Hi Fly Malta to add 3 A319s for Airbus shuttle ch-aviation PRO exclusive

Portugal's Hi Fly (5K, Lisbon) has made a non-binding offer to acquire the airline business from Thomas Cook Group, the Mail on Sunday has reported.

The Portuguese ACMI/charter specialist did not confirm the bid.

Lufthansa, Virgin Atlantic, and Indigo Partners have previously been reported as interested in buying Thomas Cook's airlines. The German group has confirmed that it had placed a bid for Condor only. An equity fund Triton is reportedly eyeing Thomas Cook's Nordic business.

The British tour operator's airline business includes Thomas Cook Airlines UK, Condor, Thomas Cook Airlines Scandinavia, Thomas Cook Airlines Balearics, and Thomas Cook Aviation. Thomas Cook is looking to sell the airlines, which, in general, are profitable, to raise cash for the struggling tour operator business unit.

Privately-owned Hi Fly currently operates one A321-200, two A330-200s, and three A340-300s. Its subsidiary Hi Fly Malta operates three A319-100s, one A330-300, one A330-900, four A340-300s, and one A380-800.

Avion Express (X9, Vilnius) says its Maltese subsidiary, Avion Express Malta (MLH, Malta Int'l) (formerly known as ALH Airlines), is set to commence operations after having completed its certification drive last week.

The first aircraft in its fleet is A320-200 9H-AMA (msn 1005).

“We are constantly working on strengthening our leading position in the industry and expanding to new markets," Darius Kajokas, Avion Express CEO, said in a statement. "The decision to establish a subsidiary company specifically in Malta was based upon favourable and strategically beneficial conditions provided by the country. Acquiring a Maltese [Air Operator's Certificate] AOC and [Air Operator's Licence] AOL opens a lot of opportunities for us which we are looking forward to exploring.”

Other ACMI/charter carriers that have already established their own Maltese subsidiaries include Corendon Airlines with Corendon Airlines Europe, Freebird Airlines with Freebird Airlines Europe, Hi Fly with Hi Fly Malta, and SmartLynx Airlines with SmartLynx Airlines Malta.