Charter airline AirExplore is to be acquired by leading airline lessor Avia Solutions Group, the two companies announced today. Avia Solutions, the world's largest ACMI (aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance) provider, plans to utilize the Slovak ACMI and charter airline's capacity in the next phase of its worldwide business development plan.

Based and headquartered in Bratislava, Slovakia, AirExplore is a leading airline in the region. The company has 13 years of experience in the industry and maintains a fleet of ten Boeing 737-800 aircraft. The acquisition will further expand the Avia Solutions Group's aircraft fleet, which currently contains 180 aircraft.

Who is AirExplore?

The charter airline began operations and received its Air Operator's Certificate in 2011. It commenced services with a single Boeing 737-400, registered OM-AEX, followed by a Boeing 737-300 later that year.

In 2014, the airline began a fleet renewal program to upgrade its entire fleet to consist entirely of -800 models with the delivery of its first next-generation Boeing 737-800. In the following years, the company acquired eight passenger 737s and, most recently, two passenger-to-freighter conversions of the same model. Martin Stulajter, Chief Executive Officer of AirExplore, expressed his excitement to join the Avia Solutions Group:

“Becoming a part of the leading aviation services group and the world’s largest ACMI provider will not only provide our airline with valuable know-how and access to best industry practices but will also present new business opportunities, strengthening our positions in the market.

"We anticipate an exciting period for our airline’s growth and development."

Air Explore aircraft and maintenance truck
Photo: AirExplore

AirExplore's aircraft are used for a wide range of operations. The aircraft are wet-leased to clients including Condor, Norwegian, Aegean Airlines, and even Ryanair. Three of its Boeing 737-800 aircraft are currently based at East Midlands Airport to operate on behalf of Jet2 and Jet2holidays. The aircraft previously visited the airport for several weeks during the summer of 2022 and now operates flights to destinations including Kos, Palma de Majorca, and Ibiza.

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The airline expanded into cargo operations in 2022 when it welcomed its first 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighter to its base at M.R. Štefánika International Airport in Bratislava, Slovakia. The aircraft, registered OM-EDA, has a multi-year contract to operate flights for RDS Cargo Group. It was converted over several months in 2021 in Jinan, China.

Air Explore's Boeing 737-8AS(BCF) cargo plane above Bratislava airport
Photo: Daniel Havlík, P. Marianič | Airliners.sk

Other aircraft in AirExplore's fleet currently fly for carriers, including TUI Netherlands and Smartwings.

Growth for Avia Solutions Group

The group is a parent company with over 100 subsidiaries. Avia Solutions Group provides quite a few services besides traditional ACMI wet leasing. As an aviation business group, it includes MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul), pilot and crew training, ground handling, and other services to the aviation industry.

An AirExplore Boeing 737
Photo: AirExplore

The group employs over 11,500 highly aviation professionals and operates on all seven continents. It holds 9 AOCs in Europe and plans to announce an AOC in Indonesia this summer. Jonas Janukenas, CEO of Avia Solutions Group, expressed their excitement to enter the Slovakian market:

“Slovakia offers a dynamic business environment and having an AOC here presents a significant advantage, providing vast opportunities for extended geographic reach and new routes."

Avia Solutions Group's subsidiaries include SmartLynx Airlines, Avion Express, Bluebird Nordic, KlasJet, and Magma Aviation.