flyLAL charters Airline Becomes Small Planet Airlines

Romualda Stonkute | 2010.07.23

The largest Baltic charter airline flyLAL charters changes its brand name and presents its new business strategy. From now the airline will be known as leisure carrier Small Planet Airlines.

“The main catalyst for the rebranding was our international growth. The previous brand flyLAL was associated with “scheduled flights”, “business travel” and “Lithuania”, where as today our business strength is in charter flights in four European countries - Italy, Poland, Estonia and Lithuania” - says Vytautas Kaikaris, CEO of the Small Planet Airlines.

He also noted, that the change of the brand name will also reflect new business philosophy, according to which passenger service will be a key focus area.

“Charter airlines are not exactly famous for great passenger service. After all, their services are commoditized and bought on lowest price and passenger services are kept to a bare minimum. We see an opportunity here. Having a strong experience in the charter business, we aim to become the Europe’s leading independent charter airline. We are passionate about passenger service and will work to make holidays started right after travellers get aboard of our aircraft,” says V. Kaikaris.

During the flights, passengers will be offered latest press as well as beverages, food and other goods from the renewed Sky-shop. At the end of the year the airline plans to offer its passengers portable iPAD computers with a wide choice of games, movies and other entertainment.

Special attention will be given to children. The airline will offer toys and coloring books for the small ones to make their trip more fun. The special children’s drinks and food menu will also be introduced.

At the beginning of 2011 the aircraft seats will be replaced with the new ergonomic seats produced by the UK manufacturer Acro Aircraft Seating, which will provide more legroom to the passengers.

Operating in four European countries Small Planet Airlines assures that passengers aboard are serviced by local crew teams speaking the local languages. This way the airline seeks to avoid language barriers and possible service inconveniences.

V. Kaikaris stressed that the spirit of holidays is also reflected in the new Small Planet Airlines logo and the aircraft livery. This year the company’s aircrafts will be repainted in bright colours and their tails will be decorated with a colourful globe - the logo of the new brand. The flight attendant uniforms will undergo transformation as well. The classical uniforms will be replaced with more casual ones, which were exclusively created for Small Planet Airlines by the famous Lithuanian designer Kristina Kruopienyte.

“The new brand, image and focus on passengers service will be supported by the renovation of the airline’s fleet”, says V. Kaikaris.

The currently used Boeing 737 Classic family aircrafts will be gradually replaced with Boeing 737 Next Generation aircrafts, more modern and capable of flying longer distances. This will enable Small Planet Airlines in cooperation with tour operators to offer a broader range of destinations. The first two Boeing 737 NG aircrafts will arrive in summer 2011.


About Small Planet Airlines:
Small Planet Airlines is part of Lithuanian aviation business group Avia Solution Group. The airline provides full charter, ACMI and ad-hoc solutions to tour operators and airlines.

This summer Small Planet Airlines operates a total of seven Boeing type aircrafts and performs flights from Lithuania, Estonia, Poland and Italy. The airline possesses the Air Operator Certificates (AOC) granted by three European countries (Lithuania, Estonia and Poland) and has started certification process for acquiring the fourth in Italy. Small Planet Airlines performs charter flights inside the EU as well as to the third countries.

In 2009, Small Planet Airlines became the Baltic charter market leader, carried over 0.5 million passengers and reached EUR 46 million in revenues.

By 2012 Small Planet Airlines plans to reach two million of passengers carried, thus making its way among the Europe’s ten largest charter airlines.

More about Small Planet Airlines: www.smallplanet.aero