About the Award

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 2022with an average aircraft age of 3.92* years.

1st Place:
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.ns.

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.

Click here for the fleet overview.

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.

Click here for the fleet overview.

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.

Click here for the fleet overview.

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.

Click here for the fleet overview.

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.

Click here for the fleet overview.

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.

Click here for the fleet overview.

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.

Click here for the fleet overview.

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.

Click here for the fleet overview.

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.

Click here for the fleet overview.

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.

Click here for the fleet overview.

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.

Click here for the fleet overview.

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.

Click here for the fleet overview.

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.

Click here for the fleet overview.

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.

Click here for the fleet overview.

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.

Click here for the fleet overview.

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.

Click here for the fleet overview.

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.

Click here for the fleet overview.

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.

Click here for the fleet overview.

4. Volaris

Taking fourth place is another Mexican low-cost carrier – Volaris, whose average aircraft age is 5.61years old. Its fleet of 99 A320 Family jets serves 175 routes from its headquarters at Mexico City’s Benito Juárez International airport.

Click here for the fleet overview.

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.

Click here for the fleet overview.

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.

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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.

Click here for the fleet overview.

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.

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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.

Click here for the fleet overview.

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.

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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.

Click here for the fleet overview.

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.

Click here for the fleet overview.

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.

Click here for the fleet overview.

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.

Click here for the fleet overview.

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.

Click here for the fleet overview.

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.

Click here for the fleet overview.

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.

Click here for the fleet overview.

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.

Click here for the fleet overview.

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.

Click here for the fleet overview.

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.

Click here for the fleet overview.

1st Place:
CMB Financial Leasing

CMB Financial Leasing wins the World’s Youngest Aircraft Portfolio Award 2022. 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 to mostly Asian airlines, with a few European and one Canadian exception.

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.

 Click here for the portfolio overview.

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.

 Click here for the portfolio overview.

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.

Click here for the portfolio overview.

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.

Click here for the portfolio overview.

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.

Click here for the portfolio overview.

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.

Click here for the portfolio overview.

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.

Click here for the portfolio overview.

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.

Click here for the portfolio overview.

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.

Click here for the portfolio overview.

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.

Click here for the portfolio overview.

ch-aviation Youngest Aircraft Fleet Award 2022 Press Kit

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Get to Know
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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