Afriqiyah A320 deal with Air Contractors ends, exploring options
Afriqiyah Airways (8U, Tripoli Int'l) has ended its partnership with Air Contractors (AG, Dublin Int'l) ch-aviation has learned. According to research, the two A320-200s - EI-ONJ (cn 4203) and EI-ONL (cn 4489) - the Irish ACMI specialists had operated on flights to Europe on behalf of the Libyans have now been ferried to Vilnius where they will be transferred to the Small Planet Airlines (S5, Vilnius) Air Operator's Certificate (AOC).
Under the original agreement, announced in February of last year, Afriqiyah was to transfer three of its A320-200s to Air Contractor's Irish registry with European-bound flights to operate using the Irish operator’s crews and ground staff.
Small Planet has an existing relationship with the Libyans wherein their Small Planet Airlines Polska (P7, Warsaw Chopin) subsidiary operated a pair of A320s for and on behalf of Afriqiyah on flights to Dusseldorf, London Gatwick, and Paris CDG in spring last year.
With the recent escalation in lawlessness in the troubled North African state, Europe has again banned Libyan carriers from serving the bloc using its own equipment. Neighbouring Egypt has also followed suit.
In a bid to circumvent the bans, Afriqiyah signed a deal with UAE-based ACMI specialist Aerovista. Aerovista's operational subsidiary Vista Georgia (AJD, Tbilisi) would operate two A320-200s, 4L-AJD (cn 879) and 4L-AJF (cn 1422), on its behalf on flights to Jordan, Turkey, and possibly Europe. However, research shows the aircraft have now been ferried back to Malta. It is uncertain whether the interruption of the lease agreement is due to the deteriorating security situation in the country or due to other factors.