Dublin-based Avia Solutions Group, the world’s largest ACMI provider, has announced plans to consolidate its European Air Operators Certificates (AOCs) as the Group continues to complete its expansion into counter-cyclical markets to Europe in Asia Pacific and Latin America.

As part of these plans, the Group has sold SmartLynx Latvia to the current management and a Dutch fund and plans to merge the SmartLynx Estonia and SmartLynx Malta AOCs and rebrand them as well as explore further efficiency enhancements within the Group’s European AOC network. The Group estimates that an optimal fleet size for one AOC is around 27 – 30 aircraft. The Group currently owns European AOCs in the UK, Turkey, Malta, Slovakia, Estonia, Lithuania, which, except for the Turkish AOC, offer almost equal traffic rights and operational benefits.

Jonas Janukenas, CEO of Avia Solutions Group, said:

“The European passenger market is the largest globally with 1.3 billion travelers, representing a quarter of the estimated 5.2 billion global travelers in 2025. During summer, when demand is at its peak, ACMI is a crucial tool for airlines looking to boost their profitability by allowing them to provide extra capacity without a long-term balance sheet commitment. In winter, demand for extra capacity shifts from Europe to the Southern hemisphere as their summer season begins. By consolidating our European AOCs and expanding into counter-cyclical markets in Asia Pacific and Latin America, we aim to optimize year-round operations.”

By the end of 2025, Avia Solutions Group plans to have established or be in the process of establishing AOCs in Australia, Brazil, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand.

The Group’s European AOCs also allow for more flexibility to provide all ACMI services in Argentina, Chile, Mexico, India, Vietnam, Colombia, Canada, and international routes only in the USA.

Avia Solutions Group currently holds 11 AOCs and operates a fleet of 187 aircraft worldwide.

Source: Avia Solutions Group