Bucharest, February 14, 2024 – # RBJ – Tour operator Christian Tour acquires the remaining 51% of AnimaWings from the Greek Aegean Airlines. AnimaWings becomes a 100% Romanian company and announces that it will bring 12 Airbus A220-300 aircraft in the next 3 years, of which the first two this summer
The tour operator Christian Tour acquires the remaining 51% of AnimaWings, the subsidiary of Aegean Airlines in Romania, through Christian Tour Holding SA. AnimaWings becomes a 100% Romanian company and will bring 12 Airbus A220-300 aircraft in the next 3 years, of which the first two will enter the fleet this summer. The company will increase the number of domestic and international destinations, for regular scheduled flights, as well as charter flights for tour operators or companies.
News.ro announced in October 2021 that the Greek company Aegean Airlines extended its participation quota to 51% of the capital of the airline Animawings, from 25% previously, the rest of the shares being controlled by Memento Group. The information was published at that time by the businessman Cristian Pandel, the owner of the Memento Group and the Christian Tour travel agency.
“Christian Tour Holding SA received the green light from the Competition Council for the acquisition of the majority stake of 51% in the company Anima Wings Aviation SA previously owned by Aegean Airlines. Thus, the airline AnimaWings becomes 100% Romanian, being fully owned by Memento Holding BV and Christian Tour Holding SA”, announces the tour operator.
Animawings has been operating in Romania for almost five years.
“I started this company in 2019 to realize a dream – that of having a completely Romanian airline. In 2020, having a collaborative relationship of over 15 years with Aegean, they joined the Animawings project to integrate their know-how, expertise and experience into the company, being the best regional air operator in Europe”. explained Cristian Pandel, founder of Christian Tour Holding SA.
In the almost five years, hundreds of thousands of passengers have traveled to holiday destinations with Animawings.
“We are very motivated to continue the history of AnimaWings in a 100% Romanian version. We would be happy if the business community in Romania saw how important it is to demonstrate the performance of a Romanian company that reaches international standards of excellence”, added Cristian Pandel.
The value of the transaction through which Christian Tour Holding SA bought the majority package from Aegean Airlines is in the order of millions of euros. The negotiations and final approvals, including the approval from the Competition Council, lasted over 8 months.
“Investments will continue, because we have big plans: 12 new aircraft in the fleet, in the next 3 years, Airbus A220 and Airbus 320-200 NEO. The Airbus 220-300 aircraft is the star of the moment in the market, with some unique characteristics and performances. This state-of-the-art aircraft no longer exists in Romania, which is a first for our partners from Airbus, but worldwide it is in the fleet of large companies, such as Air France, AirBaltic, SWISS, Delta Airlines, ITA Airways, Egypt Air or Air Canada. The Airbus 220-300 is a very reliable aircraft, which lends itself to the current trend, being suitable both for the business segment and for passengers flying to holiday destinations, with family or loved ones“, said Marius Pandel, AnimaWings shareholder.
The A220 model has 140/149 seats, 12 business seats. The plane produces 50% less noise, 30% less pollution and consumes 25% less fuel than an aircraft of the old generations. AnimaWings currently operates the Airbus A320-200 aircraft type. Starting from the summer of 2024, the first two Airbus 220-300 aircraft, purchased under operational leasing, will also arrive.
Airbus A320NEO aircraft will be allocated to destinations where increased capacity is needed. AnimaWings operates flights from Henri Coandă Airport in Bucharest, but also from nine other cities in the country.
The operating schedule for the flights from 2024 is to be published on the company’s website on March 24, considering that by then the list of new destinations to be operated both nationally and internationally will be finalized. This year, AnimaWings will operate flights to holiday destinations covered by Christian Tour and tour operators in Romania, as well as regular flights to major European cities.
