Solenta Aviation

Last updated
Solenta Aviation
Solenta Aviation logo.png
IATA ICAO Call sign
-SETSOLENTA
Founded2002
Operating bases OR Tambo International Airport
Libreville International Airport
Oued Irara–Krim Belkacem Airport
Fleet size9
Headquarters Johannesburg, South Africa
Website solenta.com

Solenta Aviation is an airline based in Johannesburg, South Africa, with its maintenance base at OR Tambo International Airport. The company was founded in 2000 [1] and operates cargo flights on regional routes throughout the Sub-Saharan Africa on behalf of DHL Aviation. Solenta Aviation also operates extensively for the oil and gas industry ("OGP"), offering passenger charter, cargo and aircraft lease services.

Contents

Operations

Many Solenta Aviation aircraft feature the DHL logo and livery. Beech 1900 DHL.jpg
Many Solenta Aviation aircraft feature the DHL logo and livery.
A Solenta Aviation ATR 42 in DHL colors at Port Harcourt International Airport in 2005. ATR ATR-42-320, DHL (Solenta Aviation) AN0848058.jpg
A Solenta Aviation ATR 42 in DHL colors at Port Harcourt International Airport in 2005.
Beech 1900s on the flight line in Hassi Messaoud, operated for Air Express Algeria DAUH 1900.JPG
Beech 1900s on the flight line in Hassi Messaoud, operated for Air Express Algeria

Solenta Aviation has adopted a de-centralised business model, thus being able to offer flexible short-haul cargo flights. From its home and maintenance base at OR Tambo International Airport, it operates a number of DHL flights on regional routes to Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe using a fleet of ATR 42 and Cessna 208 Caravan cargo aircraft. [2]

There are several subsidiaries under separate airline licenses:

Further aircraft of Solenta Aviation are based and operated out of several other airports, including:

Fleet

Current fleet

As of August 2025, Solenta Aviation operates the following aircraft: [11]

Solenta Aviation fleet
AircraftIn
Service		Notes
ATR 42-500 1
ATR 72-500 4
Beechcraft 1900D 3
Embraer ERJ 135LR 1
Total9

Former fleet

The Solenta Aviation fleet previously included the following aircraft:[ citation needed ]

Accidents and incidents

On 6 June 2011 at 10:25 local time, an Antonov An-26 (registered TR-LII) ditched into the Gulf of Guinea 2.3 kilometres off Libreville, Gabon. The aircraft was operated by Scorpion Air, a Bulgarian company. [12] It had been on Flight 122A for DHL Aviation from Port Gentil to Libreville. [13] [14] The three crew members and one passenger on board received only minor injuries. [13] Prior to the ditching, they had reported hydraulic problems; eyewitness reports suggest that an engine failure may have occurred. [14] [15] As a consequence, the Gabonese government declared a temporary ban on aircraft of the types Antonov An-12, An-24 and An-26 in the country, pending the outcome of the investigation into the cause for the crash. [16]

References

  1. ↑ "About Us". Solenta Aviation. Archived from the original on Aug 4, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Johannesburg, South Africa". Solenta Aviation. Archived from the original on 2012-03-25.
  3. ↑ "Global Airline Guide 2019 (Part One)". Airliner World (October 2019): 12.
  4. ↑ Solenta Aviation in Côte d'Ivoire Archived 2012-03-25 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ↑ Solenta in Nairobi Archived 2012-03-25 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ↑ "Global Airline Guide 2019 (Part One)". Airliner World (October 2019): 21.
  7. ↑ Solenta in Algeria Archived 2012-03-25 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ↑ Solenta Aviation in Pakistan Archived 2011-09-04 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ↑ Solenta in Zimbabwe Archived 2012-03-25 at the Wayback Machine
  10. ↑ Solenta in Togo Archived 2012-03-25 at the Wayback Machine
  11. ↑ "Global Airline Guide 2025 - Solenta Aviation". Airliner World. September 2025. p. 75.
  12. ↑ "Solenta operating Antonovs now? [Archive] - PPRuNe Forums". www.pprune.org. Retrieved 2022-08-28.
  13. 1 2 "DHL cargo plane crashes in Gabon, no fatalities". BNO News. Archived from the original on 11 January 2012. Retrieved 7 June 2011.
  14. 1 2 Hradecky, Simon. "Accident: Scorpion AN26 near Libreville on Jun 6th 2011, ditched in the sea". The Aviation Herald. Retrieved 7 June 2011.
  15. ↑ Ranter, Harro. "ASN Aircraft accident Antonov 26 TR-LII Libreville Airport (LBV)". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 2017-08-31.
  16. ↑ "Gaboneco.com - Gabon : Interdiction de vol et survol aux Antonov 12, 24 et 26". Archived from the original on 2011-06-11. Retrieved 2011-06-08. gaboneco.com: French news article on Flight 122A]

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