newstodate.aero

Jun 13, 2024 (newstodate): The Lithuanian charter and ACMI airline, Heston Airlines has phased out its fleet of wide-body aircraft.
   -We have phased-out all our three Airbus A330-200 aircraft as part of the fleet strategy and new business focus on a single-type narrow-body aircraft fleet instead, benefiting also from a lower cost base, says Jonas Rinkauskas, Heston Airlines CEO.
   In August 2021, the carrier signed a lease contract with the Chinese-owned Irish aircraft leasing company Avolon for three Airbus A330-200 aircraft, the first of which was delivered by mid-August 2021 already, followed by the second delivery in October 2021 and the third in January 2022.
   Two of the three aircraft were initially operated as all-cargo aircraft with seats removed, while the third was available for charter and ACMI passenger operations.
   In summer 2023, two of the Airbus A330 aircraft were placed on a long-term wet-lease contract with Uzbekistan Airways to operate on routes from Tashkent to Istanbul, Dubai and Jeddah, and the third Airbus A330 was placed on a wet-lease contract with Condor Flugdienst for flights from Dusseldorf to tourist destinations.
   -The Airbus A330-200 aircraft have performed very well on the market, very reliable and great quality. All clients we have operated for has good remarks, says Mr Rinkauskas.

   In the fleet of Heston Airlines are now 11 Airbus A320 aircraft as well as one Airbus A319, currently parked - but plans are to add more Airbus A320 as well as new Airbus A319 aircraft.