Avies

Avies was an Estonian airline headquartered in Tallinn and based at Lennart Meri Tallinn Airport. The company was established in 1991 and began operations that year with charter and air-taxi services. It later expanded into scheduled passenger flying, adding scheduled services in 1999 and operating a mixture of domestic and regional routes with small turboprop and business-jet aircraft. The airline's scheduled network focused on short regional links that connected Tallinn with the Estonian islands of Hiiumaa and Saaremaa, served respectively by Kärdla Airport and Kuressaare Airport. Avies also operated services to Stockholm Arlanda Airport and, for a period, flew several domestic routes within Sweden. Its operating model was characteristic of a small regional carrier: it used relatively small aircraft, served thin markets that were not suited to large jet operators, and combined scheduled flying with charter and air-taxi work. Avies's Swedish domestic operations ended in March 2015 after Swedish authorities cancelled the relevant contract. The loss of that work materially reduced the airline's scheduled business. In the same year, an Estonian court declared Avies bankrupt on 26 June 2015. Despite the bankruptcy declaration, the airline continued operating for a period. Its remaining scheduled flights from Tallinn to Kuressaare, Kärdla, and Stockholm were suspended on 1 April 2016 after the Estonian Civil Aviation Administration withdrew the carrier's operating licence for six months over safety concerns. The airline's documented fleet in December 2014 included Bombardier Learjet 31A, Learjet 55C, and Learjet 60 business jets, BAe Jetstream 31 and Jetstream 32 turboprops, a Hawker Beechcraft 750, and a Let L-410 Turbolet. This fleet supported both passenger and specialist regional operations, although the Jetstream aircraft were particularly associated with the airline's scheduled services. Avies was involved in several operational incidents in Sweden between 2013 and 2014. These included a Jetstream landing at Pajala with two wheels outside the paved runway, an engine-performance problem after departure from Sveg, and a Jetstream runway excursion at Torsby in snowy conditions. The incidents did not all result in aircraft damage or casualties, but they formed part of the broader operational-safety context preceding the 2016 licence withdrawal. Avies is now a defunct airline brand.

Avies was established in Estonia in 1991 and started flying in the same year. Its initial activities consisted of charter flights and air-taxi services rather than a conventional scheduled network. This gave the company a flexible operating profile suited to ad hoc travel, small-group transportation, and regional markets that could not support large aircraft. In 1999, Avies added scheduled services. The airline subsequently operated short regional routes in Estonia, linking its Tallinn base with Kärdla on Hiiumaa and Kuressaare on Saaremaa. These connections served island communities and provided links to the national capital. Avies also developed a cross-border presence through scheduled flights to Stockholm Arlanda and operated three domestic routes within Sweden for a period. Its aircraft fleet reflected this regional strategy and included BAe Jetstream turboprops alongside smaller business jets and other light aircraft. The carrier's Swedish operations became increasingly important to its scheduled business, but they ended in March 2015 when Swedish authorities cancelled the underlying contract. On 26 June 2015, an Estonian court declared Avies bankrupt. The airline continued to operate despite the bankruptcy declaration, indicating that the legal and operational conclusions of the business did not occur simultaneously. Avies's final period was also marked by regulatory and operational pressure. Several incidents involving Jetstream aircraft occurred at Swedish airports between February 2013 and January 2014. At Pajala, an aircraft landed with two wheels outside the paved runway without reported damage. At Sveg, a Jetstream experienced low RPM from both engines after departure; the pilots returned and landed after engine performance improved. At Torsby, another Jetstream skidded off a snow-covered runway. These events were operational incidents rather than all being reported as accidents involving injuries, but they contributed to the record surrounding the carrier's safety performance. The Estonian Civil Aviation Administration withdrew Avies's operating licence for six months over safety concerns in 2016. As a result, the airline suspended its remaining scheduled services from Tallinn to Kärdla, Kuressaare, and Stockholm on 1 April 2016. Avies is consequently treated as a defunct Estonian regional airline. Its history illustrates the difficulties faced by small carriers operating thin regional routes while combining scheduled flying with charter work and air-taxi services.

• 2016

  Operating licence is withdrawn

  [1]Aviesen.wikipedia.org

  The Estonian Civil Aviation Administration withdrew Avies's operating licence for six months over safety concerns, and remaining scheduled flights were suspended on 1 April.

• 2015

  Swedish domestic operations end

  [1]Aviesen.wikipedia.org

  All domestic flights in Sweden were halted in March after the relevant contract was cancelled by Swedish authorities.

• 2015

  Court declares Avies bankrupt

  [1]Aviesen.wikipedia.org

  An Estonian court declared the airline bankrupt on 26 June, although operations continued temporarily.

• 1999

  Scheduled services are introduced

  [1]Aviesen.wikipedia.org

  The airline added scheduled passenger services to its charter and air-taxi activities.

• 1991

  Avies is established and begins flying

  [1]Aviesen.wikipedia.org

  Avies was established in Estonia and began operations with charter and air-taxi services.

A small Estonian regional carrier focused on thin domestic and short-haul markets, supplemented by charter and air-taxi operations.

• Passenger aviation · 1999

  Scheduled regional passenger services

  Avies operated scheduled short-haul services from its Tallinn base. Its documented Estonian routes connected Tallinn with Kärdla and Kuressaare, while Stockholm Arlanda was served as an international regional destination. The network was designed around small communities and relatively thin markets rather than high-volume trunk routes.

• Air charter · 1991

  Charter flights

  Charter flying was part of Avies's original business when the company began operations in 1991. These services complemented scheduled operations and allowed the airline to use its small-aircraft fleet for contracted or non-scheduled travel.

• Business aviation · 1991

  Air-taxi services

  Avies also began as an air-taxi operator. This offering used smaller aircraft for flexible, on-demand travel and formed part of the company's business before and alongside its scheduled airline activities.

• 2016

  Suspension following operating-licence withdrawalOther

  Background

  The Estonian Civil Aviation Administration cited safety concerns in withdrawing the airline's operating licence for six months.

  Action taken

  Avies suspended its remaining scheduled flights from Tallinn to Kärdla, Kuressaare, and Stockholm on 1 April.

  Aftermath

  The licence action ended Avies's remaining scheduled airline operations and the brand became defunct.

  Source

• 2015

  Suspension of Swedish domestic flyingOther

  Background

  Avies's Swedish domestic services depended on a contract with Swedish authorities.

  Action taken

  The airline halted all domestic flights in Sweden in March after the contract was cancelled.

  Aftermath

  Avies lost this part of its network before being declared bankrupt later in the year.

  Source

• 1999

  Expansion into scheduled passenger operationsStrategy

  Background

  Avies initially operated charter and air-taxi services and later sought a more regular regional-airline role.

  Action taken

  The company introduced scheduled flights and developed routes in Estonia and Sweden.

  Aftermath

  Scheduled operations became a central part of Avies's identity until its licence withdrawal in 2016.

  Source

1. 1Aviesen.wikipedia.org