Avion Express

Avion Express is a Lithuanian ACMI and aircraft leasing operator headquartered in Vilnius. The company is a part of Avia Solutions Group. The company performs charter flights for tour operators departing from Vilnius, but also a ACMI service for airlines.

History
Avion Express was established in 2005 as Nordic Solutions Air Services. At that time, the airline was operating four Saab 340 cargo and passenger aircraft. In 2008 the company was re-branded to its current name Avion Express. In 2010 Avion Express was acquired by French investment company Eyjafjoll SAS, formed by Avion Capital Partners of Switzerland along with other investors.

In 2011 Avion Express introduced its first Airbus A320, which was the first Airbus aircraft to be registered in Lithuania. In December, two more Airbus A320s were added to the fleet. In 2013, Avion Express successfully passed the IOSA Operational Safety Audit and consequently obtained an IATA registration. The last Saab 340 cargo aircraft was removed from operation in March 2013. By summer of 2014, the airline was operating a fleet of nine Airbus A320s and two Airbus A319s. That same year Avion Express established a subsidiary company Dominican Wings, a low-cost airline based in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. In summer 2017 Avion Express introduced Airbus A321 aircraft to the company's fleet.

In June 2017, Avion Express announced that it had sold its 65% stake in Dominican Wings to the president of the company, Mr. Victor Pacheco.

In August 2017, Avion Express signed partnership agreement with the Lithuanian Aviation Academy (VGTU A. Gustaitis’ Aviation Institute). Since autumn 2017 Avion Express has also been collaborating with BAA Training on the cadet programme. According to this partnership, BAA Training is training and providing pilots to fill the vacancies for the expanding fleet of Avion Express. In April 2019, Avion Express announced the launch of its first MPL Training Programme with BAA Training.

In 2019 Avion Express established Avion Express Malta, a subsidiary company based in Malta. The company started operations in May the same year.

Fleet
As of August 2023, Avion Express operates the following fleet:

Incidents and accidents

 * On 3 February 2024, Vilnius International Airport was closed after Avion Express Flight 8242 (registration LY-NVL), landing from Milan Bergamo Airport veered off the runway and onto the grass whilst landing, the aircraft maneuvered back onto the runway and taxied to the terminal. The belly has received substantial damage.