Aurela

Aurela was a charter airline based in Vilnius, Lithuania. It operated charter services for several tour operators in the Baltic states. Its main base was Vilnius International Airport.[1]

Aurela
IATA ICAO Callsign
- LSK AURELA
Founded1996
Ceased operations18 February 2013
HubsVilnius International Airport
Fleet size2
HeadquartersVilnius, Lithuania
Key peopleValdas Barakauskas (CEO)
Aurela Boeing 757-200 landing at Vilnius Airport (VNO).

History

The airline was established and started operations in 1996 as a joint-stock air company using a Tupolev Tu-134A.[1] In 1995 Aurela Airlines became the first private aviation company in Lithuania.
In 1996 the company acquired a VIP configured aircraft, a TU-134A for charter flights.
In 2001 an eight-seater business class plane, Hawker HS-125-700, was purchased for VIP flights. Further demand on the market for chartered flights allowed the Company to take a loan on a newer and more economical YAK-42D containing 120 seats.
In 2003 as the number of charter flights increased, the Company rented out another YAK-42D.
In 2004 one YAK-42D was replaced with a more advanced and higher volume Boeing 737-300. The first flight of this plane coincided with Lithuania's membership in the European Community. Aurela was also used by Valdas Adamkus, the President of Lithuania. In 2004-2005 the President was taken to Kiev during the Orange Revolution and to attend the funeral of Pope John Paul II.
In 2005 as soon as the EU had tightened its position in respects to the use of Russian aircraft, the company updated its fleet by acquiring western manufactured planes. In December, upon expiration of the rent agreement, the remaining YAK-42D was returned to the lessor.
In July 2006 a second Boeing 737-300 was rented out. In December the Company's shareholders purchased a brand new nine-seater plane, a Hawker 850XP for VIP charter flights. That same year the key client for chartered flights had become Novaturas Travel Company.
In spring 2009 Aurela announced plans to expand its aircraft fleet by acquiring a Boeing 767-200. Aurela have signed a three-year contract with Thomas Cook airlines to provide them with Boeing 757-200 aircraft for summer months at its UK bases, and provides a charter service for Small Planet Airlines to Samos island and Limnos.

In 2012, Aurela began to operate several routes for Monarch Airlines due to Monarch opening new routes and not having sufficient fleet. Routes such as Birmingham to Málaga. Monarch ceased their partnership with Aurela in September 2012 due to extensive delays, customer complaints and an Aurela aircraft skidding off the runway at Birmingham Airport.

On 18 February 2013, the decision was taken by the Lithuanian CAA to suspend the licence of Aurela.[2]

Services

The core activities were:

  • Regular charter Flights - one of the key operational activities by Aurela was travel agencies chartered flights to different resorts in Europe, Asia and Africa.
  • Individual charter Flights - Aurela Airlines organizes individual or so-called exclusive charter flights.
  • ACMI Lease - Aurela provided aircraft with all maintenance and crew including engineers to a lessee. In 2006 Aurela had a successful cooperation with Estonian Air. One of the aircraft was leased to the Estonian company for three and a half months. Airlines such as airBaltic, Small Planet Airlines and Star1 Airlines also hired the service, when necessary.
  • VIP Flights - Aurela was the only aviation company in Lithuania operating a commercial category, VIP class aircraft.

Fleet

Aurela had various aircraft types, including:

Aurela Boeing 737-300 landing at Vilnius Airport (VNO).


References
  1. Flight International, 27 March 2007
  2. Aurela License Suspended
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