Small Planet Airlines

Small Planet Airlines
IATA ICAO Callsign
S5[1] LLC SMALL PLANET
Founded 2007 (2007)
as FlyLAL Charters
Commenced operations 2008 (2008)
Operating bases
Subsidiaries
Fleet size 21
Destinations 40+
Headquarters J. Basanavičiaus g. 15, Vilnius, Lithuania
Key people Vytautas Kaikaris (CEO, Small Planet Group), Kristijonas Kaikaris (CEO, Small Planet Airlines), Andrius Staniulis (COO), Halldor Sigurdarson (CFO)
Revenue Increase €182 million (2015)[2]
Profit Increase €19,2 million (2015)[2]
Website smallplanet.aero

Small Planet Airlines is a Lithuanian leisure airline based at Vilnius Airport with further bases throughout Europe. It and a subsidiary of the Small Planet Group which also owns several sister companies.

History

Foundation als FlyLAL Charters

The company was previously known as FlyLAL Charters and was registered on 14 March 2007. In October 2008, the company received its operational licenses to begin passenger flight operations. In 2009, a subsidiary, flyLAL Charter Eesti, was registered with an aim to provide chartered operations to and from Estonia. In December 2009, another company, flyLAL Charters PL, was registered to implement flights from various airports in Poland.

In 2010, FlyLAL Charters was authorized to perform scheduled flights to Greece, Spain, Italy and various other countries. In July of the same year, flyLAL Charters was rebranded to its current name, Small Planet Airlines. In 2009 and 2010, FlyLAL Charters carried 400,000 passengers; in 2012 the renamed Small Planet Airlines had increased the number to nearly 0.7 million passengers.

Later developments

In April 2013, Small Planet Airlines announced a buyout of the 99.5 percent of Small Planet Airlines UAB (Lithuania) and Small Planet Airlines Sp. z o. o.“(Poland) shares held by Avia Solutions Group. After the transaction, Small Planet Airlines was owned by Vytautas Kaikaris and Andrius Staniulis, the management of the company.[3] In 2014, holding company Small Planet Group was established to take ownership of the Small Planet Airlines of Lithuania and Poland. Small Planet Group UAB owns 100 percent of the shares of the leisure carrier Small Planet Airlines UAB and 90 percent of the shares of Small Planet Airlines Sp. z o. o.[4] The holding controls 100% of UAB Small Planet Airlines, 100% Small Planet Airlines Sp. z o. o., 80% of Small Planet Airlines GmbH (Germany) and 49% of Small Planet Airlines (Thailand).

In December 2014, Small Planet Airlines founded a company in Thailand, with the intention of securing a local air operator's certificate (AOC) and operating international flights from Thailand to China and South Korea. In 2015, Small Planet Airlines entered the German market with the incorporation of Small Planet Airlines GmbH; the company’s office was established in Berlin.

In September 2015 the company announced that during the next 5 winters, several aircraft (and flight deck crews) will be transferred to the Southeast Asia to operate from Siem Reap town in Cambodia to China, South Korea and Vietnam on behalf of Cambodian airline SKYANGKOR.

During 2016 winter season, several planes and crews will be based in India and Saudi Arabia and will operate on behalf of local airlines.

Passenger numbers

In June 2009 flyLAL Charters the company flew 33,6 thousands passengers and that month it was the largest number in Vilnius Airport, even greater than that of regular airlines. By the end of the year flyLAL Charters had a total 85% of a charter market share. In 2012 from all the basis in Lithuania, France, Poland, United Kingdom Small Planet Airline flew over 700,000 people. In 2013 Small Planet Airlines became the first Lithuanian capital company to fly a million passengers.[5] In 2014 due to increased locations the number increased and reached 1.212 million passengers.

Financial results

2012 2013 2014 2015
Passengers 635,118 1,000,705 1,212,583 n/a
Aircraft 6 8 11 18
Income (EUR) 81,554,814 125,847,918 130,539,838 182,000,000
Profit (EUR) -2,231,998 1,706,462 8,170,402 19,200,000

Destinations

The company flies mostly to Greece, Spain, Turkey, Egypt, Bulgaria and other countries. In Lithuania UAB Small Planet Airlines cooperates with major travel organizers Tez Tour and Novaturas. In addition the company organizes special flights — fly governmental delegations, sports teams, and other private flights. During the winter some aircraft are transferred to other locations.

Fleet

Small Planet Airlines Airbus A320-200

The Small Planet Airlines fleet consists of the following aircraft (as of October 2016):[6]

Aircraft In Service Passengers
Airbus A320-200 17 180
Airbus A321 4 220
Total 21

Accidents and incidents

LLX5288

LLX5288 was a Small Planet Airlines A320 flight from Malaga, Spain to Tampere, Finland on 25 October 2016. At 12:34 GMT[7] the Finnish police got a report of a possible hijacking on the aircraft. Hornets followed the aircraft from French airspace. As the plane entered Dutch Maastricht airspace at 12:34 GMT, the crew contacted and reported a possible hijacking to the ATC who then reported the issue forwards. The plane resumed the flight normally, until reaching Finnish airspace, where it initiated a holding pattern. The plane landed safely in Tampere-Pirkkala airport at 15:02 GMT. According to eyewitnesses, police stormed in the aircraft right after landing.[8] Later investigations show that there was no hijacking. It is unknown whether it was a mechanical or pilot error. The investigation is ongoing.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "IATA — Airline and Airport Code Search". iata.org. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
  2. 1 2 "Small Planet Airlines: year-on-year profit quadruples". smallplanet.aero. September 5, 2015.
  3. ↑ "Small Planet Airlines acquired by current management". smallplanet.aero. April 2, 2013.
  4. ↑ "Small Planet prepares for its next stage by organising itself as a Group". smallplanet.aero. April 2, 2013.
  5. ↑ ""Small Planet Airlines" šiemet planuoja pasiekti rekordą". Retrieved 2015-09-17.
  6. ↑ "Small Planet Airlines Fleet Details and History". Planespotters.net. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  7. ↑ "Mittava poliisioperaatio Tampereen lentokentällä – häiriö radioliikenteessä aiheutti epäilyn kaappauksesta". Ilta-Sanomat (in Finnish). 2016-10-25. Retrieved 2016-10-25.
  8. ↑ "Näin kaikki tapahtui: häiriö aiheutti kaappaushälytyksen lennolla". Ilta-Sanomat (in Finnish). 2016-10-25. Retrieved 2016-10-25.

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