#UgandaAirlines – operating the world’s and #Africa’s youngest fleet

(Posted 20th January 2022)

Uganda’s national carrier Uganda Airlines operates the world’s youngest aircraft fleet for the second year in a row. Boasting an average aircraft age of only 1,95 years, they have been named the winner of the “ch-aviation World’s Youngest Aircraft Fleet Award 2022“.

For the first time, ch-aviation also recognises Aircraft Leasing companies with the “ch-aviation World’s Youngest Aircraft Portfolio Award 2022″. The Aircraft Leasing company managing the youngest fleet is CMB Financial Leasing, with an average age of 3,91 years.

The ch-aviation Youngest Aircraft Fleet Award was conceived to honour Airlines and Aircraft Leasing companies worldwide who maintain young and efficient aircraft. Keeping a modern fleet and portfolio by using new generations of aircraft contributes significantly to the decrease of CO2 within the aviation industry and helps achieve better fuel efficiency. This represents a huge step forward for sustainability, and ch-aviation has decided to give them the recognition they deserve.

To determine which airlines currently operate and which lessors manage the youngest aircraft fleet, ch-aviation maintains an extensive aircraft fleet database consisting of more than 4,700 active airlines, more than 65,000 aircraft, and 1,000 lessors worldwide.

Thomas Jaeger, the CEO of ch-aviation, said of the Award:

“The ch-aviation Youngest Aircraft Fleet Award recognises Airlines and Aircraft Leasing companies worldwide that operate young fleets and manage young portfolios, respectively. The efficient newer aircraft generations are vital for lowering CO2 emissions and making flying more environmentally friendly, and we commend the winners for their effort. It is essential to say that this award is entirely based on non-manipulable fleet data. There is no jury or any other subjective parameter involved. “

Here are the Top 5 youngest aircraft fleets worldwide:

Ranking	Operator	Continent	Average aircraft age	Fleet Size
1	Uganda Airlines	Africa	1,95 years	6
2	SKY Airline	South America	1,99 years	28
3	SalamAir	Asia	2,39 years	7
4	Viva	South America	2,45 years	21
5	flyadeal	Asia	2,76 years	16

The Award also acknowledges:

·        The Top 5 youngest aircraft fleets worldwide in the category of airlines with 100 or more aircraft in their fleet

·        The Top 5 youngest aircraft fleets from Asia, Africa, Europe, North America, Oceania, and South America

·        The Top 5 Aircraft Leasing companies worldwide (<100 aircraft) managing the youngest aircraft fleet

·        The Top 5 Aircraft Leasing companies worldwide managing 100 or more aircraft in their portfolio

Top 5 youngest aircraft fleets with 100 or more aircraft in their fleet:

Ranking	Operator	Continent	Average aircraft age	Fleet Size
1	Frontier Airlines	North America	4,15 years	112
2	IndiGo Airlines	Asia	4,28 years	278
3	Wizz Air	Europe	5,20 years	147
4	flydubai	Asia	5,25 years	123
5	Spring Airlines	Asia	6,14 years	111

Asia’s youngest aircraft fleets:

Ranking	Operator	Average aircraft age	Fleet Size
1	SalamAir	2,39 years	7
2	flyadeal	2,76 years	16
3	Vistara	2,96 years	54
4	Hunan Airlines	3,35 years	16
5	Colorful Guizhou Airlines	3,51 years	15

Africa’s youngest aircraft fleets:

Ranking	Operator	Average aircraft age	Fleet Size
1	Uganda Airlines	1,95 years	6
2	Jambojet	3,59 years	6
3	Air Seychelles	5,07 years	7
4	Air Austral	6,30 years	11
5	Air Tanzania	6,56 years	13

Europe’s youngest aircraft fleets:

Ranking	Operator	Average aircraft age	Fleet Size
1	airBaltic	2,87 years	33
2	Azimuth	3,79 years	15
3	Helvetic Airways	3,81 years	16
4	Pobeda	4,50 years	44
5	BRA – Braathens Regional Airways	4,93 years	12

North America’s youngest aircraft fleets:

Ranking	Operator	Average aircraft age	Fleet Size
1	Frontier Airlines	4,15 years	112
2	Flair Airlines	4,42 years	12
3	VivaAerobus	5,29 years	52
4	Volaris	5,61 years	99
5	Swoop	6,21 years	10

Oceania’s youngest aircraft fleets:

Ranking	Operator	Average aircraft age	Fleet Size
1	Fiji Link	5,28 years	7
2	Fiji Airways	5,67 years	13
3	Air Tahiti	6,09 years	9
4	Air New Zealand	8,46 years	111
5	Jetstar Airways	10,74 years	69

South America’s youngest aircraft fleets:

Ranking	Operator	Average aircraft age	Fleet Size
1	SKY Airline	1,99 years	28
2	Viva	2,45 years	21
3	JetSMART	2,93 years	14
4	EasyFly (Colombia)	4,32 years	17
5	Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras	7,12 years	153

The Top 5 Aircraft Leasing companies worldwide (<100 aircraft), managing the youngest aircraft fleet:

Ranking	Lessor	Average aircraft age	Fleet Size
1	CMB Financial Leasing	3,92 years	59
2	Kunlun Financial Leasing	4,15 years	19
3	International Airfinance	4,63 years	55
4	SkyCo Leasing	5,18 years	22
5	GOAL	5,19 years	40

The Top 5 Aircraft Leasing companies worldwide (100+ aircraft), managing the youngest aircraft fleet::

Ranking	Lessor	Average aircraft age	Fleet Size
1	BOC Aviation	5,36 years	435
2	Jackson Square Aviation	5,76 years	195
3	SMBC Aviation Capital	5,79 years	454
4	CALC	5,97 years	175
5	CDB Aviation	6,02 years	260

About the Methodology:

ch-aviation maintains one of the industry’s largest and most comprehensive databases, used to determine the youngest aircraft fleet. The intelligence covers over 67,000 aircraft, more than 4,700 active airlines, 1,000 lessors, and more. To determine the Award’s winners, ch-aviation included only active commercial operators (both passenger and cargo aircraft) with five or more aircraft and used consolidated Air Operator Certificate lists for airline groups with multiple AOCs. Aircraft in a VIP configuration are excluded from the list. In terms of Aircraft Leasing Companies, we have included all managed aircraft with a portfolio size of at least ten aircraft. We have excluded companies with the sole purpose of providing leases to a single airline owned by that airline or a parent company and merged the same groups of companies. 

*Data from “ch-aviation fleets advanced” as of 3.1.2022

About ch-aviation

ch-aviation provides accurate data and news on the airline industry. For over 20 years, we have been supplying decision-makers around the globe with relevant and up-to-date airline intelligence and insightful news. The database offers in-depth information about all aspects of the aviation industry, including airlines, airports, lessors, industry contacts, and more. Many industry leaders use our data in their decision-making processes.

More details about the Award can be found on the official ch-aviation Youngest Aircraft Fleet Award page.