Orbest

Orbest, S.A. is a Portuguese charter and leisure airline headquartered in Lisbon and based at Lisbon Airport. The company was established in 2007 by Orizonia Group to provide air transport for the group’s tourism activities, particularly flights arranged in cooperation with tour operators. From its Portuguese base, Orbest developed a mixed operating profile that included both charter services and scheduled flights, covering short-haul European routes as well as longer-haul leisure markets. The airline began operations with one Airbus A330-200, registered as CS-TRA. Its initial wide-body fleet reflected the role of the business within the package-tourism sector, where airlines transport holiday customers on behalf of tour operators and travel groups rather than relying exclusively on point-to-point scheduled demand. In 2010, Orizonia announced plans to upgrade the operation with the larger Airbus A330-300, supporting the airline’s long-haul capacity and leisure-market ambitions. Orbest’s corporate structure changed substantially after the collapse of Orizonia Corporation. The airline was subsequently acquired by Barceló Group, a Spanish tourism group with interests across hotels, travel distribution, and tourism services. Barceló also established Evelop Airlines in Spain. Aircraft from Orbest and the former Orbest Orizonia Airlines were used in the wider Evelop operation, creating a more integrated Iberian leisure-airline platform while Orbest continued as the Portuguese operating company. On 8 December 2020, Orbest merged with Evelop. The combined operation adopted the Iberojet name, consolidating the Portuguese and Spanish leisure-airline activities under a single commercial brand. Orbest therefore became less visible as a customer-facing brand even though the Portuguese company remained relevant as an operating entity. As of October 2025, Orbest operates under the Iberojet brand, performing scheduled and charter flights from Portugal and Spain, including services arranged for tour operators and flights conducted jointly with its Spanish sister operation. The brand’s principal role is consequently that of a specialist leisure carrier within the Barceló Group rather than an independent mass-market network airline. Its offering centers on passenger air transport, wide-body holiday flights, tour-operator capacity, and seasonal or charter connectivity. Public reference material does not identify a separately marketed current Orbest product portfolio, a stock-market listing, or a standalone consumer website. Current commercial activity is associated primarily with Iberojet.

Orbest was created in 2007 by Orizonia Group as a Portuguese leisure and charter airline. It was headquartered in Lisbon and based at Lisbon Airport, placing it within Orizonia’s broader tourism ecosystem and allowing the group to coordinate air transport with tour-operation and holiday-selling activities. Rather than operating solely as a conventional scheduled carrier, Orbest was designed to combine scheduled and charter services, including flights arranged for tour operators. The company started flying with a single Airbus A330-200, registered CS-TRA. The use of a wide-body aircraft from the beginning reflected the importance of long-haul leisure markets to the business, alongside shorter European routes. In 2010, Orizonia announced an upgrade to the larger Airbus A330-300. This fleet-development step was intended to increase capacity and strengthen the airline’s ability to serve high-volume holiday and charter operations. A major turning point came with the collapse of Orizonia Corporation. Orbest was subsequently acquired by Barceló Group, a Spanish tourism company. Barceló created Evelop Airlines to handle operations in Spain, and aircraft associated with Orbest and the former Orbest Orizonia Airlines were thereafter used jointly in the Evelop operation. This created a cross-border Iberian leisure-airline structure, with Portugal and Spain serving as complementary operating bases. The final major reorganization described in public reference material occurred on 8 December 2020, when Orbest merged with Evelop. The combined airlines operated under the Iberojet name. The change unified the Portuguese and Spanish leisure-airline activities under one commercial identity and reduced Orbest’s prominence as a standalone passenger-facing brand. The Portuguese company nevertheless continued to operate within the group’s aviation structure. As of October 2025, Orbest operates under the Iberojet brand. Its activities include scheduled and charter passenger flights in short-haul and long-haul markets from Portugal and Spain, frequently on behalf of tour operators and in coordination with its Spanish sister operation. The available reference material does not provide a current detailed fleet list, named executives, financial results, or a standalone active consumer website for Orbest. Its current identity is best understood as a Portuguese operating company and historical airline brand within Barceló Group’s Iberojet leisure-aviation platform.

• 2025

  Operations continue under Iberojet

  [1]Orbesten.wikipedia.org

  As of October 2025, Orbest operates under the Iberojet name on scheduled and charter services.

• 2020

  Merger with Evelop

  [1]Orbesten.wikipedia.org

  Orbest merged with Evelop on 8 December 2020, with the combined operation adopting the Iberojet brand.

• 2010

  Larger Airbus A330-300 announced

  [1]Orbesten.wikipedia.org

  Orizonia announced an upgrade to the larger Airbus A330-300 for Orbest’s long-haul leisure operation.

• 2007

  Orbest is established by Orizonia Group

  [1]Orbesten.wikipedia.org

  Orizonia Group established Orbest as a Portuguese charter and leisure airline based at Lisbon Airport.

• 2007

  Commercial operations begin

  [1]Orbesten.wikipedia.org

  Orbest began operations with a single Airbus A330-200 registered CS-TRA.

• Barceló Group acquires Orbest

  [1]Orbesten.wikipedia.org

  After the collapse of Orizonia Corporation, Barceló Group acquired Orbest and reorganized its Iberian airline activities.

A Portugal-based leisure and charter airline serving tour operators and holiday travelers, with current operations conducted under the Iberojet brand.

• Passenger air transport · 2007

  Scheduled passenger services

  Orbest has operated scheduled passenger flights from Portugal and Spain across short-haul and long-haul markets. Following the 2020 merger with Evelop, these activities are commercially associated with Iberojet rather than prominently marketed under the Orbest name.

• Leisure aviation · 2007

  Charter and tour-operator flights

  Charter flying for tour operators has been central to Orbest’s business model. The airline provides aircraft and passenger capacity for package holidays and other organized leisure travel, including seasonal and long-haul operations.

• Aircraft-based service offering · 2007

  Airbus wide-body operations

  Orbest’s original operation used an Airbus A330-200, and the company later announced an upgrade to the larger A330-300. These aircraft supported the high-capacity, long-distance leisure services associated with the airline.

• 2020

  Merger with Evelop and adoption of IberojetM&A

  Background

  Barceló Group sought to consolidate the Portuguese and Spanish airline operations associated with Orbest and Evelop.

  Action taken

  Orbest merged with Evelop on 8 December 2020, and the combined business operated under the Iberojet name.

  Aftermath

  Orbest ceased to be the principal commercial brand for the combined operation. As of October 2025, the company operates under Iberojet.

  Source

• 2010

  Upgrade from Airbus A330-200 to Airbus A330-300Generation change

  Background

  Orbest began with an Airbus A330-200, while its parent Orizonia announced a move to the larger A330-300 as the airline developed its long-haul leisure capacity.

  Action taken

  The company planned to introduce a larger Airbus wide-body aircraft for its long-haul operation.

  Aftermath

  The upgrade supported higher-capacity leisure flying, although the available reference material does not provide detailed fleet or financial outcomes.

  Source

• Acquisition by Barceló GroupM&A

  Background

  The acquisition followed the collapse of Orizonia Corporation and changed Orbest’s ownership and strategic setting.

  Action taken

  Barceló Group purchased Orbest and created Evelop Airlines for Spanish operations.

  Aftermath

  Orbest aircraft and operations became part of a broader Iberian leisure-airline structure that was later consolidated under Iberojet.

  Source

1. 1Orbesten.wikipedia.org