Air VIA

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Air VIA
Ер Виа
Air VIA logo.png
IATA ICAO Call sign
VLVIMCRYSTAL
Founded1990
Ceased operations2016 [1]
Operating bases
Fleet size5
Destinations26
Headquarters Sofia, Bulgaria
Key peopleDenis Barekov, Mihail Donsky
Revenue Decrease2.svg  43.9 million (2016) [2]
Net income Decrease2.svg -€0.5 million (2016) [2]
Website air-via.com

Air VIA was [1] a charter airline with its head office in Sofia, Bulgaria, [3] that operated charter flights on behalf of European tour operators such as TUI and Thomas Cook. Most Air VIA flights operated from European destinations into Varna Airport and Burgas Airport, the airline also offered ACMI and wet lease subservices to many other clients and destinations. [4]

Contents

History

A former Air VIA Tupolev Tu-154M in 1997 Air Via Tupolev 154; LZ-MIS@ZRH;11.05.1997 (4848493964).jpg
A former Air VIA Tupolev Tu-154M in 1997

The airline was founded in 1990. The company is licensed and certified according to the Bulgarian and EU regulations to transport passengers and cargo. Between 1990 and 2005, Air VIA operated with 5 new Tupolev TU-154M aircraft. Air VIA was founded by a group of private Bulgarian investors and initially performed charter flights for Bulgarian and leading European tour operators such as Neckermann, TUI Travel, Jetairfly, Thomas Cook and Prodintour to and from Bulgarian seaside resorts. In 1994 the airline was acquired by Mr. Denis Barekov, a Bulgarian entrepreneur, who has investments in mining, glass production, real-estate and other industries.

In 2005, Air VIA changed its fleet due to the ever growing competition, EU regulations, increasing fuel prices and higher customer requirements. In the summer of 2006, Air VIA started to operate Airbus A320 aircraft and phased out the dated Tupolev-154M. On 28 August 2015, Air Via added its first Airbus A321-200 to its fleet. [5] Air Via operated for 25 years in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and in other regions for many different clients under ACMI or Charter contracts. The airline has operated in all European countries, but also in Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Vietnam, Pakistan and in many other countries. In 2016, Air VIA ceased flight operations. At present, the company is considering different opportunities to restore its flight operations.

In 2012, Mr. Denis Barekov and the Air Via management team assisted an investor from Iceland in the creation of WOW Air, the low-cost passenger airline based in Iceland. Air Via managed the complete flight operations of WOW Air until 2016 by providing its expertise, 3 aircraft (under WOW Air livery), its crews, maintenance and management staff.

In 2016, Mr. Denis Barekov and the Air Via management team established, certified and managed Via Airways, a Bulgarian charter passenger airline, currently operating under the Fly2Sky brand.

Destinations

During the summer months, Air Via operated charter flights between the Bulgarian seaside airports Burgas and Varna and almost all countries in Western Europe and the Middle East. During the winter months, Air Via operated under ACMI contracts in the Middle East and in Asia.

Fleet

Air VIA Airbus A320-200 LZ-MDB A320-214 Air VIA PMI 21MAY10 (4626984427).jpg
Air VIA Airbus A320-200

Between 2005 and 2016, Air Via operated upto 5 aircraft A320. As of January 2016, the Air VIA fleet consisted of the following aircraft: [6] [7]

Air VIA Fleet
Aircraft In Service Passengers Notes
Airbus A320-200
1
180
Wet leased to Enter Air [8]
Airbus A321-200
1
220

Incidents and accidents

References

  1. 1 2 ch-aviation.com – Air Via retrieved 2 September 2018
  2. 1 2 "Най-големите транспортни компании: Гладни за шофьори, гладни за релси". 29 August 2017.
  3. "Contacts". air-via.com. Archived from the original on 28 May 2012. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  4. Flight International 27 March 2007
  5. "Skyliner – aviation news & more". skyliner-aviation.de. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  6. "Company & History". Air VIA. Archived from the original on 18 January 2017. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
  7. "Aircraft and Fleet Lists". ch-aviation.com. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  8. "Skyliner – aviation news & more".
  9. "Самолет излезе от пистата на летище Варна, две жени са със счупени крайници (допълнена и видео)". dnevnik.bg. 24 May 2013. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  10. "Accident: VIA A320 at Varna on May 24th 2013, runway excursion". avherald.com. Retrieved 20 June 2016.

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