Heston Airlines marks 5 years with rapid expansion into global ACMI operations

Heston Airlines is marking its fifth anniversary with a transformation from a start-up operating a single aircraft into a global ACMI and charter carrier serving multiple continents.

Launched in June 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Lithuanian airline began operations with one aircraft and a team of six employees. It has since grown to a fleet of 16 Airbus A320-family aircraft and more than 650 staff, operating close to 130,000 block hours and carrying over six million passengers.

The carrier now provides ACMI (aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance) and charter services to airlines and tour operators across Europe, Africa, Central Asia, the Middle East, and the Americas, supporting both scheduled and seasonal operations.

Heston Airlines CEO Jonas Rinkauskas said the company was built to provide flexible capacity to airlines during a period of industry disruption, and has since evolved into a multi-continent operational partner.

As an IOSA-registered operator and IATA member, the airline emphasises operational reliability and scalability, positioning itself as a flexible capacity provider in global aviation markets.

Looking ahead, Heston Airlines plans to further diversify its network exposure across regions to reduce seasonality risk, while continuing to expand its fleet toward a long-term target of up to 30 narrow-body aircraft.