newstodate.aero
Jun 28, 2013 (newstodate): Lithuania's aviation environment seems to be blossoming again despite the demise of its national carrier FlyLal that folded its wings on January 17, 2009.
One most recent newcomer to the market with its first commercial operation on June 21, 2013, is Grand Cru Airlines offering ad-hoc full-charter and ACMI operations with its first aircraft, a Boeing 737-300 based at Vilnius, Lithuania.
-We are starting out with dry-lease and ACMI operations and will take delivery of our second Boeing 737-300 aircraft by mid-July, says Aleksandr Celiadin, Grand Cru Airlines CCO and Deputy CEO, formerly CCO at another Lithuanian carrier, Aurela.
-I am happy to see that both of these aircraft are fully booked with assignments from the start till the end of the summer season, and from then both aircraft are already contracted by tour operators for full-charter operations from various European markets during the winter schedule.
-Our AOC allows us to operate both passenger and cargo business, but so far our focus is on the passenger air transportation. Competition is stiff, but with aircraft like ours leasing terms are rather comfortable and this allows us to operate at attractive prices without compromising quality and service.
-Plans are to take in a third Boeing 737-300 aircraft in 2014, and we will also be considering adding Airbus A320 Family aircraft to the fleet to gain increased flexibility in meeting customer requests, says Mr Celiadin.
In the company now are 15 administrative staff and four aircraft crews.
Behind Grand Cru Airlines with Valdas Barakauskas serving as CEO is a group of Lithuanian and foreign investors.
One most recent newcomer to the market with its first commercial operation on June 21, 2013, is Grand Cru Airlines offering ad-hoc full-charter and ACMI operations with its first aircraft, a Boeing 737-300 based at Vilnius, Lithuania.
-We are starting out with dry-lease and ACMI operations and will take delivery of our second Boeing 737-300 aircraft by mid-July, says Aleksandr Celiadin, Grand Cru Airlines CCO and Deputy CEO, formerly CCO at another Lithuanian carrier, Aurela.
-I am happy to see that both of these aircraft are fully booked with assignments from the start till the end of the summer season, and from then both aircraft are already contracted by tour operators for full-charter operations from various European markets during the winter schedule.
-Our AOC allows us to operate both passenger and cargo business, but so far our focus is on the passenger air transportation. Competition is stiff, but with aircraft like ours leasing terms are rather comfortable and this allows us to operate at attractive prices without compromising quality and service.
-Plans are to take in a third Boeing 737-300 aircraft in 2014, and we will also be considering adding Airbus A320 Family aircraft to the fleet to gain increased flexibility in meeting customer requests, says Mr Celiadin.
In the company now are 15 administrative staff and four aircraft crews.
Behind Grand Cru Airlines with Valdas Barakauskas serving as CEO is a group of Lithuanian and foreign investors.