Croatia Airlines sells Airbus fleet to World Star Aviation

Croatia Airlines has completed the sale and leaseback of its Airbus A320-family aircraft as it prepares to take delivery of its first A220 jets next year and eventually become an all A220-operator. As reported by EX-YU Aviation News last week, the carrier made the decision to sell four A319s and one A320 that it owned up until the sale. The remainder of its fleet is leased. The transaction was completed last week after the Croatian airline received several offers. World Star Aviation, an aircraft management company with particular expertise in mid-to-late life used commercial aircraft, was selected to take on all five units, including their engines. The value of the deal has not been disclosed.

Croatia Airlines will continue to operate the aircraft by leasing them from World Star Aviation until they are replaced by the A220 jets. "We are pleased that it is with World Star Aviation, our long-standing partner, that we have completed a sale and leaseback transaction for our entire Airbus fleet. The A319/A320 fleet continues to remain in service, which provides the company with flexibility in its fleet replacement project, during which all aircraft will be replaced, in due course, with new A220s, marking the biggest project in the history of Croatia Airlines", the carrier's CEO, Jasmin Bajić, said.

The Croatian carrier is currently implementing its entry into service program for its first of twelve A220 aircraft which are expected to start arriving next year. It has recently employed an additional eleven pilots in preparation for the new aircraft type. The carrier has invested 658.000 euros during the first half of the year in training its employees (pilots, cabin crew and maintenance staff). “Our focus is to align commercial and technical services department objectives when it comes to the introduction of the A220 aircraft into our fleet. We are now in the A220-EIS entry-into-service process and our aim is to expand all our scope and current capabilities into the new fleet”, the airline said.

The carrier is working on securing equipment and permits for the new aircraft type. Croatia Airlines’ Technical Director and Maintenance Manager, Tomislav Imprić, recently said, “The current issue is to schedule an A220 Part 147-type training plan for our aviation maintenance license personnel. Simultaneously, we are preparing necessary logistical measures to ensure availability of ground support equipment and tools, materials, and components needed to support the new aircraft type. Furthermore, we will be focusing on the delivery processes and developing our maintenance, engineering and planning expertise for the new fleet”.