Avia Solutions Group

Foundation

The history of Avia Solutions Group began in 2005 when Lithuanian Airlines, the national airlines of Lithuania, was privatized. LAL investicijų valdymas^[5] acquired 100% of the airline shares for 7.53 million Euro. The airline was re-branded as FlyLAL and several companies were spun - out, including Baltic Ground Services^[6] (ground handling), FL Technics (aviation maintenance, repair, and operations), and Bilietų Pardavimo Centras (travel agency). In 2008 FlyLAL filed a lawsuit against Latvian carrier airBaltic , accusing airline of price dumping. In 2009 FlyLAL was forced to declare bankruptcy with around 29 million euros in debts after the government refused to bail the company out and a potential buyout deal fell through.^[7] In 2014 Court of Justice of the European Union allowed to arrest the property of airBaltic and Riga International Airport in order to ensure main proceedings, seeking legal redress for damage resulting from alleged infringements of European Union competition law in the flyLAL lawsuit against airBlatic for price dumping.^[8]

Expansion

In the beginning, Avia Solutions Group covered three aviation business areas, including ground handling (Baltic Ground Services), aircraft maintenance (FL Technics) and travel services (Bilietu Pardavimo Centras).

In July 2006, Baltic Ground Services was sold to UAB Finansų spektro investicija.^[9] The company was bought back by Avia Solutions Group from investment company Invalda in November 2008.[6] The same year Baltic Ground Services became first company in Europe and tenth in world^[10] to receive IATA Safety Audit for Ground Operations (ISAGO)^[11] certificate. In January 2015, Baltic Ground Services joined IATA’s Ground Handling Council (IGHC).^[12]

In December 2005 Bilietų Pardavimo Centras became a member of IATA and in November 2006 changed its name into BPC Travel (stands for Best Price for Consumers Travel) to better reflect its business philosophy. BPC Travel left Avia Solutions Group in 2010.^[13]

In 2010 FL Technics achieved Boeing 737 NG base maintenance certificate.^[14] In October 2011 Boeing selected FL Technics as its GoldCare partner.^[15] In 2014 FL Technics invested $4 million in new high-tech MRO hangar in Kaunas.^[16] In 2014 company launched Online Training™,^[17] a remote EASA Part-147-compliant training program, based on visually enhanced materials available online.

In November 2006, Baltic Aviation Academy (originally flyLAL Training) was established based on the training center of FlyLAL. Company provides FTO (Flight Training Organization) and TRTO (Type Rating Training Organization) type rating for 10+ aircraft types and operates full flight simulators for Airbus A320^[18] and other aircraft.

In 2007, the group established Aviation Asset Management (now AviaAM Leasing). In June 2008, it signed its first third-party lease contract with Kazakh Scat Air.^[19] AviaAM leasing left the group in 2010. In 2013 AviaAM Leasing launched its IPO and now is listed on WSE.^[20]

In 2008 Avia Solutions Group separated its charter flights activities from FlyLAL and established a charter airline. In July 2010, it underwent a major re-branding and became Small Planet Airlines.^[21] In March, 2013 Avia Solutions Group sold 99.5 per cent of Small Planet Airlines UAB (Lithuania) and Small Planet Airlines Sp. z.o.o. (Poland) to an investment group led by the carrier's management team.^[22]

In 2010 Avia Solutions Group established an IT company, which developed its own platform to trade aircraft inventory and maintenance services. In 2014 Locatory.com launched Amber A.I., artificial intelligence tool that converts e-mail parts inquiries into searches.^[23]

In 2011 Avia Solutions Group launched AviationCV.com,^[24] a global provider of aviation jobs specialists resourcing solutions for airlines, MRO providers and other industry companies.

In 2013 Avia Solutions Group acquired Helisota,^[25] an international provider of MRO services for rotorcraft aviation that provides services for Mi and Robinson aircraft.

In 2013 Avia Solutions Group launched its own private jet charter carrier KlasJet.^[26] The carrier is based in Vilnius, Lithuania and operates its flights in Europe, CIS and other regions.

In 2014 the Group launched a business aviation charter air carrier KlasJet. Same year, BAA Training launched an aviation training IT software developer MOMook.^[27]

In 2015 Avia Solutions Group launched a Lithuanian tour operator Kidy Tour,^[28] as well as a UAV-based infrastructure inspections provider Laserpas.^[29] The company sold its interest to the management of Laserpas in August 2018.^[30]

In 2016 the Group-controlled Ramport Aero opened Zhukovsky International Airport^[31] (IATA:ZIA) near Moscow, Russia. Later that year, Avia Solutions Group launched a competence development center Emblick,^[32] acquired Estonian tour operator GoAdventure EE.^[33] The Group’s subsidiary in Indonesia also opened a new MRO center in Jakarta.^[34]

In 2018, daughter company of Avia Solutions Group, BAA Training has announced the establishment of a new company in Vietnam—BAA Training Vietnam.^[35]

Awards

In 2011 Avia Solutions Group was recognized as one of the best debutants on WSE.^[36] In 2011 Avia Solutions Group received "Golden Chariot",^[37] public award for the outstanding performance in international transport industry in Russia.^[38]

In 2012 Linas Dovydenas, CEO at Avia Solutions Group was awarded as the CEO of the year by the readers of business news website and newspaper “Verslo Zinios”.^[39]

In 2012 Gediminas Ziemelis, Chairman of Avia Solutions Group, was selected amongst the top 40 most talented young leaders in the aviation industry by Aviation Week & Space Technology.^[40]

In 2014 Gediminas Ziemelis, the Chairman of the Board of Avia Solutions Group, Anatolij Legenzov, CEO of Helisota and Tomas Vaisvila, General Director of Ramport Aero, have been included in the Aviation Weeks' Top 40 young leaders under 40 list. Gediminas Ziemelis became only person to be included two times in a row with his first repeat appearance in 2012.^[41]

In June 2016, Avia Solutions Group received a National Public Champion award and was named amongst 10 best European businesses in the RSM Entrepreneur of the Year category at the European Business Awards. Same year, Ramport Aero received Best investment project award for successful launch of Zhukovsky International Airport.^[42]

Board

The management board currently has five members. Gediminas Ziemelis, Chairman of the Board, and 4 members – Aurimas Sanikovas, Chief Financial Officer at Avia Solutions Group, Zilvinas Lapinskas, CEO of FL Technics, Linas Dovydenas, Member of the Board at Avia Solutions Group and Dr. Ricardas Laukaitis, Deputy CEO of Avia Solutions Group.^[43]

Shareholders

As of June 2018, the Group’s shares are distributed in the following proportions.^[44]

Current companies

Avia Solutions Group has offices in Lithuania, the USA, the UK, Poland, Serbia, Estonia, Moscow, Thailand and Indonesia. As of April, 2017, Avia Solutions Group controls the following companies:^[45]

• FL Technics, Jet MS, Helisota – providers of maintenance and repair of commercial and business aviation airplanes, as well as helicopters
• BAA Training – aviation training provider
• BGS – ground handling and fueling provider
• Locatory.com, Sensus Aero, MOMook – aviation IT solutions developers
• KlasJet – business aviation charter air carrier and business jet manager
• AviationCV.com – aviation personnel resourcing provider
• Kidy Tour – tour operator
• Ramport Aero – airport developer and operator

Previous companies

Companies that were part of Avia Solutions Group:

• FlyLaL – national airline of Lithuania (bankrupt)
• BPC Travel – travel agency (spun out)
• AviaAM Leasing – long-term aircraft leasing (spun out)
• UAB Passenger Terminal – construction company to build a new passenger terminal at Vilnius Airport (abandoned)^[46]
• Small Planet Airlines – charter airline (sold)
• Laserpas – provider of aerial infrastructure inspections by UAVs (sold)