Slovakia's leading airline, AirExplore, a part of the renowned Avia Solutions Group, is gearing up for a bustling summer season ahead. The airline has already secured leasing agreements for most of its passenger aircraft for the peak summer season of 2025, with only one of their Boeing 737-800 aircraft still available for lease. With the aviation industry seeing a full recovery post-pandemic, the future looks bright. According to a recent report from IATA, global passenger numbers are predicted to soar over the next two decades, with an estimated annual growth rate of 3.8%. By 2043, the industry is forecasted to witness a staggering increase of over 4.1 billion passenger journeys compared to 2023, bringing the total number to 7.9 billion globally.

Europe is expected to sustain steady growth in passenger traffic in the years to come, largely fueled by international travelers from around the world. In 2025, the total number of passengers in Europe is projected to increase by 4.3% year over year. To keep up with the rising demand, airlines are turning to adaptable solutions like ACMI leasing to bolster their fleets, boost revenue with additional flights, expand into new routes, and ensure operational continuity for aircraft undergoing maintenance. Martin Stulajter, the CEO of AirExplore, emphasized, "As we gear up for the busy summer season, our fleet will be a key asset in supporting our airline partners and delivering seamless travel experiences for all passengers."

AirExplore currently operates a fleet of 8 Boeing 737-800 aircraft, each with a capacity of up to 189 passengers. These aircraft offer airlines the flexibility to scale up operations during peak travel seasons. The airline provides an agile leasing model, offering both damp-lease, which involves supplying only the flight crew, and wet-lease, which includes a full crew. This approach enables airlines to optimize revenue without committing to the long-term expenses of additional aircraft ownership. The ACMI model streamlines operators' capacity expansion by cutting fixed costs, leveraging variable usage-based expenses, and capitalizing on favorable IFRS 16 conditions compared to conventional leasing methods.

Moreover, the modern aircraft provided by ACMI operators helps airlines lower environmental charges like airport noise fees, resulting in substantial cost savings and offsetting the impact of escalating fees at major airports. AirExplore's leasing agreements cover the period from April to November 2025, with different clients securing the aircraft for varying durations during the summer months to serve key holiday destinations across Europe. The airline also has a spare Boeing 737-800 available for lease during the peak summer period.

Stulajter highlighted the strong relationships AirExplore has cultivated with airlines over the past 15 years, stating, "All our clients are returning from previous seasons, showcasing the trust and reliability we have established. These enduring partnerships underscore our commitment to delivering dependable, high-quality ACMI solutions tailored to meet the evolving needs of airlines across the continent."