HI FLY

What HI FLY does

HI FLY is a private Portuguese wet-lease and charter specialist airline founded circa 2001 and headquartered in Lisbon, with a secondary Air Operating Certificate in Malta and a primary maintenance base at Beja Airport. The company operates an all-Airbus fleet spanning the A320, A330, A340, and A380 families, including rare A380 operational expertise and modern A330neo aircraft, and was the first wet-lease carrier to operate the A380 (2018) and A330neo (2019). Its core offering is ACMI wet-lease — aircraft plus crew, maintenance, and insurance — sold as flight hours to other airlines, with aircraft deployable on as little as three hours' notice under the client airline's flight numbers.

The business operates through direct B2B sales targeting 200+ airlines in approximately 50 countries, ten or more governments requiring VVIP or delegation transport, tour operators needing seasonal charter capacity, freight forwarders, and private individuals. Revenue streams include multi-year wet-lease ACMI contracts (managed-services pricing), fixed-fee all-inclusive charter services, dedicated cargo operations via the Hi Fly Cargo subsidiary (including a converted A380 cargo configuration with 68-ton capacity), and Executive Aviation using Bombardier Challenger 604 aircraft. The company is EASA, IOSA, and FAA certified with operating permits across Europe, the Americas, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East. Recent strategic moves include a digital transformation via the Electronic Technical Logbook developed with Conduce (rolled out 2026), fleet expansion through A330-200 additions, the January 2025 launch of Executive Aviation services, and ongoing sustainability leadership as the world's first single-use plastic-free airline (achieved January 2020).

Name

HI FLY

Legal name

Hi Fly

Website

https://hifly.aero

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

HI FLY is a private Portuguese wet-lease and charter specialist airline operating an all-Airbus fleet (A320, A330, A340, A380) under ACMI contracts to 200+ airlines, governments, tour operators, and freight clients across 74 airports worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wet Lease Aviation Services

NAICS

Nonscheduled Chartered Passenger Air Transportation (481211), Nonscheduled Chartered Freight Air Transportation (481212), Other Nonscheduled Air Transportation (481219)

SIC

Air Transportation, Nonscheduled (4522)

akta.pro primary industry

ACMI / Wet-Lease Passenger Operators (THABADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Ad Hoc Passenger Charter Operators (THABADAB), ACMI / Wet-Lease Cargo Operators (THABAEAC), Charter Air Freight Forwarding (Full/Part Charter, ACMI Brokerage) (TLACAAAC), Group & ACMI Charter Airlines (Ad-hoc/Wet Lease) (TLAFABAC)

Keywords

• Wet lease services
• Aircraft charter
• ACMI leasing
• Cargo aviation
• Executive aviation

Headquarters

HQ city

Lisbon

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Wet Lease (ACMI): Supply of aircraft including crew, maintenance, and insurance. Clients pay for direct operating costs (fuel, catering, airport fees, handling, navigation fees) directly to service providers. Flight operated under customer airline flight numbers. Available for both passenger and cargo flights on short, medium, and long-term contracts.
2. Charter Services: Client decides route and schedule; Hi Fly operates aircraft on 'all-inclusive' basis for a fixed fee. Main users include tour operators (high-density aircraft for holiday packages), companies (incentive travel or delegation transport), and high net worth individuals. Also available for passenger and cargo flights.
3. Executive Aviation: Private/charter services for executive travel using Bombardier Challenger 604 aircraft with wide recline executive seats.
4. Hi Fly Cargo: Cargo operations using converted aircraft including A380 cargo configuration capable of carrying 68 tons with 340m3 volume capacity.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Hi Fly provides wet lease (ACMI) services supplying aircraft with crew, maintenance, and insurance to airlines on short to long-term contracts, with aircraft deployable within as little as three hours. The company also offers charter services on an all-inclusive fixed-fee basis where clients decide route and schedule, targeting airlines, governments, tour operators, freight forwarders, and high net worth individuals. Operations span an all-Airbus fleet including A320, A330, A340, and A380 aircraft families, with global reach across 74 airports on six continents.

Product overview

Hi Fly is a leading wet lease and charter specialist airline operating a modern all-Airbus fleet consisting of A320, A330, and A340 aircraft families. The company operates on a business-to-business model, primarily offering wet lease services (aircraft with crew, maintenance, and insurance included) to airlines, governments, and tour operators, as well as charter services for tour operators, companies, and high net worth individuals. Additional services include cargo operations, executive aviation, and pilot training through the Junior First Officer Programme. The fleet also includes digital operations support through the Electronic Technical Logbook (ETL) system developed with Conduce. Hi Fly has made history with unique operations including A340 landings in Antarctica and was the first wet lease specialist to operate the Airbus A380 and A330neo.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Hi Fly Cargo: Cargo operations division of Hi Fly specializing in freight services.

Products and services

• Wet Lease (ACMI) Supply of aircraft including crew, maintenance, and insurance (ACMI) to airlines on short, medium, or long-term contracts. Aircraft can be deployed within as little as three hours notice. Direct operating costs (fuel, catering, airport fees, handling, navigation fees) are paid by the client directly to service providers. Flight operated under customer airline flight numbers. Available for both passenger and cargo flights.
• Charter Services Aircraft operated on an all-inclusive basis for a fixed fee where the client decides the route and schedule. Available for passenger and cargo flights. Main users include tour operators for holiday packages, companies for incentive travel or delegation transport, and high net worth individuals.
• Executive Aviation Private charter services for executive travel using Bombardier Challenger 604 aircraft with wide recline executive seats. Premium service for VIP transportation.
• Hi Fly Cargo Cargo transportation services using converted aircraft including an A380 cargo configuration capable of carrying 68 tons with 340m3 volume capacity. Operated through the wholly-owned subsidiary Hi Fly Cargo.

Quantifiable outcome

• Aircraft operational efficiency of 99.4% for A330 family
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered supporting, core and strategic.

• IATA CO2 ConnectsupportingTechnology or Integration · 1 February 2025Hi Fly joined IATA CO2 Connect emissions calculator program to contribute real operational fuel consumption data and incorporate carbon emission reductions from Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) usage.
• ConducesupportingTechnology or Integration · 1 October 2024Digital aviation systems specialist that partnered with Hi Fly to develop the Electronic Technical Logbook (ETL) system replacing traditional paper logbooks with a modern connected platform for real-time data sharing.
• Mirpuri FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrincipal sustainability partner of Hi Fly. Joint initiatives include single-use plastic-free flights (achieved January 2020), Save the Coral Reefs campaign, Turn the Tide on Plastic awareness campaign. Foundation supports marine conservation, wildlife protection, and environmental education programs. Foundation racing team Racing for the Planet competes in The Ocean Race 2023.
• United for Wildlife Transport TaskforcestrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerHi Fly joined the Royal Foundation's United for Wildlife Transport Taskforce in 2019 to combat wildlife trafficking. Committed to zero tolerance policy on illegal wildlife trafficking and increasing awareness among passengers and staff.
• ANA/VINCI AirportssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAirport operator that recognized Hi Fly for contribution to aviation decarbonization efforts.
• United Nations Clean Seas CampaignstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerHi Fly supports UN Environment Clean Seas campaign to fight single-use plastic and recover ocean health. Signed pledge in March 2018 to actively combat plastic pollution.
• MACF - Aviation Training and ConsultantssupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTraining partner for cabin crew attestation certification as preferential condition for recruitment.
• United for WildlifestrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to combat wildlife trafficking in air transport. Hi Fly committed to not knowingly facilitating illegal wildlife product carriage under CITES regulations.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• TAP Air Portugal: Portugal's flag carrier operating scheduled passenger services to ~90 destinations with an Airbus wide-body fleet. Comparable as a Portuguese-headquartered Airbus wide-body operator though scheduled-focused, occasionally relevant when leasing capacity from or competing with Hi Fly in the same home market.

Direct peers

• Avion Express: Lithuanian ACMI specialist operating A320 family aircraft for airlines globally. Direct competitor in the narrow-body wet-lease segment with similar customer base (airlines needing seasonal/capacity support) and comparable rapid-deployment model.
• GetJet Airlines: Lithuanian ACMI/wet-lease specialist operating Airbus narrow-body and wide-body aircraft. Direct competitor in European ACMI market serving similar airline clients on short/medium-term capacity contracts.
• Jet Time: Danish ACMI/charter specialist operating Boeing 737 aircraft for airlines and tour operators across Europe. Competes in the European wet-lease segment with similar B2B model serving airlines needing capacity support.
• Wamos Air: Spanish ACMI/charter specialist operating A330 widebodies for airlines and tour operators. Direct competitor in long-haul ACMI and charter services targeting European carriers needing widebody capacity, with comparable operational profile to Hi Fly.
• Amelia (Regourd Aviation): French ACMI/charter specialist operating a mixed fleet including regional jets and widebodies. Competes in the European wet-lease and charter space with similar B2B airline/government client focus.
• SmartLynx Airlines: Latvia-based ACMI/wet-lease specialist operating Airbus narrow-body fleet (A320 family). Competes directly with Hi Fly in providing short/medium-term capacity to European and global airlines, serving similar client base with similar business model.
• ASL Airlines: Ireland-based ACMI and cargo specialist operating Boeing 737, 757, and 767 fleets. Provides comparable wet-lease services to airlines plus integrated cargo operations similar to Hi Fly Cargo. Closest competitor combining passenger and cargo ACMI under one group.
• World2Fly: Spanish charter and ACMI operator (Iberostar Group subsidiary) operating A330 and A350 aircraft for tour operators and airlines. Compares to Hi Fly in long-haul charter ACMI services and leisure/tour operator focus.

Broad incumbents

• Sun Country Airlines: US-based airline providing scheduled passenger service, charter, and cargo ACMI operations with Boeing 737NG freighter conversions. Comparable as a mixed-model airline with significant charter/cargo capacity similar to Hi Fly Cargo.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/hifly_airline

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about HI FLY