newstodate.aero

Apr 16, 2024 (newstodate): A great achievement for Lithuania's civil aviation: the country has obtained the FAA Category 1 ranking following its first International Aviation Safety Assessment.
   With the Cat 1 ranking, Lithuanian airlines will now be free to operate aircraft registered in Lithuania into and within US airspace without restrictions.
   So far, Lithuanian airlines operating commercial flights to and in the USA have been forced to register aircraft in other countries, first of all using Malta as a new designator.
   Early in 2023, the US Federal Aviation Administration conducted an audit of the Lithuanian aviation sector, followed by a lengthy process leading to the decision to open up for aircraft registered in Lithuania to operate flights to the USA.
   One key Lithuanian airline sure to benefit from the country's Cat 1 ranking is Avion Express Malta that applied for Foreign Air Carrier Permits and Exemption Authority by the US regulator DOT on July 3, 2019, and was granted rights on August 22, 2019, opening up for new business potentials as a provider of ACMI narrow-body services in the US market.
   Avion Express will now be free to operate not only Malta-registered but also Lithuanian-registered aircraft on traffic into and within the US market.