newstodate.aero

Aug 03, 2021 (newstodate): Member of Lithuania's ASG Group, the Icelandic cargo carrier Bluebird Nordic is to open a new chapter of massive expansion.
   The carrier has announced its plans for taking in 25 Boeing 737-800 converted freighters till 2024, adding to its existing fleet comprising one Boeing 737-300 and seven Boeing 737-400 freighters.
   Already in September 2021, the first Boeing 737-800 for conversion sourced from another ASG Group airline KlasJet will be delivered to the Icelandic carrier by ASG leasing company AviaAM Leasing, with the second aircraft scheduled for October 2021.
   Bluebird Nordic will also set up offices in Lithuania and Bulgaria, moving some headquarter functions out of Iceland.
   Based at Keflavik Airport, Iceland, Bluebird Nordic provides ACMI and wet-lease services throughout Europe, Asia and North America.
   Originally trading as Bluebird Cargo, the carrier was set up in 2000, managed and co-owned by Thor Kjartansson together with other Icelandic investors.
    In February 2005, the carrier was sold to the Icelandair Group, but in February 2011 Icelandair decided to divest of Bluebird Cargo that was placed with the two Icelandic banks.
   After a few years, the company was acquired by BB Holding, a 50/50 enterprise between the investment group Haru Holding that is also behind Air Atlanta Icelandic, and Steinn Logi Bjornsson.
   Finally, in January 2020 Lithuania's Avia Solutions Group emerged as the new 100-percent owner of Bluebird Nordic.
   -With this new acquisition, Avia Solutions Group steps into the narrow-body ACMI cargo business. Being the biggest passenger ACMI group with one of the largest corporate airline in Europe, we were actually missing cargo operations, Gediminas Ziemelis, Avia Solutions Group Chairman of the Board of Directors, said as the take-over was announced.
   Managing Bluebird Nordic since May 2020 is Sigurdur Agustsson as CEO and Chairman of the Board.