process in the stage for receive the green light from the aeronautical authorities to begin operating in the country. All of the first five planes will come from Avia Solutions Group, which owns Avion Express, SmartLynx Airlines and KlasJet.[9]
On March 29, 2024, Avion Express Brasil reserved the Brazilian aeronautical registration PR-NVN for its first Brazilian-registered aircraft, a 13-year-old Airbus A320 (MSN 4448) which will be transferred from parent company Avion Express to Brazil in the second quarter of 2024 to begin certification flights for the new airline, the last step before obtaining its AOC.[10]
On May 28, 2024, the start-up Avion Express Brasil announced its entry into the Latin American & Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA) as a member airline, joining several air transport companies in the region to contribute to the development and strengthening of air transport in Latin America and the Caribbean.[11]
On July 1, 2024, Avion Express Brasil announced Esteban Jauregui Lorda, former executive of Aerolíneas Argentinas, Avianca and also Brazilian GOL Linhas Aéreas, as its new chief executive officer (CEO). According to the airline, under the leadership of Jauregui Lorda, it will establish itself in Brazil and expand its operations throughout the Americas, exploring new business opportunities through the ACMI market.[12][13][14]
On November 11, 2024, Avion Express Brasil announced its entry into the fourth and penultimate stage of its certification process before the National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC). The next and last step will be the certification flights. According to the CEO of the airline, Esteban Jauregui Lorda, the company is expected to be certified in early 2025, when they will start offering ACMI services to other airlines.[15][16]
On November 18, 2024, Avion Express Brasil received its first aircraft, the Airbus A320 registration PR-MLD (MSN 3601). The aircraft was transferred between Spain and Brazil, landing in São José dos Campos, where it will undergo its nationalization process before beginning the new airline's certification flights. The aircraft was transferred from parent company Avion Express and is configured with 180 seats in a single class.[17][18]
Fleet
editCurrent fleet
editThe Avion Express Brasil fleet consists of the following aircraft (as of November 2024):[19]
| Aircraft | In Service | Orders | Passengers | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus A320 | 1 | 4 | 180 | All transferred from Avion Express | |
| TOTAL | 1 | 4 | |||
Gallery
edit- Avion Express Brasil current fleet
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See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Avion Express Brasil moves to Phase 3 of the AOC Certification Process". Avion Express. 13 May 2023. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Kajokas, Darius (19 April 2023). "Hello, World, Olá, Brasil". LinkedIn. Archived from the original on 18 February 2024. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
- ^ Kaminski-Morrow, David (9 May 2023). "Avion Express to set up Brazilian wet-lease and charter carrier". FlightGlobal. Archived from the original on 22 February 2024. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
- ^ Kateivas, Mari (19 April 2023). "Companhia aérea da Europa vai abrir filial para voar no Brasil – contratações de funcionários já estão abertas!" [European airline to open subsidiary to fly to Brazil - staff recruitment already open!]. Melhores Destinos (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 18 February 2024. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
- ^ Martins, Carlos (26 April 2023). "Avion quer estrear voos do Airbus A321 cargueiro no Brasil" [Avion wants to launch Airbus A321 freighter flights in Brazil]. AeroIN (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 22 November 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Jarvis, Howard (19 April 2023). "Lithuania's Avion Express begins Brazilian AOC drive". ch-aviation. Archived from the original on 18 February 2024. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
- ^ "Avion Express Has Started Official AOC Establishment Process for Avion Express Brasil". Aviator.Aero. 28 December 2023. Archived from the original on 18 February 2024. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
- ^ Kaminski-Morrow, David (3 January 2024). "Avion Express begins process to obtain Brazilian AOC for new Latin operator". FlightGlobal. Archived from the original on 18 January 2024. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
- ^ Martins, Carlos (8 February 2024). "Nova empresa aérea brasileira, Avion Express Brasil deverá ter inicialmente 5 aviões Airbus" [New Brazilian airline Avion Express Brasil will initially have 5 Airbus aeroplanes]. AeroIN (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 9 February 2024. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
- ^ Basseto, Murilo (29 March 2024). "Nova empresa aérea Avion Express já reservou no Brasil a 1ª matrícula para suas aeronaves" [New airline Avion Express has already reserved the first registration for its aircraft in Brazil]. AeroIN (in Portuguese). Retrieved 10 April 2024.
- ^ "Avion Express joins ALTA, strengthens presence in Latin America and the Caribbean". ALTA. 28 May 2024. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
- ^ "Avion Express Brasil appoints the CEO, pursues AOC certification". Avia Solutions Group (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2 July 2024. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
- ^ Basseto, Murilo (1 July 2024). "Anunciado novo CEO, ex-GOL e Avianca, para a empresa aérea que está sendo certificada no Brasil, a Avion Express" [New CEO announced, ex-GOL and Avianca, for the airline being certified in Brazil, Avion Express]. AeroIN (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 22 November 2024.
- ^ "Esteban Lorda appointed as CEO of Avion Express Brasil". MRO Business Today. 3 July 2024. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
- ^ "Avion Express Brasil started Phase 4 of AOC certification". Avion Express. 11 November 2024. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Ferreira, Carlos (12 November 2024). "Nova aérea brasileira, Avion Express avança em certificação e prepara início de operações em 2025" [New Brazilian airline, Avion Express advances in certification and prepares to start operations in 2025]. AeroIN (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 22 November 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Martins, Carlos (19 November 2024). "Primeiro avião A320 da mais nova companhia aérea brasileira, a Avion Express, já chegou ao país" [The first A320 aircraft of the newest Brazilian airline, Avion Express, has arrived in the country]. AeroIN (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 22 November 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Martinez Garbuno, Daniel (21 November 2024). "Avion Express Brasil takes delivery of first aircraft". ch-aviation. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Aviação Comercial Brasileira - Frota atual" (PDF). Aeromuseu (in Portuguese). 29 September 2024. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
