newstodate.aero

Apr 25, 2023 (newstodate): The Lithuanian ACMI carrier Heston Airlines is seeing a sound market for its aircraft in this summer's wet-lease market.
   In the fleet of the carrier are six Airbus A320 and three Airbus A330 aircraft - all placed on contracts for this summer.
   As earlier reported, three Airbus A320 aircraft are now operating on a wet-lease contract with the new Estonian carrier Marabu during the summer schedule, and one aircraft has been contracted by Montenegro Airlines.
   Lately, news has also emerged that Uzbekistan Airways has signed a long-term wet-lease contract with Heston Airlines for two Airbus A330 aircraft to operate its routes from Tashkent to Istanbul, Dubai and Jeddah.
  The first of the two aircraft arrived at Tashkent Airport on April 21, 2023, with the second to follow shortly.
   Set up in 2020 and landing its AOC on May 21, 2021, Heston Airlines is based at Vilnius Airport with Jonas Rinkauskas as its CEO.
   

Besides, Heston Airlines is in the process of establishing a subsidiary "in disguise" in Malta.
   Industry sources and media claim that the coming new offshoot is identical to another new venture, Valetta Air, poised to lift-off early 2023 with a focus on global charter and ACMI services.
   Heston Airlines is thus claimed to be behind Valetta Air's AOC and Operating License, granted on February 9, 2023, and Valetta Air has now applied with the US FAA for a Foreign Air Carrier Permit and Exemption Authority.
   Valetta Air is planning for operating three Airbus A320-200 and two Airbus A330-200 before the end of 2023.
   Speculations are that Valetta Airlines is poised to become the successor to the country's current national carrier, Air Malta, that is deep in financial mire and close to a crash landing with a fleet of seven Airbus A320 aircraft.