Sólyom Hungarian Airways (Budapest) has been taken over completely by János Lucsik, one of the start-up's three original owners which had included Robert Hurtyák and József Vágó.

According to reports in the Hungarian press, Lucsik, who is now Managing Director of Sólyom Hungarian Airways and of Sólyom Holdings, says he has now been able to reduce the company's outstanding debt by 80 percent while half the backdated wages owed to previous employees have now been paid.

Lucsik went to add that the rejuvenated carrier is now searching for prospective Hungarian investors to help move the project forward. Despite enormous publicity and media coverage, Sólyom failed to launch in September last year after an unnamed Omani investor pulled out of the venture at the last moment.

Using an initial fleet of six aircraft leased from British lessor, the European Aviation Group, Solyom had intended to offer regional European flights before expanding internationally.

The start-up has yet to secure its Air Operator's Certificate, but now plans to focus on charter and ACMI operations initially in case it eventually does.