LEAV Aviation

LEAV Aviation GmbH, trading as LEAV Aviation, is a German passenger airline headquartered in Cologne and based at Cologne Bonn Airport. The company operates primarily as a charter and ACMI carrier. In an ACMI arrangement, an airline supplies the aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance while another carrier markets and sells the flights. This model allows LEAV Aviation to provide additional capacity to larger or more seasonal airlines, particularly during the European summer travel period. The business was established in September 2020 as JOOT Aviation Project GmbH. It was founded under the leadership of Daniel Broda, a former easyJet pilot and entrepreneur, and Johannes Klinsmann, a former Germania manager. The company adopted the LEAV Aviation name in May 2021. Its first Airbus A320-200 was delivered to Cologne Bonn Airport in September 2021 and registered to the company in February 2022. A second A320 followed in August 2022. Germany's Federal Aviation Office issued the airline's Air Operator Certificate on 4 May 2022, allowing commercial flight operations to begin shortly afterward. LEAV Aviation's principal commercial role has been to provide flexible capacity for other airlines. Customers identified in reference material include TUI Airlines, Corendon Airlines Europe, Marabu Airlines, Transavia and Transavia France. The company has also supplied aircraft for sports teams and cruise operators, markets that require tailored charter planning rather than a conventional fixed network. For the 2024 summer season, one aircraft was leased on a long-term basis to TUI Airlines Belgium, expanding the company's role beyond short-term sub-charters. Although LEAV Aviation is not described as a traditional network airline with a permanent timetable, it began operating selected scheduled services under its own name during the summer 2023 season. These flights focused mainly on leisure destinations in the Mediterranean region and were operated from Cologne Bonn Airport, with services also associated with Munich and Frankfurt. The carrier has indicated further network development for the summer 2026 schedule, including destinations from Münster Osnabrück Airport and Erfurt–Weimar Airport. The airline has remained an Airbus A320-family operator. In spring 2025, both aircraft were equipped with in-flight entertainment systems and RGB cabin lighting, upgrades intended to improve the passenger experience in charter and wet-lease operations. At the same time, LEAV Aviation completed the first phase of the SARPcheck audit program. The company also used a highly visible commercial partnership in 2025: from 17 July to 30 September, an A320 registered D-ANNE carried a special McDonald's livery, with the brand's golden arches also placed on the aircraft headrests. Ownership remains private. Broda and Klinsmann together hold approximately three-quarters of the company, while the remaining shares are distributed among a group of German, Swiss and Czech investors. Reference material reports that LEAV Aviation generated a profit in the 2023 financial year, although no amount is provided. The airline has also planned to add a third A320 from October 2025 and considered a fourth aircraft for 2026. Its current positioning is therefore that of a flexible, independent European leisure-airline capacity provider rather than a large-scale scheduled carrier.

LEAV Aviation was created in September 2020 as JOOT Aviation Project GmbH by Daniel Broda and Johannes Klinsmann. Broda brought experience as a former easyJet pilot and entrepreneur, while Klinsmann had previously worked as a manager at Germania. The company changed its name to LEAV Aviation GmbH in May 2021, establishing the identity under which it would enter the German airline market. The carrier's fleet development began with an Airbus A320-200 delivered to Cologne Bonn Airport in September 2021. The aircraft was registered to the company in February 2022, and a second A320 arrived in August of the same year. LEAV Aviation received its Air Operator Certificate from Germany's Federal Aviation Office on 4 May 2022 and started flight operations soon afterward. Its initial business model centered on charter work and ACMI services rather than on maintaining a large permanent scheduled network. LEAV Aviation supplies aircraft and operating crews to other airlines, especially where demand is seasonal or short-term capacity is needed. Listed customers include TUI Airlines, Corendon Airlines Europe, Marabu Airlines, Transavia and Transavia France. The airline also conducts charter flights for sports teams and cruise lines. During the 2024 summer season, it placed one aircraft with TUI Airlines Belgium under a longer-term lease arrangement, demonstrating the range of its capacity-provisioning model. The company expanded into own-brand scheduled operations in the summer 2023 timetable. These services were aimed mainly at Mediterranean tourist destinations and were operated from Cologne Bonn Airport, with additional activity connected to Munich and Frankfurt. LEAV Aviation continues to be characterized as an airline without a fully regular year-round network; its scheduled flying is selective and complements its charter and ACMI work. Plans for the summer 2026 timetable included operations from Münster Osnabrück Airport and Erfurt–Weimar Airport. In spring 2025, both aircraft received in-flight entertainment systems and RGB cabin lighting. These changes were accompanied by the airline's completion of the first phase of the SARPcheck audit program. LEAV Aviation also undertook a prominent brand partnership when aircraft D-ANNE operated in a special McDonald's livery between 17 July and 30 September 2025, including McDonald's branding on the headrests. The airline is privately held. Broda and Klinsmann own approximately three-quarters of the business, while the remaining equity is divided among roughly twelve German, Swiss and Czech investors. Reference material states that LEAV Aviation recorded a profit in the 2023 financial year, but does not provide a financial amount. The founders announced plans to introduce a third A320 from October 2025 and to consider a fourth aircraft in 2026. This points to a measured fleet-growth strategy focused on strengthening LEAV Aviation's role as an independent European leisure, charter and ACMI operator.

• 2025

  Cabin upgrades and audit progress

  [1]LEAV Aviationen.wikipedia.org

  Both aircraft received in-flight entertainment and RGB lighting, while the airline passed the first phase of the SARPcheck audit program.

• 2023

  Own-brand scheduled flying begins

  [1]LEAV Aviationen.wikipedia.org

  LEAV Aviation began operating selected scheduled flights to leisure destinations during the summer 2023 timetable.

• 2022

  Air Operator Certificate issued

  [1]LEAV Aviationen.wikipedia.org

  The German Federal Aviation Office issued LEAV Aviation's AOC on 4 May 2022. A second Airbus A320 had arrived in August.

• 2021

  Company adopts the LEAV Aviation name

  [1]LEAV Aviationen.wikipedia.org

  The company was renamed LEAV Aviation GmbH in May 2021 and received its first Airbus A320-200 in September.

• 2020

  Company founded as JOOT Aviation Project GmbH

  [1]LEAV Aviationen.wikipedia.org

  Daniel Broda and Johannes Klinsmann established the company in September 2020 as JOOT Aviation Project GmbH.

A flexible German leisure and capacity airline combining ACMI and charter work for airline, sports and cruise customers with a limited selection of own-brand seasonal scheduled flights.

• Airline capacity services

  ACMI and wet-lease services

  LEAV Aviation provides aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance to partner airlines under ACMI or wet-lease arrangements. The service is particularly suited to seasonal peaks, temporary fleet shortages and short-term network requirements. Customers cited in reference material include TUI Airlines, Corendon Airlines Europe, Marabu Airlines, Transavia and Transavia France.

• Passenger charter

  Charter flights

  The airline operates charter services for a range of customers, including other airlines, sports teams and cruise lines. These operations use the Airbus A320 fleet and can be arranged around event schedules, cruise embarkation patterns or seasonal leisure demand.

• Scheduled passenger flights · 2023

  Seasonal scheduled services

  Beginning in summer 2023, LEAV Aviation added selected scheduled flights under its own brand. The services concentrate on Mediterranean and other tourist destinations and complement, rather than replace, the company's charter and ACMI activity.

• Aircraft fleet · 2021

  Airbus A320 operations

  LEAV Aviation operates Airbus A320-200 aircraft for its charter, ACMI and scheduled passenger work. The first aircraft arrived in 2021 and the second in 2022. In spring 2025, both aircraft were equipped with in-flight entertainment and RGB cabin lighting.

• 2025McDonald's special aircraft livery

  Germany · European charter and leisure markets

  From 17 July to 30 September 2025, Airbus A320 D-ANNE operated in a special McDonald's livery. The partnership extended into the cabin, where the golden M was displayed on all aircraft headrests.

  Outcome. The campaign gave the relatively young airline a high-visibility aircraft branding partnership during the European summer travel season.

  Source

• 2025

  Upgrade of the two-aircraft passenger experienceOther

  Background

  The airline sought to improve the onboard product used across its charter and ACMI operations.

  Action taken

  In spring 2025, LEAV Aviation installed in-flight entertainment systems and RGB interior lighting on both aircraft.

  Aftermath

  The upgrades differentiated the cabin experience while the company also progressed through the first phase of the SARPcheck audit program.

  Source

• 2025

  Planned fleet expansionStrategy

  Background

  LEAV Aviation operated two Airbus A320 aircraft and continued to target seasonal European capacity demand.

  Action taken

  Daniel Broda announced plans to integrate a third A320 from October 2025 and to consider a fourth aircraft in 2026.

  Aftermath

  If implemented, the plan would increase the airline's ability to undertake concurrent ACMI, charter and scheduled assignments.

  Source

• 2023

  Introduction of own scheduled flightsProduct launch

  Background

  LEAV Aviation had initially focused on charter and ACMI services for third parties.

  Action taken

  It began operating selected scheduled services under its own name in the summer 2023 timetable, mainly to Mediterranean leisure destinations.

  Aftermath

  The move broadened the company from a pure capacity provider into a hybrid charter, ACMI and seasonal scheduled airline.

  Source

• 2022

  Launch of certified commercial operationsStrategy

  Background

  After acquiring its first two Airbus A320 aircraft, the company required regulatory approval before carrying out commercial airline operations.

  Action taken

  LEAV Aviation obtained its Air Operator Certificate from the German Federal Aviation Office on 4 May 2022 and began flying shortly afterward.

  Aftermath

  The certification enabled the airline to develop its charter and ACMI business.

  Source

• 2021

  Rebrand from JOOT Aviation Project to LEAV AviationStrategy

  Background

  The company had been founded in 2020 as JOOT Aviation Project GmbH while preparing its airline business.

  Action taken

  It changed its corporate and trading identity to LEAV Aviation GmbH in May 2021.

  Aftermath

  The LEAV Aviation name became the public identity used for the airline's subsequent fleet, certification and commercial operations.

  Source

1. 1LEAV Aviationen.wikipedia.org