Avia Solutions Group
Encyclopedia
Avia Solutions Group is a Lithuania
n group of aviation
-related companies providing infrastructural solutions for airlines, travel business companies and state institutions. It is the largest group of such kind in the Baltic States
and one of the largest in Eastern Europe
and CIS
. Avia Solutions Group was listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange
in March 2011.
of Lithuania, was privatized
. 100% of the airline shares was acquired for 27 million litas
by LAL investicijų valdymas. The airline was quickly re-branded as FlyLal
and several companies were spun-out, including Baltic Ground Services
(ground handling), FL Technics
(aviation maintenance, repair, and operations
), and Bilietų pardavimo centras (travel agency).
FlyLal, burdened by debt, did not survive the global economic crisis of 2007–2009 and ceased operations effective January 2009. In July 2006, Baltic Ground Services were sold to UAB Finansų spektro investicija. The company was bought back by Avia Solutions from investment company
Invalda in November 2008. Baltic Ground Services was the first company in Europe to receive IATA Safety Audit for Ground Operations (ISAGO) certificate. FL Technics added spare parts, components maintenance management and technical training services. FL Technics constructed one of the most modern hangars at Vilnius International Airport
, bought required equipment, and achieved Boeing 737 CL
and NG
base maintenance certificates. Bilietų pardavimo centras soon became a member of IATA and in November 2006 changed its name into BPC Travel (stands for Best Price for Consumers Travel) to better reflect its business philosophy.
In the following years, more business lines were separated from the original FlyLal. In November 2006, Baltic Aviation Academy
(originally flyLAL Training) based on the training center of FlyLal. The academy has grown into an FTO (Flight Training Organization) and TRTO (Type Rating Training Organization) providing type rating
for 10+ aircraft types and operating full flight simulator
s. In 2007, the group also established Aviation Asset Management (now AviaAM Leasing) to lease the aircraft to its sister company FlyLal. In June 2008, it signed its first third-party lease contract with Kazakh Scat Air
. In 2008, the group separated its charter flights activities from FlyLal and established a charter airline. In July 2010, it underwent a major re-branding and became Small Planet Airlines.
, and 15% by UAB Garantas. In November 2006, Fima (later reorganized as Indeco) owned 30%, ŽIA valda 45%, and Sanitex 25% of the shares. The group attempted to go public in early 2008, but the global economic crisis delayed the plans until 2011. In 2010, in preparation for the IPO, the group was reorganized – BPC Travel and AviaAM Leasing left the group. When Avia Solutions Group was listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange
in March 2011, it became the first Lithuanian company to be listed on a foreign exchange. After the IPO, the three original shareholders remain majority owners (32.91% for ŽIA valda, 21.94% for Indeco, and 13.19% for Sanitex).
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
n group of aviation
Aviation
Aviation is the design, development, production, operation, and use of aircraft, especially heavier-than-air aircraft. Aviation is derived from avis, the Latin word for bird.-History:...
-related companies providing infrastructural solutions for airlines, travel business companies and state institutions. It is the largest group of such kind in the Baltic States
Baltic states
The term Baltic states refers to the Baltic territories which gained independence from the Russian Empire in the wake of World War I: primarily the contiguous trio of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania ; Finland also fell within the scope of the term after initially gaining independence in the 1920s.The...
and one of the largest in Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe is the eastern part of Europe. The term has widely disparate geopolitical, geographical, cultural and socioeconomic readings, which makes it highly context-dependent and even volatile, and there are "almost as many definitions of Eastern Europe as there are scholars of the region"...
and CIS
CIS
CIS usually refers to the Commonwealth of Independent States, a modern political entity consisting of eleven former Soviet Union republics.The acronym CIS may also refer to:-Organizations:...
. Avia Solutions Group was listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange
Warsaw Stock Exchange
The Warsaw Stock Exchange , , is a stock exchange located in Warsaw, Poland. It has a capitalization of € 220 bln .The WSE is a member of the World Federation of Exchanges and the Federation of European Securities Exchanges.-History:...
in March 2011.
Operations
The history of Avia Solutions Group began in 2005 when Lithuanian Airlines, the national airlinesNational Airlines
National Airlines was used by several airlines including:*National Airlines based in the United States.*National Airlines based in the United States.*National Airlines based in the United States....
of Lithuania, was privatized
Privatization
Privatization is the incidence or process of transferring ownership of a business, enterprise, agency or public service from the public sector to the private sector or to private non-profit organizations...
. 100% of the airline shares was acquired for 27 million litas
Lithuanian litas
The Lithuanian litas is the currency of Lithuania. It is divided into 100 centų...
by LAL investicijų valdymas. The airline was quickly re-branded as FlyLal
FlyLal
FlyLal was the national airline of Lithuania, based in Vilnius. It operated domestic and international scheduled services. Its main base was Vilnius International Airport....
and several companies were spun-out, including Baltic Ground Services
Baltic Ground Services
Baltic Ground Services is a regional group of aircraft ground handling companies proving a full range of ground handling and fueling services. It is a part of Avia Solutions Group...
(ground handling), FL Technics
FL Technics
right|thumb|363px|FL Technics hangar in International Vilnius Airport right|thumb|363px|Inside of FL Technics hangar in International Vilnius Airport right|thumb|363px|FL Technics technicians crew in front of hangar in International Vilnius Airport...
(aviation maintenance, repair, and operations
Maintenance, repair, and operations
Maintenance, repair, and operations or maintenance, repair, and overhaul involves fixing any sort of mechanical or electrical device should it become out of order or broken...
), and Bilietų pardavimo centras (travel agency).
FlyLal, burdened by debt, did not survive the global economic crisis of 2007–2009 and ceased operations effective January 2009. In July 2006, Baltic Ground Services were sold to UAB Finansų spektro investicija. The company was bought back by Avia Solutions from investment company
Investment company
An investment company is a company whose main business is holding securities of other companies purely for investment purposes. The investment company invests money on behalf of its shareholders who in turn share in the profits and losses....
Invalda in November 2008. Baltic Ground Services was the first company in Europe to receive IATA Safety Audit for Ground Operations (ISAGO) certificate. FL Technics added spare parts, components maintenance management and technical training services. FL Technics constructed one of the most modern hangars at Vilnius International Airport
Vilnius International Airport
Vilnius International Airport is the largest civil airport in Lithuania. It is located south of Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania. It began operations in 1944. The old terminal was built in 1954.- History:...
, bought required equipment, and achieved Boeing 737 CL
Boeing 737 Classic
The Boeing 737 Classic is the name given to the -300/-400/-500 series of the Boeing 737 following the introduction of the -600/-700/-800/-900 series. They are short- to medium- range, narrow-body jet airliners produced by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. The Classic series was introduced as the 'new...
and NG
Boeing 737 Next Generation
The Boeing 737 Next Generation, commonly abbreviated as Boeing 737NG, is the name given to the -600/-700/-800/-900 series of the Boeing 737 after the introduction of the -300/-400/-500 Classic series. They are short- to medium-range, narrow-body jet airliners...
base maintenance certificates. Bilietų pardavimo centras soon became a member of IATA and in November 2006 changed its name into BPC Travel (stands for Best Price for Consumers Travel) to better reflect its business philosophy.
In the following years, more business lines were separated from the original FlyLal. In November 2006, Baltic Aviation Academy
Baltic Aviation Academy
Baltic Aviation Academy is one of the leading aviation training organizations in Eastern Europe. Approved as CAA/JAA Flight Training Organization and Type Rating Training Organization , Baltic Aviation Academy offers courses for pilots and cabin crew at every stage of their careers, as well as...
(originally flyLAL Training) based on the training center of FlyLal. The academy has grown into an FTO (Flight Training Organization) and TRTO (Type Rating Training Organization) providing type rating
Type rating
A type rating is an allowance to fly a certain aircraft type that requires additional training beyond the scope of initial license and aircraft class training. What aircraft require a type rating is decided by the local aviation authority...
for 10+ aircraft types and operating full flight simulator
Full flight simulator
Full Flight Simulator is a term used by National Aviation Authorities for a high technical level of Flight simulator. Such authorities include the Federal Aviation Administration in the United States and the European Aviation Safety Agency .There are currently four levels of Full Flight...
s. In 2007, the group also established Aviation Asset Management (now AviaAM Leasing) to lease the aircraft to its sister company FlyLal. In June 2008, it signed its first third-party lease contract with Kazakh Scat Air
Scat Air
Scat Air is an airline based in Shymkent, Kazakhstan. It operates services to all major cities of Kazakhstan and to neighbouring countries...
. In 2008, the group separated its charter flights activities from FlyLal and established a charter airline. In July 2010, it underwent a major re-branding and became Small Planet Airlines.
Shareholders
In July 2005, it was reported that the company was owned 70% by UAB Fima, 15% by UAB ŽIA valdaŽIA valda
ŽIA valda is Lithuanian investment company pursuing projects of higher profit margin, usually, by establishing and consistently developing a new business unit, by consolidating companies of one business sector into one larger company or by acquiring a business which has growth potential but...
, and 15% by UAB Garantas. In November 2006, Fima (later reorganized as Indeco) owned 30%, ŽIA valda 45%, and Sanitex 25% of the shares. The group attempted to go public in early 2008, but the global economic crisis delayed the plans until 2011. In 2010, in preparation for the IPO, the group was reorganized – BPC Travel and AviaAM Leasing left the group. When Avia Solutions Group was listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange
Warsaw Stock Exchange
The Warsaw Stock Exchange , , is a stock exchange located in Warsaw, Poland. It has a capitalization of € 220 bln .The WSE is a member of the World Federation of Exchanges and the Federation of European Securities Exchanges.-History:...
in March 2011, it became the first Lithuanian company to be listed on a foreign exchange. After the IPO, the three original shareholders remain majority owners (32.91% for ŽIA valda, 21.94% for Indeco, and 13.19% for Sanitex).
Current
As of August 2011, Avia Solutions Group controls these companies:- Baltic Aviation AcademyBaltic Aviation AcademyBaltic Aviation Academy is one of the leading aviation training organizations in Eastern Europe. Approved as CAA/JAA Flight Training Organization and Type Rating Training Organization , Baltic Aviation Academy offers courses for pilots and cabin crew at every stage of their careers, as well as...
– flight training organization (FTO) and type ratingType ratingA type rating is an allowance to fly a certain aircraft type that requires additional training beyond the scope of initial license and aircraft class training. What aircraft require a type rating is decided by the local aviation authority...
training organization (TRTO); - Baltic Ground ServicesBaltic Ground ServicesBaltic Ground Services is a regional group of aircraft ground handling companies proving a full range of ground handling and fueling services. It is a part of Avia Solutions Group...
– provider of ground handling services; - FL TechnicsFL Technicsright|thumb|363px|FL Technics hangar in International Vilnius Airport right|thumb|363px|Inside of FL Technics hangar in International Vilnius Airport right|thumb|363px|FL Technics technicians crew in front of hangar in International Vilnius Airport...
– maintenance, repair, overhaul services (MRO); autonomous units of the company:- FL Technics Line – aircraft line maintenance services;
- FL Technics Engineering – aircraft maintenance planning and management;
- FL Technics Training – training of airline technical personnel;
- Small Planet Airlines – charter airline;
- FLTechnics Jets – line and base maintenance for business jets;
- Locatory.com – supply chain solutions (established December 2010).
Previous
Companies that were part of Avia Solutions Group:- FlyLalFlyLalFlyLal was the national airline of Lithuania, based in Vilnius. It operated domestic and international scheduled services. Its main base was Vilnius International Airport....
– national airline of Lithuania (bankrupt) - BPC Travel – travel agency (spun out)
- AviaAM Leasing – long-term aircraft leasing (spun out)
- UAB Passenger Terminal – construction company to build new passenger terminal at Vilnius Airport (abandoned)