ch-aviation Youngest Aircraft Fleet Award 2021
The ch-aviation Youngest Aircraft Fleet Award recognises airlines from across the globe that keep a young, modern and efficient fleet. Operators dedicated to keeping their aircraft fleet young and using new generations of aircraft contribute significantly to the decrease of C02 within the aviation industry and help achieve better fuel efficiency. To acknowledge their accomplishments, ch-aviation has decided to give them the recognition they deserve. It is important to note that this award is based entirely on non-manipulable aircraft data. There is no jury or any other subjective parameter involved.
World’s Youngest Aircraft Fleet Award Winner 2021
We are happy to announce that Uganda Airlines is the Winner of the
“ch-aviation World’s Youngest Aircraft Fleet Award 2021″, with an average aircraft age of 1.15* years.
The winners on each continent are:
Uganda Airlines (Africa)
SalamAir (Asia)
airBaltic (Europe)
Frontier Airlines (North America)
Fiji Link (Oceania)
SKY Airline (South America)
Overview by Continents
1. Uganda Airlines
First place for the world’s, and Africa’s, youngest fleet goes to Uganda Airlines, with an average aircraft age of 1.15* years. Its fleet consists of six jets. Founded in 2018 as a scheduled carrier, Uganda Airlines has been growing its fleet steadily. Today they serve seven countries, ten destinations and 12 routes. Uganda Airlines expects to serve 20 destinations by the end of 2021.
Click here for the fleet overview.
2. Jambojet
Ranked second in the category of Africa’s youngest aircraft fleet is Jambojet. The airline, a subsidiary of Kenya Airways, is a low-fare operator with a fleet of six de Havilland DHC8-Q400s averaging 2.78* years old.
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3. Air Seychelles
In third place is Air Seychelles; they count seven aircraft in their fleet, with an average of 4.3* years. From their headquarters in Mahé, they serve six countries, seven destinations and six routes.
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4. Ethiopian Airlines
Fourth place belongs to Ethiopian Airlines. Operating since 1946, they are the longest existing airline on the awards list. In their fleet, they have 118 aircraft, with an average aircraft age of 6.46* years. They have established a vast network of countries, destinations, and routes spanning Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas.
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5. EgyptAir
EgyptAir is in fifth place. With a fleet of 68; their average aircraft age is 6.48* years. From their headquarters at Cairo International airport, they connect people to 55 countries and 88 destinations.
1. SalamAir
First place in Asia for the youngest aircraft fleet belongs to SalamAir, an Omani carrier founded in 2016. As one of the top five youngest airline fleets globally, SalamAir has an average aircraft age of 1.90* years. Currently, they have six Airbus A320neos in their fleet, making them the first, and so far only, Omani carrier to utilise this type.
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2. Japan Air Commuter
Japan Air Commuter takes second place as the youngest aircraft fleet in Asia, with a fleet of nine aircraft averaging 2.68* years of age. Founded in 1983, JAC has its headquarters in Kagoshima.
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3. flyadeal
flyadeal won third place. Based in Saudi Arabia, they have a fleet of 12 and an average age of 2.75* years. flyadeal is Saudia’s sister carrier but with a significantly younger aircraft fleet.
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4. Hunan Airlines
Fourth place belongs to Hunan Airlines. Their fleet counts 13 aircraft with an average age of 2.98* years. Hunan Airlines’ headquarters are in Changsha, and from there they serve 26 destinations.
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5. Colorful Guizhou Airlines
Fifth place goes to another Chinese operator, Colorful Guizhou Airlines. The company counts 13 aircraft in its fleet, with an average aircraft age of 3.18* years old. Starting its operations in 2015, they currently serve 61 routes.
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1. airBaltic
First place for Europe’s youngest aircraft fleet goes to Latvian state-owned carrier airBaltic, with 25 Airbus A220-300s in their fleet at an average age of 2.40* years. Its main hub in Riga connects almost all of Europe and the surrounding areas with its fleet of modern and environmentally friendly aircraft.
2. Azimuth
Second place goes to Azimuth, a Russian operator with 13 aircraft in its fleet. Azimuth has an average aircraft age of 3.15* years. Founded in 2014, from its headquarters in Rostov, Azimuth serves six countries, 36 destinations and 75 routes.
3. Binter Canarias
The third spot is reserved for Binter Canarias from Spain. Their fleet has 26 aircraft and an average aircraft age of 3.53* years. Binter Canarias plans on expanding its fleet by the end of 2021.
4. BRA - Braathens Regional Airways
Coming in fourth is BRA – Braathens Regional Airways from Sweden, founded in 2016 through a merger of several Swedish regional airlines. BRA’s average aircraft age is 4.14* years. Its fleet counts 12 ATR72-600 aircraft.
5. Pobeda
In fifth place is Pobeda, a Russian Low-Cost Carrier with a fleet size of 35 Boeing B737-800s and an average aircraft age of 4.99* years. Founded in 2014, Pobeda connects people to more than 60 destinations.
1. Frontier Airlines
Frontier Airlines has the youngest aircraft fleet in North America counting 100 aircraft whose average age is 4.20* years. Operating for 27 years, the budget airline has its headquarters in Denver from where they serve 110 destinations.
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2. VivaAerobus
VivaAerobus, a Mexican LCC with an average aircraft age of 4.24* years, won second place. Its fleet counts 41 aircraft which it uses to serve a total of 56 destinations and 146 routes.
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3. Volaris
Taking third place is another Mexican LCC, Volaris, whose average aircraft age is 5.23* years old. Its fleet of 83 A320 Family jets serves 199 routes from its headquarters at Toluca’s Licenciado Adolfo López Mateos International Airport.
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4. WestJet Encore
WestJet Encore won fourth place, with a fleet of 47 de Havilland DHC-8-Q400s clocking in at an average age of just 5.43* years old. Starting its operations in 1996 with only five destinations, today, WestJet Encore serves more than 100 destinations across Canada as well as the US East Coast.
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5. Swoop
Swoop is in fifth place. As a Canadian LCC, its fleet consists of nine Boeing B737-800s which average 5.46* years. From its base at John C. Munro International airport, Swoop connects people all over Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean.
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1. Fiji Link
Fiji Link wins Oceania’s youngest aircraft fleet award. Its fleet consists of seven aircraft and an average age of 4.49* years. Launched in 2014, its headquarters are located at Nadi International airport.
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2. Air Tahiti
Ranked second is Air Tahiti, with a fleet of 10 aircraft and an average age of 5.29* years. Based in French Polynesia, Air Tahiti serves 117 routes and 47 destinations.
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3. Fiji Airways
Fiji Airways won third place by operating 12 aircraft with an average fleet age of 7.41* years. As Fiji’s national airline, their headquarters are at Nadi International airport, from where they serve 31 destinations and 38 routes.
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4. Air New Zealand
Fourth place for Oceania’s youngest aircraft fleet goes to Air New Zealand. Counting 113 aircraft, the average age of its fleet is 8.14* years. Air New Zealand commenced operations in 1940 and has since established a route network spanning 19 countries and 51 destinations.
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5. Jetstar Airways
Jetstar Airways from Australia is in fifth place, with the average age of its69-strong fleet being 10.52* years old. Since 2004, Jetstar Airways’ headquarters have been at Melbourne’s Tullamarine International airport.
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1. SKY Airline (Chile)
First place in the South American category of the youngest aircraft fleets belongs to SKY Airline from Chile. Its fleet has 16 Airbus A320-200Ns averages 1.35* years, and is used to serve six countries, 36 destinations, and 41 routes from its headquarters in Santiago de Chile.
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2. JetSMART
JetSMART has South America’s second-youngest aircraft fleet, namely 14 A320 family jets with an average age of 2.14* years. Owned by US-based aviation investment specialists Indigo Partners, it has its headquarters in Santiago de Chile at Arturo Merino Benítez International airport.
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3. Viva Air Colombia
Viva Air Colombia wins third place, with a fleet size of 19 and an average aircraft age of 3.22* years. Since starting its operations in 2018, Viva Air Colombia has established a network of 18 destinations and 35 routes.
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4. EasyFly (Colombia)
EasyFly from Colombia won fourth place with an average aircraft age of 3.78* years and a fleet of 16. Founded in 2007, EasyFly has its headquarters in Bogotá, and runs 39 routes covering 27 destinations.
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5. Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras
The fifth-youngest South American aircraft fleet belongs to Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras from Brazil. Its fleet consists of 144 aircraft, with the average age of 6.38* years. Since 2008, its headquarters have been in Sao Paulo.
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ch-aviation Youngest Aircraft Fleet Award 2021 Press Kit
Download Virtual Plaque Awards, Press Release, ch-aviation logo & read the latest press coverage on ch-aviation Youngest Aircraft Fleet Award 2021.
Award Methodology
To determine which airlines currently operate the youngest aircraft fleets, we maintain and research an extensive aircraft fleet database consisting of more than 5,000 airlines and more than 65,000 aircraft worldwide. To determine award winners, ch-aviation included active commercial operators (both passenger and cargo aircraft) with five or more aircraft and used consolidated Air Operator Certificate lists for airline groups with multiple AOCs. Aircraft in VIP configuration were excluded from the list.
Which Data has been used in the analysis?
*Aircraft data from the “ch-aviation fleets advanced” database as of February 15th, 2021.
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Youngest Aircraft Fleet Award 2021 to: