Developing its activities in Kazakhstan, the Lithuanian aviation business group Avia Solutions Group leases two more aircraft to the Kazakh private Air Company SCAT. The aircraft is leased by the company Avia Asset Management, part of Avia Solutions Group.
The Kazakh airline leased Boeing 737-300 and Boeing 757-200 aircraft. It is scheduled that they should take off from Vilnius after undergoing technical inspection and being repainted in the SCAT Air Company colours.
“The Kazakh airline already leases four of our aircraft: the first two aircraft took off to this country in September and October 2008. Up to now the Kazakh airline company used the Russian “Yakovlev” and “Antonov” type aircraft, and now it is making changes in its aircraft park by replacing the mentioned Russian aircraft with the one made in the West as such changes grant the opportunity to operate more efficiently, reducing the fuel costs, and expand the flights geography in the direction of international routes,” said Alexander Kochetkov, the Avia Asset Management Director General.
The Avia Solutions Group Director General Linas Dovydėnas stated that the Lithuanian aviation business group under his guidance has already developed quite a wide range of cooperation with Kazakh aviators and provides them with integrated aviation solutions. Lithuanian experts consult the Kazakhstan civil aviation administration and carriers on the subject of the European Union Requirements in Civil Aviation, provide business development consultations, carry out pilot training, aircraft lease, and provide aircraft technical maintenance services.
“With Kazakhs changing their aircraft park and transferring to the Western type aircraft, our plans include further expansions of activities in the Kazakh market and establishment of the Air Solutions Group representation offices in this country. Knowing the European Union Requirements in Aviation and aviation market well, we can offer our clients consultations on these matters, and strong technical and training base allows us to provide all the services required to shape and maintain the aircraft park,” said Linas Dovydėnas concerning further development possibilities.
In May 2008 the first Kazakh airline pilots completed their training in the Baltic Aviation Academy, part of Avia Solutions Group, and acquired the pilot qualifications necessary to fly the Boeing aircraft.
The Baltic Aviation Academy has already received the certificate issued by the Ministry of Transport and Communication of the Republic of Kazakhstan, confirming the training qualification’s suitability. From now on Kazakh pilots and attendants will be able to train and develop their skills at the Lithuanian training centre without receiving the prior authorization at home from the Ministry of Transport and Communication.
According to Mr. Dovydėnas, the major goal of Avia Solutions Group is further client base expansion at the growing Central and Eastern European and CIS markets, as Lithuanian aviation specialists become major advisors during these countries’ airlines transfer to the Western Boeings and other aircraft types. In the Director General’s opinion, good knowledge of the specific character of the Eastern and Central region aviation, Western service quality, more competitive prices, and convenient geographic location are among the key criteria for the selection of the Lithuanian aviation services companies over the Western ones.
Currently the Avia Solutions Group employ approximately 600 highly qualified workers. The planned consolidated entity revenue in 2009 is about 400 million Litas.
