Aurela

Infobox Airline
airline = Aurela

logo_size = 220px
fleet_size = 6
destinations =
IATA = -
ICAO = LSK
callsign = AURELA
parent =
company_slogan =
founded = 1996
headquarters = Vilnius, Lithuania
key_people =
hubs = Vilnius International Airport
secondary_hubs =
focus_cities =
frequent_flyer =
lounge =
alliance =
website = http://www.aurela.lt/

Aurela is a charter airline based in Vilnius, Lithuania. It operates charter services for several tour operators in the Baltic states. Its main base is Vilnius International AirportFlight International 27 March 2007] .

History

The airline was established and started operations in 1996 as a joint-stock air company using a Tupolev Tu-134A.1995 Aurela Airlines, the first private aviation company in Lithuania was founded. 1996 The Company’s VIP configuration aircraft TU-134A took for its first charter trips. 2001 An eight-seated business class plane Hawker HS-125-700 was purchased for VIP flights. Considering the needs on the market, for its chartered flights the Company hired out a newer and more economical plane JAK-42D containing 120 seats. 2003 As the number of charter flights increased, the Company rented out another JAK-42D. 2004 One JAK-42D was replaced by more advanced and containing more passenger seats Boeing 737-300. First flights of this plane coincided with Lithuania’s membership in the European Community. Aurela was honored by an opportunity to flight His Excellence Valdas Adamkus, the President of Lithuania. In 2004-2005 the President was taken to Kiev during the Orange Revolution and to participate at the funeral of Holy Father Jan Paul II. 2005 As soon as the EU had tightened its position in respect of aircraft of Russian production, the Company renewed its aircraft fleet by planes manufactured in the West. In December, upon expiration of the rent agreement, the remaining JAK-42D was returned to the lessor. 2006 In July the second Boeing 737-300 was rented out. In December the Company’s shareholders purchased a brand new nine-seated plane Hawker 850XP for VIP charter flights. The same year the key customer for chartered flights has become Novaturas Travel Company. 2009 in spring Aurela has plans to expand its aircraft fleet by Boeing 767-200.

Fleet

The Aurela fleet consists of the following aircraft (at January 2008):

*2 Boeing 737-300 LY-SKW and LY-SKA
*2 Boeing 757-200 LY-SKR and LY-SKJ
*1 Hawker 850XP LY-DSK
*1 Hawker 900XP LY-FSK

External links

* [http://www.aurela.lt/ Aurela]
* [http://www.ch-aviation.ch/aircraft.php?search=set&airline=LSK&al_op=1 Aurela Fleet]

References