Skytrans takeover-getting jets.

[lloyd fox]

Irish aviation giant snaps up Skytrans, plans major expansion
written by Jake Nelson | January 24, 2024

A Skytrans Cessna 208B Grand Caravan. (Image: Skytrans)

Queensland regional carrier Skytrans has been bought by Ireland-based aviation firm Avia Solutions Group, which has signalled plans to expand it into wet-leasing and jet operations.

Avia is a major player in the international ACMI (aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance) market, and currently holds 11 air operator certificates (AOCs) in different countries. Its purchase of Skytrans is expected to complete in March, subject to “fulfillment of specific transaction conditions”.
This content is available exclusively to Australian Aviation members.

[lloyd fox]

BREAKING: Skytrans sold to overseas aviation company
24 January 2024 | Matt Nicholls
Start the conversation

Skytrans CEO Alan Milne.

The biggest airline in Cape York and the Torres Strait has been sold to a major international aviation company.

Avia Solutions Group, the world’s largest ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance) provider with a fleet of 199 aircraft, has signed a Share Purchase Agreement to acquire Skytrans. The acquisition process is planned to be completed in March 2024, subject to the fulfillment of specific transaction conditions.

“Skytrans is an Australian-owned and operated airline and air charter business. The airline operates Regular Public Transport (RPT) and charter services, with a current fleet spanning 13 regional aircraft,” Avia said in a statement.

“The acquisition of Skytrans will grant the group an Air Operator Certificate (AOC) in Australia, allowing it to operate both passenger and cargo flights. This is a significant step in the strategic expansion of the group in the Asia-Pacific region. Avia Solutions Group currently holds 11 AOCs globally. By the end of 2024, the group aims to establish and acquire 7 additional airlines in various countries, including Brazil, Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia, Australia, Indonesia, and Turkey.”

Jonas Janukenas, the CEO of Avia Solutions Group, said: “One of the main strategic objectives of the group is to expand into markets that have the opposite seasonality to Europe. Australia is a new addition to our group’s global footprint, where we see significant potential and growth opportunities, enabling us to offer ACMI services.

Skytrans CEO Alan Milne said the acquisition could unlock new possibilities for the airline.

“Becoming a part of the group will give us the chance to benefit from the best business practices and experience, as well as expanding our operations, fleet, and geographic reach, while strengthening our position in the market,” he said.

Avia Solutions Group is the parent company to SmartLynx Airlines, Avion Express, AirExplore, KlasJet, Magma Aviation, and more, operating worldwide. The group also comprises a leading global provider of MRO services, FL Technics, with 100 line maintenance stations worldwide and maintenance hangars in Lithuania, Indonesia, and the United Kingdom. Furthermore, Avia Solutions Group also operates the largest independent pilot training organization, BAA Training, with schools in Spain, Lithuania, and Vietnam.

[lloyd fox]

Australia's Skytrans to add jets by end of 2024

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I wonder what type they will get?

[MarkR]

They have a lot of parked A320s

[Greg Hyde]

Skytrans are advertising for Dash-8 and Airbus narrow body crews.

https://cargofacts.com/allposts/carriers/asg-to-launch-a321f-ops-in-australia/

Cargo facts are reporting A321P2F which aligns with he crew requirements

[MarkR]

Takeover finalised yesterday and the new MD shed light on future plans:

According to the newly appointed Managing Director of Skytrans, Gytis Gumuliauskas, while the company’s current activities will be continued, the main goal is to extensively develop ACMI and wet lease operations:

“Passenger operations will be our main area of focus, with cargo being an area we’re willing to explore and develop in 2024 and beyond. To achieve these goals, we have plans of expanding the fleet with A319 aircraft for passenger and with A321F for cargo transportation.”

https://newsroom.aviator.aero/avia-solutions-group-concluded-acquisition-of-skytrans-airlines-expanding-to-12-aocs-worldwide/

[lloyd fox]

More info here from CH-aviation

Looks like 1 x 319 and 1 x 321F by years end



Avia Solutions Group has finalised its acquisition of Skytrans (QN, Cairns), providing the ACMI specialist with its twelfth air operator's certificate and a presence in the Southwest Pacific. Avia announced the deal's closure in a March 4 statement.

"This acquisition is part of our larger strategy, which is aimed at limiting the impact of seasonality while giving us access to new growing markets in Asia-Pacific and further afield," said Jonas Janukenas, CEO of Avia Solutions Group.

Skytrans is an established airline based in northern Queensland that operates scheduled passenger and charter flights, including closed charter FIFO services. Its fleet comprises 13 turboprops including five DHC-8-100s, one DHC-8-300, one DHC-8-Q300, and six Cessna (single turboprop) 208B Caravans. Avia says it intends to introduce at least one A321F and one passenger-configured A319-100 to the Australian market by the end of the year. ch-aviation flagged this in a report last month.

"Passenger operations will be our main area of focus, with cargo being an area we’re willing to explore and develop in 2024 and beyond," Janukenas said.

Skytrans is the second Australian operator to be acquired by a Europe-based entity in as many years, with ASL Aviation Group buying Pionair Australia (PH, Sydney Bankstown) in 2023 and rebranding it ASL Airlines Australia.

None of Avia Solutions Group's airlines operate turboprops, but ch-aviation is advised that Skytrans' new parent is willing to continue the existing turboprop services in Queensland while they remain profitable. Meanwhile, the expansion into jet operations will allow Skytrans to compete with the likes of Nauru Airlines (ON, Nauru), which has a handy business wet-leasing its passenger and freighters to small carriers in the region, often at short notice.

[lloyd fox]

Source:Australian Aviation

Skytrans news

australianaviation.com.au
Exclusive: First Skytrans A319 to arrive this year for wet leasing
Avia Solutions Group (ASG), which purchased Skytrans in March, intends to fly mainly A319 jets under wet lease using Skytrans’ AOC with room for A320s and A321s depending on demand, alongside maintaining the existing regional turboprop network for regular passenger transport.
australianaviation.com.au australianaviation.com.au

The new owner of Cairns-based regional airline Skytrans is looking to bring up to 20 Airbus A320-family planes to Australia within three to five years for wet-leasing operations.

Avia Solutions Group (ASG), which purchased Skytrans in March, intends to fly mainly A319 jets under a wet lease using Skytrans’ AOC with room for A320s and A321s depending on demand, alongside maintaining the existing regional turboprop network for regular passenger transport.



Speaking exclusively to Australian Aviation, Gytis Gumuliauskas, the new managing director of Skytrans who will be in charge of the ACMI (aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance) expansion, said the new planes will start arriving in Australia by the end of the year.
That’s the plan: first aircraft to be arriving in October, three units by the end of 2024, and adding five to seven units during 2025, then varying in the following years to grow by three to five units each year,” he said.

“That’s organic growth, how we’re building a business case. A lot depends on customer needs – if there is a bigger demand, we can bring them in quicker; if it’s less, we will continue to grow as I just explained.


“We are talking with potential customers in the market if we would look into turboprop ACMI as well, but it would be a side business potentially to add on top of jet ACMI operations.”

Gumuliauskas said that the A320 family is a good product for ASG and Skytrans in Australia.

“The main vehicle and initial aircraft will be A319s, we have a plan for those, but depending on the market needs, A320s also can be brought if there will be a job for them. A321s are also something to consider because there are certain potential routes the existing carriers are flying.”

Major carriers in Australia are on the list of potential wet-leasing customers, said Gumuliauskas, alongside airlines in neighbouring countries such as New Zealand.

“We’re here to supply the capacity for airlines to work around, for example, delayed aircraft deliveries, maintenance works, shortages, crew, peak seasons, and so on – or development of existing operations, selling a few more tickets,” he said.

“All the regular carriers, operating in Australia and surrounding markets, neighboring countries, are our potential customers.”

Skytrans has said it will continue regional turboprop operations for the foreseeable future, with CEO Alan Milne telling Australian Aviation in January that it will be “business as usual” for the airline’s current network and schedule.

“ASG is the world’s largest ACMI company, and will provide Skytrans the opportunity for expansion of our operations, fleet and geographic reach while strengthening our position in the Australian market,” he said.

ASG currently operates a global fleet of 212 aircraft.

[Greg Hyde]

Facebook announcement yesterday

Ensuring that every flight is as comfortable as possible by not only perfecting our services but also constantly updating our fleet is our top priority. Currently, Skytrans operates 13 aircraft:
��️ 5x AC Dash 8-100 with a passenger seating capacity of 36;
��️ 2x AC Dash 8-300 with a passenger seating capacity of 50;
��️ 6x AC Cessna 208B Grand Caravans with a passenger seating capacity of 10.

In response to the growing demand in the region, we are ambitiously yet strategically planning to branch into large jet services with Airbus single-aisle aircraft, following our recent acquisition by the world’s largest ACMI provider, Avia Solutions Group. This strategy involves expanding the Skytrans fleet with Airbus A319s converted freighters.

While passenger operations will remain our primary focus, we are also exploring and developing opportunities in cargo. Such growth plans ensure that we continue to meet and exceed the needs of our customers, providing exceptional service, safety, and convenience.

[Lauren J]

This strategy involves expanding the Skytrans fleet with Airbus A319s converted freighters.

I'm assuming this is a typo on their end, and it will be A321 converted freighters.

[MarkR]

They have been peddling the A319 line for a while, yet don’t have any in their worldwide 200+ fleet at present

[lloyd fox]

Has anyone noticed their Logo change since June.
The white stylised bird is now red.I feel a new revised livery coming?

[lloyd fox]

First one due this month.Has anyone seen anything?
Anything as yet on the CASA web site.

[Greg Hyde]

Nothing recently registered.

[MarkR]

Would not be surprised if they take the ITA A319 fleet, they have already taken their first for a sister airline last month.

[lloyd fox]

Thanks Greg and Mark.Cheers.:)

[Dylan Hardie]

First aircraft arrival has been delayed a couple weeks

[lloyd fox]

Thanks Dylan.

[Stirling D]

Possibly EI-IMJ msn 1779. Skytrans posted a photo on LinkedIn, you can make out the last few letters of the aircraft name 'rera'. IMJ is named Isola di Caprera....

[Ayden H]

I think they're using two different aircraft in the video. One of them is LY-FAA, another ex ITA A319, EI-IMI. It's almost certainly IMJ going to QN though.

[Lauren J]

Possibly EI-IMJ msn 1779. Skytrans posted a photo on LinkedIn, you can make out the last few letters of the aircraft name 'rera'. IMJ is named Isola di Caprera....

Also in the video, the NLG door has "AA" written on it. I think Ayden's right that there are two different aircraft in the video.

[Ayden H]

That aircraft is LY-FAA.

[lloyd fox]

ch-aviation

VH-L7A



Skytrans (QN, Cairns) is expecting to receive its first A319-100 by the end of the year. The aircraft, to be entered into the Australian register as VH-L7A (msn 1779), is currently at the MAAS Aviation facility at Kaunas International for repainting.

Skytrans CEO Alan Milne says the aircraft is expected to ferry to Australia in November. The airline hopes to get the air operator's certificate variation completed by Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) before the end of the year, with entry into service shortly after that.

According to ch-aviation fleets data, the 22.3-year-old VH-L7A is ex Alitalia (AZA, Rome Fiumicino) and ITA Airways (AZ, Rome Fiumicino) stock, for which it was registered as EI-IMJ. The narrowbody jet seats 144 passengers in a singe-class cabin configuration.

According to the CASA register, Skytrans operates a fleet of thirteen aircraft, including two DHC-8-300s, five DHC-8-100s, and seven Cessna (single turboprop) 208Bs. The airline operates scheduled flights to 19 airports in Queensland, primarily within North Queensland and the Cape York Peninsula region.

Skytrans also operates freight and charter services, including contracted fly-in-fly-out charters. In addition, the airline recently secured a New South Wales government tender to operate scheduled Sydney-Lord Howe Island flights from early 2026, taking over from Qantas.

Earlier this year, Skytrans was acquired by Avia Solutions Group. The airline is the only subsidiary of the group operating scheduled passenger flights. However, VH-L7A will operate charters in line with Avia's standard operating procedures.

[Greg Hyde]

Good News, LLoyd.

I'll keep an eye on the VH-reg

[Ayden H]

Any words on a possible A321P2F acquisition? Heard that floating around

[lloyd fox]

Yes me too.:)

[Ayden H]

EI-IMJ was deleted from the EI-reg on 10/6/2024 as exported to Lithuania, however has not shown up on the LY-reg. Was meant to be delivered last month, looks like it will be this month though.

[Greg Hyde]

Airbus A319-112 1739 VH-L7A Skytrans Regional delivery 14-16dec24 KUN-RKT-CMB-DPS-BNE ex LY-FAB

flight# MVE9771

https://www.flightaware.com/live/flight/LYFAB

ETA BNE 07:14 16/12/24

[Stirling D]

All white scheme.. ��

[Greg Hyde]

https://youtu.be/Nlk0Pqsm6MQ

[Greg Hyde]

VH-L7A was added to the VH-Reg on 20/12/2024

[Greg Hyde]

VH-L7A is scheduled to make its first flight under VH-Reg with SKP481/QN481
Brisbane to Marcoola, later today.

[Ayden H]

Nope

[lloyd fox]

Just departed BNE as SKP482 at 0837.:)

[Greg Hyde]

L7A has been doing test flights north & south of BNE over the last two days

[Dennis McLean]

Today L7A is scheduled at 11.30am, BNE/CBR/ADL/CBR/BNE. Has not departed yet.

On 27/12 it did BNE/CBR/BNE. On 29/12 it did BNE/CNS/MKY/BNE

[Greg Hyde]

Posted Skytrans facebook 14/02/15

A major milestone for Skytrans ✈️

Yesterday, we officially added Airbus A319 operations to our Air Operator’s Certificate - a significant achievement for our team and our future.

This milestone wouldn’t have been possible without the dedication, expertise, and teamwork of our incredible Skytrans team. We sincerely appreciate everyone who contributed to making this happen. Your hard work and dedication make all the difference.

With the A319 now part of our fleet, we’re excited for the opportunities ahead as we continue to grow and deliver even more for our customers.
Here’s to the future of Skytrans!

[Zac M]

They posted on a facebook group looking for pax to take part in the proving flights, got to go for a flight with them on Thursday and it was a fantastic day, very interesting to see everything an airline has to go through to add the type to their AOC and the crew and other staff on the day were fantastic, hopefully they are successful in their operations!

[lloyd fox]

Looks like aircraft 2 into BNE tomorrow am from CGK using MVE as the ferry company.

MVE =Move Aircraft Flight soloutions.

[Lauren J]

Thanks Lloyd. Do you have the serial number or registration?

[lloyd fox]

No Lauren i don't.See if you can find it through the flight no.:)

MVE2ST A319 Jakarta-Soekarno-Hatta Int'l (CGK / WIII) Thu 12:25AM WIB Thu 10:26AM AEST (BNE/YBBN)

[Sean L]

Hey Lauren

No registration or serial unfortunately, however I was able to uncover the hex code. As the hex code has been reused and likely only recently swapped out, a google search of the hex code yields no results.

https://globe.adsbexchange.com/?icao=503d86

Also trackable via flightaware
https://www.flightaware.com/live/flight/MVE2ST

[Ayden H]

Hey Lauren

No registration or serial unfortunately, however I was able to uncover the hex code. As the hex code has been reused and likely only recently swapped out, a google search of the hex code yields no results.

https://globe.adsbexchange.com/?icao=503d86

Also trackable via flightaware
https://www.flightaware.com/live/flight/MVE2ST

503D86 is LY-FAC, A319 MSN 1740, another ex ITA unit (EI-IME) https://www.planespotters.net/airframe/airbus-a319-100-ly-fac-unknown/r6x8kr
Will become VH-L7B.

[Sean L]

Ah it seems I miss typed the code in my google search! Cheers Ayden

[Lauren J]

503D86 is LY-FAC, A319 MSN 1740, another ex ITA unit (EI-IME) https://www.planespotters.net/airframe/airbus-a319-100-ly-fac-unknown/r6x8kr
Will become VH-L7B.

Thank you Ayden

[Greg Hyde]

Airbus A319-112 1740 LY-FAC AviaAM Leasing ferried 25feb25 KUN-RKT ex EI-IME

[lloyd fox]

LY-FAC at BNE today

https://www.flickr.com/photos/79487691@N07/54353689690/in/dateposted-public/

[Mayer F]

Airbus A319-112 1740 LY-FAC AviaAM Leasing ferried 25feb25 KUN-RKT ex EI-IME

Now updated (Skyliner-aviation.de) as:

Airbus A319-112 1740 VH-L7B Skytrans Regional delivery 25-27feb25 KUN-RKT-CMB-CGK-BNE., LY-reg ex LY-FAC

[Stirling D]

503D86 is LY-FAC, A319 MSN 1740, another ex ITA unit (EI-IME) https://www.planespotters.net/airframe/airbus-a319-100-ly-fac-unknown/r6x8kr
Will become VH-L7B.

VH-L7Y

[Ayden H]

VH-L7C was added to the VH-reg on 3/3/25. Moved to WTB for temporary storage because of the cyclone.

[Lauren J]

Just confirming VH-L7C is MSN 1740? AirFleets has it listed as L7B but I’m assuming someone just jumped the gun to upload the info about it.

[Ayden H]

Just confirming VH-L7C is MSN 1740? AirFleets has it listed as L7B but I’m assuming someone just jumped the gun to upload the info about it.

Correct, it is 1740.

[Greg Hyde]

VH-L7C was added to the VH-reg on 3/3/25. Moved to WTB for temporary storage because of the cyclone.

Nothing on the VH-Reg as yet, showing a/c added on the 04/03/25

[Dylan Hardie]

Must of been a quick entry to service. Still had the AC sticker on the tail still

[Greg Hyde]

Both Skytrans A319's are hiding at WTB until the storm passes.

L7C was added to the register on 04/03/25

L7C AIRBUS A319-112 1740 04/03/25 ADD

[Greg Hyde]

Skytrans completed their first A319 commercial flight last week

[Tony JC]

Appears to be the CNS-BNE milk run for QLink

[Stirling D]

Appears to be the CNS-BNE milk run for QLink

Charter moving assistance for the floods :)

[Tony JC]

Ahh very good

[lloyd fox]

Both A319's on Saturday at BNE.:)

https://www.flickr.com/photos/79487691@N07/54495155001/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/79487691@N07/54495340679/in/dateposted-public/

[Brian Wilkes]

Both A319's on Saturday at BNE.:)

https://www.flickr.com/photos/79487691@N07/54495155001/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/79487691@N07/54495340679/in/dateposted-public/

Any colour getting put on them Lloyd?

[lloyd fox]

No Brian because they are purely ACMI..Any colours if at all would be the airlines leasing them putting on some of their own .

[Dylan Hardie]

L7C supposedly gonna be heading over to Perth for WA ops.

[Brian Wilkes]

No Brian because they are purely ACMI..Any colours if at all would be the airlines leasing them putting on some of their own .

Ta mate!

[Brenden S]

Probably for Minres.

[lloyd fox]

SKP 801 is currently doing a charter BNE-OOL-DRW-BNE..VH-L7A.:)

[MarkR]

SKP 801 is currently doing a charter BNE-OOL-DRW-BNE..VH-L7A.:)

AFL in Darwin with the bulldogs vs suns

[Dylan Hardie]

Another planned next week