Australian regional carrier Skytrans prepares to receive first Airbus A319 

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.  

GTS Productions / ShutterstockReportedly, 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 Operator Certificate by the end of 2024.  

Avia Solutions Group purchased Skytrans in March 2024. The airline, which holds a fleet of 13 regional aircraft, specializes in Regular Public Transport (RPT) scheduled flights as well as charter operations. The carrier flies regularly to a network of scheduled services to 19 airports across Queensland and the Cape York Peninsula, using its fleet consisting of five De Havilland Canada DHC-8-100s, two DHC-8-200s, and seven Cessna 208Bs. 

In addition to scheduled passenger services, the airline also operates charter flights as well as cargo operations. Recently it was awarded the contract to operate flights from Sydney to Lord Howe Island on behalf of the New South Wales Government as of February 2026, taking over from Qantas which currently serves the route.  

Robert Frola / Wikimedia CommonsWith the national carrier retiring its own DHC-8-200 aircraft which currently operates on the route, Skytrans was awarded the license to fly to the island exclusively from 26 February 2026. QantasLink and Skytrans are currently finalizing a codeshare agreement that will commence when Skytrans starts operating the services. The new contract will run until March 2030.  

The purchase of Skytrans by Avia Solutions Group formed part of the group’s growth strategy within the Asia-Pacific region. Expansion in the region provides valuable leverage to counterbalance the reduced seasonal demand in Europe by shifting aircraft between counter-seasonal regions.  

Avia Solutions Group already owns several other airlines, including SmartLynx Airlines, Avion Express, Ascend Airways, KlasJet, BBN Indonesia Airlines, and Magma Aviation. In total, ASG holds nine Air Operator’s Certificates (AOCs) in Europe, Indonesia, Thailand, and Australia. The Group operates a fleet of 214 aircraft. 

Beyond airline operations, the Group also offers a wide range of aviation services, including Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO), pilot and crew recruitment and training, ground handling, and other associated services. The Group currently employs around 12,000 staff worldwide.    

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