Lithuania-based carrier Small Planet Airlines will seek an air operator’s certificate (AOC) in Cambodia as it broadens its portfolio of operations.
The independent leisure airline already has AOCs in Lithuania, Poland and Germany. It is now working on a fourth AOC in the small Asian nation, new CEO Kristijonas Kaikaris said.
The airline’s work is heavily seasonal and, after the European summer holiday period ends, it has for the past few years flown aircraft to the Middle East and Asia over the winter months.
“For us, it’s very important to balance seasonality,” Kaikaris told ATW at the Global Aviation Festival in London. “In Europe, the big season is May to October. In winter there are some places [we serve] such as the Canaries or ski destinations, but around half of our fleet goes off to do something else.”
Small Planet Airlines initially looked at gaining a Thai AOC, but the reluctance of the local regulator to hand out licenses persuaded the carrier to focus on neighboring Cambodia, he said. “We would base aircraft in Cambodia; we see China as a potential target.”
Small Planet normally operates on behalf of holiday companies, or supplies extra capacity to other airlines, but since the start of the year has been running a pilot program in Poland and the UK. “We’ve started selling directly to the public. We’re looking into that area very seriously [and] so far, so good,” he said.
Asked if Small Planet would consider entering the scheduled market, Kaikaris said anything was possible: “We need to stay focused and do what we do best. But we have a ‘Why not?’ ethos. We’re testing and trying different things. We’re not afraid to try it and expand our boundaries."
Last year’s financial results had been “really tremendous. This year won’t be the same. Basically, we were way too optimistic on certain decisions for planning for this summer. Last September [2015] we decided to add some aircraft, including four Airbus A321s," Kaikaris said. "Because of cabin modifications, such as LED lighting and adding Recaro seats, we spent too much time doing qualification. Instead of having them in the air at the beginning of June the last came into service only three weeks ago. We also changed some critical maintenance providers. So, [we’ve had] a lot of learning this year," he said.
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