ASL Aviation Holdings has confirmed its ASL Airlines Spain (Madrid Barajas) unit is to be wound down as part of its ongoing streamlining of its operational assets.
In a statement, the Irish conglomerate said ASL Airlines Spain's fleet of eight BAe 146-300(QT)s would be gradually phased out. On the retirement of its last aircraft, the carrier would cease all operations with its AOC to be returned to the Spanish authorities. Although affected staff will be offered positions elsewhere in the holding firm, some redundancies are expected.
Formerly PAN Air (Madrid Barajas), ASL Airlines Spain was acquired by ASL Aviation Holdings in May 2016 from TNT Express as part of the conditions laid down for its merger with FedEx Express.
"ASL's stated objective has been to increase operational and cost efficiencies by reducing its number of AOCs from six in Europe," it said in a statement. The plan for the Spanish AOC follows the return of ASL Airlines Switzerland's AOC to the regulatory authorities following the transfer of its fleet of ATR - Avions de Transport Régional (ATR) aircraft to ASL Airlines Ireland."
"As the European market develops, the BAe146 aircraft of ASL Spain do not meet the range or capacity requirements of the emerging market ASL is configuring its European freighter fleet to serve the current and future needs of the group’s customers," it added.
Given its Spanish sister carrier's withdrawal, ASL Airlines Belgium (3V, Liège) will gradually deploy its B737-400(F)s into the Spanish-European market to meet increasing capacity requirements.
