ch-aviation Youngest Aircraft Fleet Award 2022
The ch-aviation Youngest Aircraft Fleet Award recognises airlines from across the globe that keep a young, modern, and efficient fleet. For the first time, ch-aviation also recognises Aircraft Leasing companies with the ch-aviation Youngest Aircraft Portfolio Award. Airlines and Aircraft Leasing companies dedicated to keeping their aircraft fleet young and using new generations of aircraft contribute significantly to the decrease of C02 emissions 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
2022
Congratulations to Uganda Airlines for winning the ch-aviation Youngest Aircraft Fleet Award for the second year in a row, with an average aircraft age of 1.95* years.
World’s Youngest Aircraft Portfolio Award Winner
2022
Congratulations to CMB Financial Leasing for winning the ch-aviation Youngest Aircraft Portfolio Award 2022, with an average aircraft age of 3.92* years.
Winners in categories:
1. Uganda Airlines
First place for the world’s and Africa’s Youngest Aircraft Fleet Award 2022 goes to Uganda Airlines for the second year in a row, with an average aircraft age of 1.95* years. Its fleet consists of six jets. Founded in 2018 as a scheduled carrier, Uganda Airlines has been steadily growing its fleet. Today they serve nine countries, 12 destinations, and 13 routes and expect to see five new routes in 2022.
2. Jambojet
Jambojet is ranked second in the category of Africa’s Youngest Aircraft Fleet. The airline, a subsidiary of Kenya Airways, is a low-cost carrier with a fleet of six de Havilland DHC8-Q400s averaging 3.59* years old.
3. Air Seychelles
Air Seychelles is in third place; they count seven aircraft in their fleet, with an average of 5.07* years. From their headquarters in Mahé, they serve six countries, seven destinations, and seven routes.
4. Air Austral
Fourth place belongs to Air Austral. Operating as Air Reunion from 1986 to 1990, and before that as Reunion Air Service, Air Austral is part of Alliance Vanille. They have a fleet of 11 aircraft, with an average aircraft age of 6.30* years.
5. Air Tanzania
Air Tanzania is in fifth place. With a fleet of 13 aircraft, their average aircraft age is 6.56* years. From their headquarters at Dar es Salaam (DAR), they connect to 9 countries and 23 destinations, serving 35 routes.
1. SalamAir
First place in Asia for the Youngest Aircraft Fleet Award 2022 belongs to SalamAir, an Omani airline founded in 2016. As the third-youngest airline fleet globally, SalamAir has an average aircraft age of 2.39* years. Currently, their fleet consists of only neo aircraft – six A320neos and a single A321neo. This makes them the first, and so far only, Omani airline to utilise this type.
2. flyadeal
flyadeal is in second place in Asia and fifth among the youngest fleets worldwide. Based in Saudi Arabia, they have a fleet of 16 and an average age of 2.76* years. flyadeal is a budget carrier subsidiary of Saudia but with a significantly younger aircraft fleet.
3. Vistara
Vistara takes third place as the youngest aircraft fleet in Asia, with a fleet of 54 aircraft averaging 2.96* years of age. Rebranded from Tata SIA Airlines in 2014, the scheduled carrier has its headquarters in Delhi.
4. Hunan Airlines
Fourth place belongs to Hunan Airlines. Their fleet counts 16 aircraft with an average aircraft age of 3.35* years. Hunan Airlines’ headquarters are in Changsha, and from there, they serve 30 destinations and 47 routes, all within China.
5. Colorful Guizhou Airlines
Fifth place goes to another Chinese airline, Colorful Guizhou Airlines. The airline counts 15 aircraft in its fleet, with an average aircraft age of 3.51* years old. Having started operations in 2015, they currently serve 71 routes.
1. airBaltic
First place for Europe’s youngest aircraft fleet goes to Latvian state-owned airline airBaltic, with 33 Airbus A220-300s in their fleet at an average age of 2.87* years. Its main hub in Riga connects almost all of Europe and surrounding areas with its modern and environmentally-friendly aircraft fleet.
2. Azimuth
Second place goes to Azimuth, a Russian airline with 15 aircraft in its fleet. Azimuth has an average aircraft age of 3.79* years. Founded in 2014, Azimuth serves eight countries, 45 destinations, and 119 routes from its headquarters in Rostov.
3. Helvetic Airways
The third spot falls to Switzerland’s Helvetic Airways. Their fleet consists of 16 Embraer jets, with an average aircraft age of 3.81* years. The scheduled carrier serves three destinations – Hurghada International, Kittila, and Zurich Kloten – on two routes.
4. Pobeda
In fourth place is Pobeda, a Russian low-cost carrier with a fleet size of 44 Boeing B737-800s and an average aircraft age of 4.50* years. Founded in 2014, Pobeda connects people to more than 60 destinations.
5. BRA - Braathens Regional Airways
Coming in fifth is BRA – Braathens Regional Airways from Sweden, founded in 2016 through a merger of several Swedish regional airlines. BRA’s average aircraft age is 4.93* years. Its fleet counts 12 ATR72-600 aircraft.
1. Frontier Airlines
Frontier Airlines has the youngest aircraft fleet in North America and also in the category of airlines with 100 or more aircraft in their fleet. They count 112 aircraft, with an average age of 4.15* years. Operating for 28 years, the budget carrier has its headquarters in Denver, from where they serve 118 destinations.
2. Flair Airlines
Flair Airlines won second place, with a fleet of twelve B737s clocking in at an average age of just 4.42* years old. Founded through a merger with NewLeaf in 2017, Flair Airlines today serves more than 80 routes throughout Canada, the United States, and Mexico.
3. VivaAerobus
VivaAerobus, a Mexican low-cost carrier with an average aircraft age of 5.29* years, won third place. Its fleet counts 52 aircraft that are used to serve 51 destinations and 128 routes.
4. Volaris
Taking fourth place is another Mexican low-cost carrier – Volaris, whose average aircraft age is 5.61* years old. Its fleet of 99 A320 Family jets serves 175 routes from its headquarters at Mexico City’s Benito Juárez International airport.
5. Swoop
Swoop is in fifth place. As a Canadian low-cost carrier, its fleet consists of ten Boeing B737-800s, which average 6.21* years old. From its base at John C. Munro International airport, Swoop connects people all over Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean.
1. Fiji Link
Fiji Link wins Oceania’s Youngest Aircraft Fleet Award 2022. Its fleet consists of seven aircraft and an average age of 5,28* years. Launched in 2014, its headquarters are located at Nadi International airport.
2. Fiji Airways
Fiji Airways won second place by operating 13 aircraft with an average fleet age of 5.67* years. As Fiji’s national airline, their headquarters are at Nadi International airport, from where they serve 31 destinations and 37 routes.
3. Air Tahiti
Ranked third is Air Tahiti, with a fleet of nine aircraft and an average age of 6.09* years. Based in French Polynesia, Air Tahiti serves 45 destinations and 103 routes.
4. Air New Zealand
Fourth place for Oceania’s Youngest Aircraft Fleet Award 2022 goes to Air New Zealand. Counting 111 aircraft, the average age of its fleet is 8.46* years. Air New Zealand commenced operations in 1940 and has since established a route network spanning 17 countries and 50 destinations.
5. Jetstar Airways
Jetstar Airways from Australia is in fifth place, with the average aircraft age of its 69-strong fleet being 10,74* years old. Since 2004, Jetstar Airways’ headquarters have been at Melbourne’s Tullamarine International airport.
1. SKY Airline
First place in the South American category of the Youngest Aircraft Fleet Award 2022 belongs to SKY Airline from Chile. The airline also has the second-youngest aircraft fleet on a global level. Its fleet consists of 28 Airbus A320 family aircraft family, with an average aircraft age of 1.99* years. The airline serves seven countries, 36 destinations, and 44 routes from Arturo Merino Benítez International airport.
2. Viva
Viva wins second place in South America and fourth place worldwide. They have a fleet of 21 aircraft and an average aircraft age of 2.45* years. Rebranded from Viva Air Colombia in 2021 and operating as VivaColombia before that, the budget carrier now serves five countries, 24 destinations, and 54 routes.
3. JetSMART
JetSMART comes in at third place with a fleet of 14 A320 family jets and an average age of 2.93* years. Owned by US-based aviation investment specialists Indigo Partners, its headquarters are in Santiago de Chile at Arturo Merino Benítez International airport.
4. EasyFly (Colombia)
EasyFly from Colombia won fourth place with an average aircraft age of 4.32* years and a fleet of 17 aircraft. Founded in 2007, EasyFly has its headquarters in Bogotá and runs 39 routes covering 26 destinations.
5. Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras
The fifth-youngest South American aircraft fleet belongs to Brazil’s Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras. Its fleet consists of 153 aircraft, with an average age of 7.12* years. Since 2008, its headquarters have been in Sao Paulo, from where they serve 146 destinations across 389 routes.
1. Frontier Airlines
Frontier Airlines has the youngest aircraft fleet in North America and also in the category of airlines with 100 or more aircraft in their fleet. They count 112 aircraft, with an average aircraft age of 4.15* years. Operating for 28 years, the low-cost carrier has its headquarters in Denver, from where they serve 118 destinations.
2. IndiGo Airlines
Among airlines with 100 or more aircraft in their fleet, IndiGo Airlines comes in second place. They have a fleet of 278 aircraft, 243 Airbus A320 family aircraft and 35 ATR72-600s, and an average aircraft age of 4.28* years. The low-cost carrier serves 17 countries, 94 destinations, and 536 routes from its base at Delhi Indira Gandhi International airport.
3. Wizz Air
Third place belongs to Hungary’s Wizz Air. Founded in 2004, the low-cost carrier keeps a fleet of 147 aircraft, mainly from the Airbus A320 family, with an average aircraft age of 5.20* years. The airline has a network of over 1000 routes across 180 destinations and 46 countries.
4. flydubai
flydubai is in fourth place. The scheduled carrier counts 123 aircraft in its fleet and an average aircraft age of 5.25* years. Based at Dubai International airport, they serve 56 countries, 110 destinations, and 114 routes.
5. Spring Airlines
Spring Airlines takes fifth place. They operate a fleet of 111 A320 family aircraft, with an average aircraft age of 3.51* years. From their headquarters at Shanghai Hongqiao International airport, Spring Airlines connects to six countries in eastern Asia, serving 106 routes and 333 routes.
Aircraft Leasing Companies Overview
1. CMB Financial Leasing
First place for the World’s Youngest Aircraft Portfolio Award 2022 goes to CMB Financial Leasing. They manage 59 aircraft in their portfolio, with an average aircraft age of 3.92* years. Founded in 2007 and based in Shanghai, the Chinese Aircraft Leasing company leases primarily to Asian airlines, with a few European and one Canadian exception.
2. Kunlun Financial Leasing
Kunlun Financial Leasing won second place. With 19 aircraft in their portfolio – 17 from the Airbus A320 family and two Boeing B737-800s – they count an average aircraft age of 4.15* years.
3. International Airfinance
International Airfinance takes third place. Based in Dubai, the Emirati Aircraft Leasing company manages 55 aircraft, with an average aircraft age of 4.63* years.
4. SkyCo Leasing
SkyCo Leasing is the Aircraft Leasing company in fourth place. They are based in Guangzhou, counting 22 aircraft in their portfolio and an average aircraft age of 5.18* years.
5. GOAL
Fifth place belongs to GOAL, coming in fifth place. From their headquarters in Munich, they manage 40 aircraft and have an average aircraft age of 5.19* years.
1. BOC Aviation
BOC Aviation is first in the category of Aircraft Leasing companies managing 100 or more aircraft in their portfolio. Founded in 2007 and based in Singapore, they manage 435 aircraft and have an average aircraft age of 5.36* years.
2. Jackson Square Aviaton
In second place is Jackson Square Aviation, managing 195 aircraft in their portfolio with an average aircraft age of 5.76* years. They are based in San Francisco.
3. SMBC Aviation Capital
Third place goes to SMBC Aviation Capital. From their base in Dublin, they manage 454 aircraft in their portfolio and have an average aircraft age of 5.79* years. Founded in 2012, they are the youngest company among the winning Aircraft Leasing companies in this category.
4. CALC
CALC has taken fourth place. Their portfolio consists of 175 aircraft that they manage, and their average aircraft age is 5.97* years. CALC serves customers all over the world from their base in Hong Kong, ever since 2006.
5. CDB Aviation
The fifth spot falls to CDB Aviation, another Dublin-based Aircraft Leasing company. The company currently manages 260 aircraft in its portfolio, with an average aircraft age of 6.02* years. Launched in 2009, CDB Aviation now leases to customers worldwide.
ch-aviation Youngest Aircraft Fleet Award 2022 Press Kit
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Award Methodology
ch-aviation maintains one of the industry’s largest and most comprehensive databases, used to determine the youngest aircraft fleet. The intelligence covers over 67,000 aircraft, more than 4,700 active airlines, 1,000 lessors, and more. To determine the Award’s winners, ch-aviation included only 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 a VIP configuration are excluded from the list. In terms of Aircraft Leasing Companies, we have included all managed aircraft with a portfolio size of at least ten aircraft. We have excluded companies with the sole purpose of providing leases to a single airline owned by that airline or a parent company and merged the same groups of companies.
Which Data has been used in the analysis?
*Aircraft data from the “ch-aviation fleets advanced” database as of Januar 3rd, 2022.
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