newstodate.aero

Apr 06, 2021 (newstodate): The new Lithuanian airline under formation, Heston Airlines is expecting to land its AOC shortly, readying to launch operations by mid-April 2021.
    The Lithuanian aviation authority Transporto Kompetenciju Agentura is amid the final AOC certification audit comprising assessment of the airline's safety management, compliance monitoring, flight and cabin operations, crew training, operational control, and flight dispatch, operational documentation, and other processes and procedures as a final step towards issuing the AOC.
   Since March 2020, the Irish aircraft leasing company Genesis has supported the strategy and development of the airline, delivering the airline’s first of three Airbus A320 aircraft in December 2020 to bolster the final stages of Heston Airlines' application with the Lithuanian CAA for an EASA Air Operator Certificate.   
   Genesis will support Heston Airlines with delivery of the next A320 aircraft as the airline enters service by mid-April 2021 to provide wet and dry leasing solutions to airlines, expectedly starting to participate in the vaccine roll-out across Europe.
   The airline received its first Airbus A320 from Genesis in December 2020 and is now finalizing the technical acceptance process, with the aircraft ready for operation this week.
   Managed by Jonas Rinkauskas as CEO, Heston has also now completed recruiting the initial flight crews that will start training by mid-April.
   Plans are to grow the aircraft fleet to seven aircraft by 2022, and up to 10 aircraft at a later stage.