Avion Express Brasil is currently progressing through the final phase of its certification process with the Brazilian National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC), an important step towards commencing its aircraft leasing operations in Brazil. The airline recently received approval from ANAC to finalize Phase 2 and is now entering Phase 3, during which it expects to receive feedback on submitted documentation, including operational manuals. This is expected to culminate in the airline obtaining its Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) later this year.
This certification will enable Avion Express Brasil to start ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance) operations in the fourth quarter of 2024. The company, a subsidiary of the European-based Avion Express, has been operational for 19 years and currently holds two AOCs issued in Lithuania and Malta.
Avion Express, under the leadership of CEO Darius Kajokas, has been strategizing its expansion into the Latin American market, a move underscored by recent collaborations in Mexico, Chile, and the Dominican Republic. «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,» Kajokas stated. He further noted, «ACMI would be rather novel business model in the Brazilian market, which has more than 100 million passengers per annum.»
The airline plans to start its Brazilian operations with up to 10 aircraft and aims to expand its fleet to 25 by the years 2027/2028. According to the company, this expansion is aligned with their goal to tap into a market with significant passenger traffic and potential for ACMI services.
Avion Express currently operates a fleet of over 50 narrow-body Airbus A320 family aircraft and serves a variety of prominent airlines such as Air France-KLM Group, British Airways Group, Lufthansa Group, and others. The company employs over 1,700 professionals and maintains more than 17 operational bases worldwide.
As part of the Avia Solutions Group, which is described by the company as the world’s largest ACMI service company group, Avion Express also benefits from a wide range of aviation services within the group, including aircraft repair, pilot and crew training, and ground handling, with a combined fleet of 212 aircraft across the conglomerate.
