Amelia International eyes Slovenia - US charters


Slovenian-registered carrier Amelia International, which is part of the Regourd Aviation Group, is interested in operating VIP charter flights from Ljubljana to the United States in the future with an Airbus A319 aircraft configured to seat 66 passengers, if it is granted regulatory approval. The carrier was established in 2008 as a line and base maintenance organisation for helicopter operators. It transitioned into a continuing airworthiness management organisation (CAMO) in 2012 after it received a Slovenian Air Operator’s Certificate. With a growing fleet, which includes ATRs, an A319, as well as Embraer ERJ145s, Amelia International today operates ad-hoc charter flights to destinations in Europe and the Middle East, as well as Public Service Obligation flights on behalf of Air France.

Amelia recently began introducing Airbus jets to its fleet. “Last year the opportunity arose to invest in the A319, so we took that one on lease to test the waters to see if the charter market was going to hold. We had a very successful year, so we decided to invest in a second A319, with a bit of a difference. Our long-term view is to serve the charter market, not as much the ACMI market, but really the specific charter market. With the second A319 we will convert it into a VIP shuttle - 66 seats with additional central tanks in order to do long haul. We see a lot of appetite for the customer base we have for this type of cooperation, so this is a long-term goal”, Matija Kranjc, Amelia International’s Managing Director, said. He added, “Due to the current situation on the market, if you have an A319 that you can lease over the summer and just postpone the transformation for another year, I think everyone would take that advantage”. The carrier also plans to add an A320 to its fleet.

Amelia International sees potential in utilising the transformed long haul A319 aircraft for flights between Slovenia and the United States. “Our customer base for this aircraft is going to be similar to the customer base we currently have on charters. With this aircraft we will be able to operate from Europe to the East and South of Africa, as well as into the US. If we manage to get traffic rights to fly to the US from Slovenia, that is definitely something we want to do and explore the market there. It is a very niche market. Currently in Europe there are only a couple of these VIP shuttle planes but you have an A340 operator in Malta that is looking to add additional seats, so we believe there is a strong enough market to invest in”, Mr Kranjc noted. Ljubljana was last linked to the United States through a nonstop scheduled air service prior to the collapse of the former Yugoslavia, when JAT Yugoslav Airlines maintained operations to New York’s JFK Airport. The Big Apple remains Ljubljana’s busiest unserved destination outside of Europe. Some 23% of Ljubljana’s US passengers fly either to or from New York, followed by San Francisco, Chicago, Miami, Washington, Boston and Atalanta.

Amelia International had considered introducing scheduled flights from Ljubljana following the collapse of Adria Airways in September 2019, but ultimately decided against it. “When we knew Adria Airways was in trouble and there was no way for them to come out of it, we did a lot of market analysis and projections. We tried to figure out if we could operate profitably out of Slovenia. We spent a good half a year trying to find a solution and see if we could find an economically sustainable model to fly from Ljubljana, and we couldn’t. We are not saying it can’t be done, we are just saying we couldn’t find a way to make it happen. At the time we didn’t see it, but we thought someone else would. Time has basically shown us that no one wanted to take on the challenge”, Amelia’s Managing Director said.


Comments

  1. Anonymous09:02

    A VIP charter A319 with 66 seats and additional tanks so it can make it to the US ... all that from Slovenia. Sounds like a wild dream :)

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:51

      Considering the airline it is coming from, which has been quite successful, I don't think it's unrealistic.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:53

      Well they had sound logic in terms of Ljubljana scheduled flights.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous19:38

      Exactly. “We spent a good half a year trying to find a solution and see if we could find an economically sustainable model to fly from Ljubljana, and we couldn’t.” People should remember this.

      Delete
  2. Anonymous09:18

    Bravo Ljubljana!

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:27

      Why? What did LJU do here? It has more to do with the airline.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:49

      Exactly. This has nothing to do with Fraport.

      Delete
  3. Anonymous09:20

    lol what?

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  4. Anonymous09:21

    I don’t know what to think about this. Hopefully they know what are they doing.

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  5. Anonymous09:52

    Didn't really know that 319 could be converted into long haul. So they're basically adding additional fuel tanks inside the center of a cabin, if I get it right?

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous09:59

      Nope.

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    2. They would be adding it in place of an aft cargo hold I think. Qatar operates (or used to operate) A319s with extended range.

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    3. Anonymous10:38

      How long can they fly for?

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    4. Anonymous10:42

      I mean how long is the range extended for?

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    5. Anonymous10:44

      10000km is the max flying range

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    6. Anonymous12:54

      Airbus used to offer factory-built Airbus A319LR aircraft, QR bought two or three and used to send them on long-thin routes such as Yangon in Myanmar direct from Doha. Tunisair too has two I believe, as did Air France which used to send them from CDG to oil-rich destinations in West Africa. The aircraft are delivered with additional auxiliary fuel tanks enabling range of 8,000+ km. It was a very niche model that could realistically only be operated profitably on particularly high yielding routes. Not sure if this is the variant that Amelia has in mind. Flying "long and thin" is a very tricky business move... even BA tried it with A319s from LCY to JFK after the Concorde ops ended and it did not turn out well in the end.

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    7. Anonymous12:55

      Sorry meant to say "even BA tried it with A318s from LCY to JFK after the Concorde ops ended and it did not turn out well in the end."

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    8. Anonymous13:21

      COVID put an end to BA's A318 flights.

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    9. Anonymous13:39

      If QR could not make it work, I really wonder how Amelia will.

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    10. Anonymous16:36

      Not sure if an A319 needs adjustments to make it to NY if you consider the significantly lighter weight of Amalia's A319 (only max. 66 passengers, less seats, minimal cargo)

      Delete
  6. Anonymous10:20

    It's a shame Amelia didn't start scheduled flights. But I get their point of view.

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:23

      Put your money in Slovenian air business.

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    2. Anonymous14:59

      And someone thinks a new national airline would somehow manage to make money.

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    3. Anonymous22:26

      Exactly

      Delete
  7. Anonymous10:21

    In the end Ljubljana will get flights sooner to the US then some major European cities

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  8. Anonymous10:27

    This would be cool

    ReplyDelete
  9. Jasmineeeeeee!!! Dje si? Vid'oko sebe, ljudi rade, pokusavaju, trude se. Neg'pusti to, kakva je kahva danas?

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:37

      :)

      Delete
    2. Anonymous10:44

      It's getting annoying Pozdrav; maybe you should join Croatia and do something? Screaming on the blog doesn't help anyone

      Delete
    3. Only annoying is inertness and incompetence in OU. Joining such an entity is double impossible. (I am deliberately not calling it company because it is entity within criminal organization). Double impossible, first because I don't want to join such an entity, and second, because I don't have Kradeze membership booklet which would make me acceptable candidate.

      Delete
  10. Anonymous10:29

    Regular charters with that sort of capacity could actually work.

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  11. Anonymous10:37

    Wow!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anonymous10:38

    This region always keeps producing something interesting :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous22:27

      never a dull moment.

      Delete
  13. Anonymous10:45

    This could work, 60 pax per week isn't much; but on the other hand its business class, so it's harder to sell. Let's wait and see

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  14. Anonymous10:51

    But when?

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous10:52

      The new A319 (ex S7 airlines) landed in Ljubljana a month or so ago; so it's probably being converted rn. Summer 24 sounds like a possiblie start for those flights; but the aircraft will be operational sooner

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    2. Anonymous10:58

      I guess it depends if they find someone to lease it this summer
      "Due to the current situation on the market, if you have an A319 that you can lease over the summer and just postpone the transformation for another year, I think everyone would take that advantage”.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous10:59

      They also need to get US permits.

      Delete
  15. Anonymous11:16

    What will the cartel obsessives think?

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  16. Anonymous11:19

    Love this!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Anonymous11:19

    First we need flights to many European cities

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous12:07

      Why would that be Amelia's concern?

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  18. Anonymous11:20

    How many weekly flights were there between LJU and JFK?

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:33

      Pozdrav probably knows that

      Delete
    2. There were never more than one weekly LJU to JFK. There were also one weekly seasonal flights to Detroit/Cleveland. Biggest Slovenian ethnic community is in and around Cleveland. So, in the summer season there were two weekly flights to the US, and one weekly in winter timetable

      Delete
    3. Anonymous22:28

      Thanks Pozdrav

      Delete
    4. Anonymous15:38

      I don't think this will be for Slovenian ethic community. This will be for rich Americans to come to that part of Europe on a guided tours. Charter business. Similar like Jat to Hurghada.

      Delete
  19. Anonymous11:21

    I remember when there was a serious idea some 15 years ago for Air India to start flights to Ljubljana and continue on to New York.

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:23

      True, Adria was also planning to codeshare on those flights. What happened to that?

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    2. Anonymous11:26

      Air India wasn't a very reliable partner and they gave up on the idea.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous19:09

      Thats why Air India has nonstop flights to the US while Adria went bancrupt .
      So much unreliable these Indians ...!

      Delete
  20. Anonymous11:23

    Wishful thinking in my opinion but let's see.

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  21. Anonymous11:24

    It could work but only of charters are regular. Because who would wait for a random charter to fly to the US without the ability to come back on those same flights.

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous16:40

      This can never work - not on the market US to SVN/LJU. It can only work between two markets that are both very wealthy or attract the rich such as NY to LON or PA/NCE to NY Just take a look at La Compagnie. Fares would have to be in average around 3000 EUR I suppose, not enough potential pax on that NY/LJU routing I am 100% sure.
      Maybe NY to DBV could work, seaonal in summer - ah well, that Pragusa airline gave up...

      Delete
    2. Anonymous16:41

      *LON to PAR/NCE

      Delete
  22. Anonymous11:27

    Well Ljubljana was the first city in Yugoslavia to get charters to the US. Would be nice.

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:32

      Adria right?

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    2. Anonymous11:35

      Yes, it was the first Yugoslav airline to fly to the US. Although it didn't last long.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous14:12

      Adria was always DB stunt. They never made profit.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous20:28

      Can you post some details for JP flying charters to US, when, what a/c type.....thanks in advance

      Delete
    5. Anonymous22:31

      ^
      https://www.exyuaviation.com/2019/09/adria-airways-1961-2019.html

      Delete
  23. Anonymous11:27

    What would the fares for something like this be?

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:32

      Expensive, that's for sure

      Delete
    2. Anonymous12:02

      It does not necessarily have to be to over the top, and if you value your time and don't want to transfer via other airports, this is a good option.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous16:35

      Look at La Compagnie fares or compare it with other Business Class fares of LH, AF etc.

      Delete
  24. Anonymous11:35

    I also think there is a niche market for this. I hope they give it a try.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous15:10

      In Europe yes but in Slovenia?

      Delete
  25. Anonymous12:02

    They plan to fly this plane on various routes from Europe, like the article says to Africa (obviously not from Ljubljana). I definitely think a couple of flights per year from LJU to US could work.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Anonymous12:34

    LJU already has excellent one stop connections to the US via MUC BEG FRA CDG

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous12:38

      So? these will be charters

      Delete
    2. Anonymous13:01

      Agree. Schedule is disaster for many of these airports.

      Delete
  27. Anonymous12:57

    Are they profitable?

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous13:01

      I assume they do well if they fly PSOs for Air France.

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    2. Anonymous13:05

      I believe they operate around 7 PSO routes for AF.

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    3. Anonymous13:36

      Not bad at all

      Delete
  28. Anonymous13:05

    now that was unexpected

    ReplyDelete
  29. Anonymous13:21

    This will be as successful as Eastern Airlines flights to SJJ

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous13:36

      This one actually makes more sense imo

      Delete
  30. Anonymous13:36

    This is what QR's long range A319 looked like

    https://www.businesstraveller.com/tried-and-tested/qatar-airways-a319-all-business-class-2/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous13:38

      Pretty nice!

      Delete
    2. Anonymous14:55

      Having worked for the angry bald man, I can tell you those airplanes were an absolute waste of money, which is why they were reconfigured them back to 8 JC/102 YC instead of the 40 JC as soon as the 380s and the 350s came. The two 319s were used on the DOH-LHR route before the first 380 came in the fleet (to retain the slot rights), but passengers hated it due to how narrow it was (2-2 config with no direct aisle access for window seats), how cold it would get in the front somewhere around the 6th and 7th hour because don't forget, the 319 cruises at a much slower speed than a widebody, and the flights took 8+ hours. Additionally they were deployed to JED inbetween LHR rotations but those were a bust as well.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous14:57

      wow very interesting. Thanks for that

      Delete
    4. Anonymous16:32

      Thanks for the insight! Could you please explain why it would get cold? The aircraft can't keep the heat up over that long period of a time?

      Delete
  31. Anonymous13:38

    Half of comments here are saying as this would be scheduled flights. These will be CHARTER flights, please google difference between scheduled and charter flights...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous13:53

      If it goes ahead it's pretty much MyWings type of charters, where it's scheduled flight but operted as charter for ease of cancelations etc.

      Delete
  32. Anonymous15:04

    This is bizarre.

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  33. Anonymous15:10

    Why haven't I ever heard of them before?

    ReplyDelete
  34. Well JFK to Ljubljana is 4219 miles and the max distance for Airbus A319 airplane is just under 4300 miles so it will barely make the trip without having to refuel say like England or Ireland

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous16:59

      That A319 will be nowhere near max. weights

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    2. Anonymous20:31

      Everyone on board will blow backwards and it can mange it eastbound....westbound they should just blow harder.

      Delete
  35. Anonymous18:50

    Congratulations to Amelia International on their aspirations to expand their services by applying for a permit to offer charters from Europe to the United States.
    It is important to clarify that any information regarding flying operations from Ljubljana is currently unclear.
    According to Amelia International's statement, the company is considering the possibility of applying for a permit in the future to offer extended charter operations to special customers. Additionally, the A319 mentioned in the article is expected to enter into ACMI operations this season in a normal 144Y configuration, with the possibility of operating as a 66Y business configuration in the future.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous19:26

      Thanks for additional info!

      Delete
    2. Anonymous19:28

      Well we can all read what their Managing Director said...

      Delete
  36. Anonymous20:33

    They are preparing for 2026 when Luka Doncic extends contract with Dallas Mavericks that Marc Cuban and company can fly direct to LJU.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous22:37

      Cuban has his own jet

      Delete
  37. Anonymous22:43

    Late to the party. I am in disbelief how people can't figure out what Amelia wants. They probably want to be a charter for sports teams or music acts on global tours etc. That's why they need to operate to the US. Something like this, A319 with 58 all-business seats:

    https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/home/book/charters.html#/

    ReplyDelete

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