Aurela
A Lithuanian charter airline that operated passenger, ACMI, and VIP flight services from Vilnius.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Aurela was a Lithuanian charter airline headquartered in Vilnius and based at Vilnius International Airport. It served the Baltic travel market primarily through charter flights arranged by tour operators, while also undertaking individual charter, VIP, and aircraft-leasing work. The airline was established in the mid-1990s and began operations in 1996 with a Tupolev Tu-134A, making it one of the early private aviation companies in post-independence Lithuania. Its business model was closely tied to tourism demand rather than a large scheduled network. During its development, Aurela progressively expanded and modernized its fleet. It operated Russian-built aircraft, including the Yakovlev Yak-42D, during the early growth phase of its charter business, but later moved toward Western-manufactured aircraft as regulatory and market pressure increased within the European aviation environment. Its fleet history included Boeing 737-300 and Boeing 757-200 aircraft for passenger charter work, as well as Hawker business jets for VIP and executive transportation. The company also operated or offered ACMI services, supplying aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance to other airlines and operators when additional capacity was needed. Aurela's commercial relationships included travel companies and airlines across the region. Novaturas became an important charter customer, and Aurela provided capacity for companies including Estonian Air, airBaltic, Small Planet Airlines, Star1 Airlines, Thomas Cook Airlines, and Monarch Airlines at different times. These arrangements allowed the airline to participate in seasonal tourism flows to European resort destinations and to support carriers facing temporary fleet shortages. Aurela also performed individual and VIP flights, including flights connected with Lithuania's president Valdas Adamkus during visits abroad. The company encountered increasing operational and regulatory difficulties in the early 2010s. Its permanent flight licence was suspended in January 2011, although it was reportedly renewed in July of that year after a change in ownership to the Cyprus-registered company Servolian Investments. Aurela later operated routes for Monarch Airlines in 2012, but the relationship ended after reported delays, customer complaints, and an incident in which an Aurela aircraft skidded off the runway at Birmingham Airport. On 18 February 2013, the Lithuanian Civil Aviation Administration decided to suspend Aurela's licence again. The airline is therefore regarded as defunct, with no current passenger operation identified in the cited reference material.
History
Aurela emerged during the formation of Lithuania's private aviation sector in the 1990s. The company became Lithuania's first private aviation company in 1995 and established operating activity in 1996 as a joint-stock aviation enterprise. Its first aircraft was a VIP-configured Tupolev Tu-134A, used for charter flying. The airline's initial focus was not a conventional scheduled network but the provision of passenger capacity for tourism companies and other charter customers. As demand for organized holiday travel increased, Aurela expanded its capabilities. In 2001, it acquired an eight-seat Hawker HS-125-700 for business and VIP flights. It subsequently obtained a Yakovlev Yak-42D with approximately 120 seats, using the aircraft to serve the growing charter market. A second Yak-42D was rented in 2003 as the volume of charter activity increased. In 2004, one of the Yak-42Ds was replaced by a Boeing 737-300, providing a larger and more modern Western-built aircraft. The first flight of that aircraft coincided with Lithuania's entry into the European Union. Aurela also carried President Valdas Adamkus on official travel, including journeys to Kyiv during the Orange Revolution and to the funeral of Pope John Paul II. Aurela's fleet strategy changed further in 2005. As European authorities took a stricter approach to the use of older Russian-built aircraft, the airline began replacing them with Western-manufactured types. The remaining Yak-42D was returned to its lessor when its rental agreement expired in December 2005. In July 2006, Aurela added a second Boeing 737-300 on lease. That December, shareholders purchased a new nine-seat Hawker 850XP for VIP charter work. Novaturas became the company's principal charter customer during this period, linking Aurela closely to the Baltic package-tour market. The airline continued to pursue larger and more varied commercial opportunities. In spring 2009, it announced plans to expand its fleet with a Boeing 767-200, although the cited material does not establish whether that plan was completed. Aurela also signed a three-year summer contract with Thomas Cook Airlines to provide Boeing 757-200 aircraft at United Kingdom bases. Separately, it supplied charter capacity for Small Planet Airlines services to the Greek islands of Samos and Limnos. Its ACMI operation supplied aircraft together with crew and maintenance to carriers such as Estonian Air, airBaltic, Small Planet Airlines, and Star1 Airlines when those operators required temporary capacity. Regulatory and operational problems became central to the company's later history. The permanent flight licence was suspended on 7 January 2011. Aurela was bought by Cyprus-registered Servolian Investments on 31 May 2011, and its permanent licence was renewed on 15 July. In 2012, the airline operated several routes for Monarch Airlines, including Birmingham to Málaga. Monarch terminated the arrangement in September after reports of substantial delays, passenger complaints, and an Aurela aircraft skidding off the runway at Birmingham Airport. On 18 February 2013, the Lithuanian Civil Aviation Administration decided to suspend Aurela's licence. The cited reference does not provide a subsequent reopening or a later operating history. Aurela is consequently treated as a defunct Lithuanian charter airline. Its historical significance lies in its role in the development of private Lithuanian aviation, its support for Baltic tourism and airline capacity requirements, and its transition from Soviet-designed aircraft toward Boeing and Hawker equipment.
- 2013
Operating licence suspended again
[1]The Lithuanian Civil Aviation Administration decided to suspend Aurela's licence on 18 February.
- 2012
Monarch Airlines cooperation ends
[1]Aurela's route-support arrangement with Monarch Airlines ended after reported delays, complaints, and a runway excursion at Birmingham.
- 2011
Licence suspension, ownership change, and renewal
[1]The permanent flight licence was suspended in January, Servolian Investments acquired the company in May, and the licence was renewed in July.
- 2009
Boeing 767 expansion plan announced
[1]Aurela announced plans to expand its fleet with a Boeing 767-200; the available source does not confirm implementation.
- 2006
Expansion of Boeing and VIP capacity
[1]A second Boeing 737-300 was leased and shareholders purchased a new Hawker 850XP for VIP charter flights.
- 2005
Fleet transition toward Western aircraft
[1]Aurela began updating its fleet with Western-manufactured aircraft, and the remaining Yak-42D was returned to its lessor in December.
- 2004
Boeing 737-300 enters the fleet
[1]One Yak-42D was replaced with a higher-capacity Boeing 737-300.
- 2003
Second Yak-42D leased
[1]Aurela rented another Yak-42D as charter demand expanded.
- 2001
VIP business aircraft added
[1]A Hawker HS-125-700 was purchased for VIP flights.
- 1996
Operations begin with a Tupolev Tu-134A
[1]The airline began operations using a VIP-configured Tupolev Tu-134A for charter flights.
Products and positioning
Aurela positioned itself as a flexible Lithuanian charter and wet-lease operator serving tour operators, airlines, corporate customers, and VIP travelers. Its competitive proposition centered on seasonal capacity, specialized charter operations, and the ability to provide aircraft with crew and maintenance rather than on a broad scheduled passenger network.
Passenger aviation · 1996
Regular charter flights
Aurela's principal business was charter passenger flying arranged by travel agencies and tour operators. Services connected Baltic customers with holiday and resort destinations in Europe, Asia, and Africa, using aircraft suited to seasonal demand rather than operating a large permanent scheduled network.
Charter aviation
Individual charter flights
The airline also organized individually commissioned or exclusive charter flights. These services gave private, corporate, and institutional customers access to aircraft arranged for particular journeys, separate from mass-market tour-operator programmes.
Aircraft leasing and airline services · 2006
ACMI lease services
Under ACMI arrangements, Aurela supplied aircraft together with crew, maintenance, and related operational support to another airline or lessee. It used this capability to provide temporary capacity for carriers including Estonian Air, airBaltic, Small Planet Airlines, and Star1 Airlines.
Business aviation · 2001
VIP charter flights
Aurela operated commercial-category VIP aircraft, including Hawker business jets, for executive, official, and other premium charter missions. This activity complemented the airline's higher-volume holiday charter operation and included transport connected with Lithuanian presidential travel.
Controversies
Brand decisions
2013
Licence suspension and cessation of operationsOtherBackground
Aurela had previously experienced a licence suspension in 2011 and faced operational difficulties during its cooperation with Monarch Airlines.
Action taken
The Lithuanian Civil Aviation Administration decided to suspend Aurela's operating licence on 18 February 2013.
Aftermath
The cited material provides no evidence of a later return to service, and Aurela is treated as defunct.
2012
Route-support arrangement with Monarch AirlinesStrategyBackground
Monarch Airlines opened additional routes but did not have enough fleet capacity to operate all of them.
Action taken
Aurela operated several Monarch routes, including Birmingham to Málaga.
Aftermath
Monarch ended the cooperation in September 2012 after reported service disruptions, complaints, and a Birmingham runway incident.
- Monarch Airlines — Monarch terminated the cooperation in September 2012.
2011
Acquisition by Servolian InvestmentsM&ABackground
The transaction followed the suspension of Aurela's permanent flight licence earlier in the year.
Action taken
Cyprus-registered Servolian Investments bought Aurela on 31 May 2011.
Aftermath
Aurela's permanent flight licence was renewed on 15 July 2011, although the licence was suspended again in February 2013.
2009
Plan to acquire a Boeing 767-200StrategyBackground
Aurela sought to expand its aircraft fleet and increase its potential charter capacity.
Action taken
The airline announced plans to acquire a Boeing 767-200.
Aftermath
The available reference does not establish whether the planned aircraft entered Aurela's fleet.
2005
Move toward Western-manufactured aircraftStrategyBackground
European aviation policy was becoming less accommodating toward the use of Russian-built aircraft, while Aurela also needed a more modern fleet for charter and European operations.
Action taken
Aurela began replacing Russian-designed aircraft with Western-manufactured types and returned its remaining Yak-42D when the lease expired.
Aftermath
The fleet subsequently included Boeing 737-300 and Boeing 757-200 aircraft, together with Hawker aircraft for VIP work.
Sources1 sources
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