Heston Airlines
A Lithuanian ACMI and charter airline based in Vilnius, operating an all-Airbus A320 fleet mainly on behalf of other carriers and tour operators.
About Heston Airlines
Heston Airlines is a privately owned Lithuanian carrier established in 2016 and headquartered in Vilnius. It forms part of Heston Aviation Group and received its air operator certificate before beginning commercial flying in 2021. The airline should not be confused with the former Dutch carrier NLM CityHopper; Heston operates under its own Lithuanian identity and uses HN as its IATA designator.
Rather than maintaining a conventional scheduled network, Heston Airlines specializes in aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance leasing, commonly known as ACMI, alongside charter flying. Vilnius is its home base and administrative center, but aircraft may be positioned at airports across Europe and other regions for airline customers. Consequently, the routes available to passengers depend on the carrier or tour operator contracting each flight.
Heston operates a standardized fleet of Airbus A320 narrow-body aircraft suited to short- and medium-haul services. Seating layouts, cabin branding, catering and included baggage can vary because aircraft often fly within another airline's operation. Passengers should therefore consult the company that sold or markets the ticket for the applicable travel classes and service details rather than expecting a single Heston-branded onboard product.
Heston Airlines is not a member of Star Alliance, SkyTeam or Oneworld and does not operate a public frequent-flyer program of its own. On ACMI services, passengers may still receive mileage credit or other benefits from the airline whose flight number appears on the booking, subject to that airline's rules. Status recognition, lounge access and priority services likewise depend on the marketing carrier and fare.
The airline's focused A320 fleet is a practical strength for partner carriers requiring additional capacity, seasonal support or replacement aircraft at relatively short notice. For individual travellers, however, the operating arrangement can make the experience less predictable: Heston may appear only as the operating carrier after booking, while check-in, baggage, seating and disruption handling remain governed chiefly by the airline or tour operator selling the journey.
Good to know
Flying with Heston Airlines — what to expect
Check Your Operator
Heston frequently operates flights for another airline, so its name may appear as the operating carrier even when the ticket and flight number belong to a different company.
Baggage Rules Vary
Carry-on and checked-baggage allowances generally follow the marketing airline or tour operator's rules. Confirm the allowance shown in your booking before travelling.
Cabin Setup Varies
Heston uses Airbus A320 aircraft, but seating, catering and cabin branding may be configured for the contracting airline. Do not assume every Heston-operated flight offers the same service.
Use Selling Airline
Check in through the airline or tour operator that issued the ticket unless your travel documents state otherwise. That company is also usually the first contact for changes, refunds and disruption assistance.
Loyalty Credit
Heston has no public loyalty program of its own. Any mileage earning, lounge access or status benefit depends on the marketing carrier and the fare booked.
More from Lithuania
Other airlines based in Lithuania
FAQ
Heston Airlines — frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the details travellers usually check first, from codes and locations to the practical basics that help with planning.
8 common questions
- Heston generally does not sell a broad network of tickets directly, so prices are determined by the marketing airline or tour operator. Comparing flexible dates and booking outside peak holiday periods may reveal lower fares.
- Heston Airlines has no permanent longest scheduled route because its flying program changes with ACMI and charter contracts. The longest sector at any given time depends on the work assigned by its customers.
- Heston Airlines flies where its airline and tour-operator customers require capacity, primarily on short- and medium-haul services. It therefore has no stable, independently marketed destination network.
- There is no meaningful fixed destination count because Heston Airlines mainly performs ACMI and charter operations rather than maintaining its own year-round scheduled network. Airports served can change with each customer contract and season.
- Heston Airlines is headquartered in Vilnius, but it does not operate a conventional hub-and-spoke scheduled network. Its aircraft can be based elsewhere while serving ACMI and charter customers.
- Vilnius is the airline's home base, while Kaunas and airports used by contracted airline customers may also see Heston-operated departures. The busiest departure points can change as aircraft are repositioned between contracts.
- The carry-on allowance normally follows the rules of the airline or tour operator that sold the flight. Check the dimensions and weight printed in your booking because they can differ between Heston-operated services.
- Originfacts compares live fares from hundreds of airlines and travel agencies via its partner Travelpayouts. Originfacts never adds a fee to the prices displayed.