Avion Express

Avion Express is a provider of ACMI (aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance) services to other carriers. Headquartered in Vilnius, it operates a fleet of 55 Airbus A320-family aircraft and holds Air Operator Certificates in Lithuania, Malta and Brazil, with additional certificates under development in the Philippines and Mexico.^[3]

Avion Express

IATA ICAO Call sign X9[1] NVD NORDVIND
Founded	2005
AOC #	LT.AOC.003 in Lithuania MT-56 in Malta 16,474/SPO in Brazil
Operating bases	Vilnius
Subsidiaries	Avion Express Malta Avion Express Brasil
Fleet size	55
Parent company	Eyjafjoll SAS (owned by Avia Solutions Group)
Headquarters	Vilnius, Lithuania
Key people	Darius Kajokas (CEO)
Revenue	€205.3 million (2022)[2]
Website	avionexpress.aero

History

Avion Express was established in 2005 as Nordic Solutions Air Services. At that time, the airline was operating four Saab 340 cargo and passenger aircraft. In 2008 the company was re-branded to its current name Avion Express. In 2010 Avion Express was acquired by French investment company Eyjafjoll SAS, formed by Avion Capital Partners of Switzerland along with other investors.^{[citation needed]}

In 2011 Avion Express introduced its first Airbus A320,^[4] which was the first Airbus aircraft to be registered in Lithuania. In December, two more Airbus A320s were added to the fleet. In 2013, Avion Express passed the IOSA Operational Safety Audit and obtained an IATA registration. The last Saab 340 cargo aircraft was removed from operation in March 2013.^[5] By summer of 2014, the airline was operating a fleet of nine Airbus A320s and two Airbus A319s. That same year Avion Express established a subsidiary company Dominican Wings,^[6] a low-cost airline based in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. In summer 2017 Avion Express introduced Airbus A321 aircraft.^[7]

Avion Express Headquarters

In June 2017, Avion Express announced that it had sold its 65% stake in Dominican Wings to the president of the company.^[8][9] In August 2017, Avion Express signed partnership agreement with the Lithuanian Aviation Academy (VGTU A. Gustaitis’ Aviation Institute).^[10] Since autumn 2017 Avion Express has also been collaborating with BAA Training on the cadet programme.^[11][12][13]

In 2019 Avion Express established Avion Express Malta, a subsidiary company based in Malta.^[14] The company started operations in May the same year.^[15]

In early 2025, the company’s Brazilian subsidiary, Avion Express Brasil, received its Air Operator Certificate, with plans to operate up to 25 aircraft by 2028.^[16] As of 2025, Avion Express holds Air Operator Certificates in Lithuania, Malta, and Brazil, with an AOC under development in the Philippines and Mexico.^[17] Avion Express is in the process of obtaining an Air Operator Certificate (AOC) in Mexico.^[18]

Fleet

Avion Express Airbus A320-232

Avion Express Airbus A320-232

As of June 2025, Avion Express operates the following fleet:

Aircraft	In Service	Passengers
Airbus A320-200	54	180
Airbus A321-200	1	220
Total	55

Incidents and accidents

• On 3 February 2024, Vilnius International Airport was closed after Avion Express Flight 8242 (registration LY-NVL), landing from Milan Bergamo Airport veered off the runway and onto the grass whilst landing, the aircraft maneuvered back onto the runway and taxied to the terminal. The belly received substantial damage.^[19]