Skytrans Airlines prepares to receive first Airbus A319 | Airlines

Australian carrier Skytrans Airlines is preparing to receive the first Airbus A319 as part of its fleet, following the company’s purchase earlier in 2024 by Avia Solutions Group, the world’s largest operator of ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, Insurance) lease aircraft.

The carrier, formerly an all-turboprop operator, will introduce its newest aircraft by the end of 2024, following the aircraft completing maintenance checks and a ferry flight from Europe to Australia scheduled to happen sometime in November 2024, according to ch-aviation.

It is understood that the aircraft concerned is MSN1779, which will be re-registered in Australia as VH-L7A. The aircraft is 22.3 years old and first flew in July 2002, before being delivered to Alitalia the following month as I-BIMJ. It last flew for Alitalia’s successor, ITA Airways, having been re-registered as EI-IMJ. The airframe is owned by FTAI Leasing and is currently configured for 144 passengers in a single-class configuration.

Reportedly, the aircraft is currently under the care of MAAS Aviation at Kaunas International Airport in Lithuania for repainting, before it departs for its new career down under. It is hoped that the aircraft’s arrival at Skytrans will coincide with the carrier receiving the variation it requires to operate the A319 under its own Air…