Last week Heston Airlines was granted an air operators certificate (AOC) from the Lithuanian Transport Competence Agency and intends to launch its charter / wet-lease operations this summer season of 2021. AVERUS has assisted the airline through the process from the company set up procedures, to the negotiation of the first aircraft leases and formation of the strategic alliance with Genesis, the Dublin based aircraft leasing company. 

Heston Airlines is a newly established Lithuanian headquartered charter and ACMI service provider. By entering the airline market in the post-Covid-19 world, Heston Airlines will operate at the industry's best cost base, offering competitive and flexible solutions to customers during the recovery phase of the travel markets. 

Laura Čereškaitė-Kinčiuvienė, AVERUS managing partner and the head of aviation practice has led the team which supported the client with all legal matters, including drafting and negotiating the cooperation agreement with the airline’s strategic partner, negotiating the first aircraft leases, advising regarding the aircraft registration in Lithuania, as well as overall airline operation start and corporate matters. 

“This was one of the novel post-pandemic transactions involving unconventional business and legal structures in the whole airline set-up. Our colleagues Lina Taletavičiūtė-Misiūnienė, Saulenė Barauskaitė showed great skills on this versatile project.”, - says L. Čereškaitė-Kinčiuvienė. 

AVERUS is a legal partner to Heston Aviation Group for over 5 years. The client is engaging in aviation asset trading, leasing, maintenance, and now ACMI / charter operations. 

AVERUS has been recognized as a leader of shipping, aviation, and transport law In Lithuania for six years in a row by the prominent legal ranking directory “LEGAL 500”.