# Solenta Aviation

> Solenta Aviation (Pty) Ltd is a South African ACMI and charter operator flying cargo and passenger services on behalf of third parties; no own IATA designator or AWB prefix could be substantiated from primary sources. Formed in October 2000 and headquartered in Fourways near Johannesburg, the company holds South African Part 121, 135 and 138 air operator approvals. On the cargo side it operates DHL Express' regional West Africa network according to the parties involved. For forwarders Solenta is not a bookable carrier issuing its own air waybill but an operator behind the scenes. Anyone looking for capacity should approach the principal of the respective service or the charter desk directly.

## Quick facts

| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Legal | Solenta Aviation (Pty) Ltd |
| Country | ZA |

## Overview

Solenta Aviation (Pty) Ltd is a South African air operator headquartered in Fourways, Johannesburg. Formed in October 2000, the company positions itself as a specialist provider of tailored flight operations rather than as a scheduled cargo carrier. It operates jet and turboprop equipment on ACMI wet and dry lease and takes on turnkey operations and management mandates, holding South African Part 121, 135 and 138 air operator approvals.

For forwarders the relevant part of the business is cargo flying on behalf of DHL. According to the parties involved, Solenta operates DHL Express' regional West Africa network and has been part of that route system for roughly two decades. In October 2022 lessor ACIA Aero Leasing and Solenta agreed with DHL Express to convert four ATR 72-500s into large cargo door freighters to be operated by Solenta. Further fields of activity are oil and gas, mining, humanitarian aid, charter and tourism.

The technical base sits with sister company Solenta Aviation Workshop (Pty) Ltd, an aircraft maintenance organisation approved by the South African Civil Aviation Authority under certificate number 874. Its main facility is at O. R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, supported by outstations in Gabon, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Nigeria, Togo, Mozambique, Chad and Djibouti among others. Solenta has been a Flight Safety Foundation member since 2006 and BARS Gold registered since 2013.

One point matters for documentation: Solenta acts as an operator on behalf of third parties. No own IATA designator, own AWB prefix or own shipment tracking could be substantiated from primary sources. Air waybills for the DHL services are accordingly not issued by Solenta; bookings run through the respective principal or the charter desk.

## Hubs

- JNB

## Fleet

- ATR 72-500 (Large Cargo Door Freighter) × 4

## Sources

- [Solenta Aviation – About Us](https://www.solenta.com/about-us/)

- [Solenta Aviation – Maintenance Support](https://www.solenta.com/maintenance/)

- [US Bureau of Industry and Security – Order relating to Solenta Aviation (Pty) Ltd.](https://www.bis.gov/media/documents/e2316.pdf)

- [Business Wire – ACIA Aero Leasing and Solenta Aviation Further Expand Relationship with DHL Express](https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221004005090/en/ACIA-Aero-Leasing-and-Solenta-Aviation-Further-Expand-Relationship-with-DHL-Express)

---

*Freight Academy — Airline Profile: [https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airlines/solenta-aviation](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airlines/solenta-aviation)*

*Markdown mirror: [https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/airlines/en/solenta-aviation](https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/airlines/en/solenta-aviation)*