SmartLynx Airlines
SmartLynx Airlines Limited, previously LatCharter, is a Latvia-based ACMI, charter and cargo airline based in Mārupe,[2] operating flights on wet lease out (ACMI), holiday charter flights, ad-hoc passenger charter and cargo flights across Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, Canada and the United States.[2]
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Founded | 1992 (as LatCharter) | ||||||
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Commenced operations | 1993 | ||||||
Operating bases | Riga International Airport, TLL, MLA | ||||||
Subsidiaries |
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Fleet size | 64 | ||||||
Destinations | 82 | ||||||
Parent company | Avia Solutions Group | ||||||
Headquarters | Mazrudas, Mārupe, Latvia | ||||||
Key people | Zygimantas Surintas (CEO)[1] | ||||||
Employees | 400+ | ||||||
Website | smartlynx |
History
![](../I/Airbus_A320-211%252C_LatCharter_Airlines_AN1640459.jpg.webp)
The privately owned company started operations in 1993 with a leased Tupolev Tu-134B.[3][4] In 2001, the Tupolev fleet was replaced with the larger Yakovlev Yak-42 and in 2003, first Airbus A320-200 was inducted into the service on behalf of the airline.[3]
In 2006, Loftleiðir, the aircraft lease arm of Icelandair Group, acquired a majority 55% shareholding in the LatCharter stock, and eventually the whole company.[5][6]
In 2007, the airline expanded its fleet by adding five more A320-200s and two 767-300s.[7] The aircraft were wet-leased to different airlines around the world. Since then, the ACMI market has been the company's primary focus, having operated for numerous carriers such as Air Malta,[8] SBA Airlines,[9] Finnair,[10] Condor.[11] In 2008, the company was renamed SmartLynx Airlines.[12]
In 2012, the airline was bought from Icelandair in a management buy-out[13] also forming a single aircraft subsidiary Smartlynx Airlines Estonia to serve Estonian tour operators.[14] In 2014, SmartLynx transitioned into a paperless cockpit environment by using the Jeppesen FliteDeck Pro app as its electronic flight bag (EFB).[15]
In 2016, the company was bought by a Netherlands-based investment fund.[16]
In June 2016, Zygimantas Surintas was appointed as the company's CEO.[17]
In 2019, the airline established a subsidiary in Malta (SmartLynx Malta).[18] SmartLynx Airlines also became a part of Avia Solutions Group in 2019.[19]
In 2020, the airline expanded into air cargo transportation.[20] In February 2021, SmartLynx and DHL signed a partnership agreement.[21] The partnership included two of SmartLynx Malta A321-200s transporting freight and goods on behalf of the Deutsche Post subsidiary.[22]
In October 2021, SmartLynx announced the establishment of an in-house line maintenance centre, SmartLynx Technik.[23] SmartLynx also leased several Airbus A320 aircraft to Nigerian airline Air Peace in November 2021.[24] In December 2021, the airlines announced plans to open a new office in Vilnius, Lithuania.[25]
In February 2022, SmartLynx Airlines signed an agreement with SMBC Aviation Capital to lease the first two Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft.[26][27] In March 2022, SmartLynx announced the introduction of first Airbus A330-300 freighters to its fleet after signing an agreement with Air Transport Services Group.[28][29]
SmartLynx also formed partnerships with airlines such as British airline EasyJet, leasing several aircraft to EasyJet in June 2022.[30] In October 2022, SmartLynx also announced it was adding four Airbus A321F freighters to its fleet, with plans to have 20 A321F aircraft by the end of 2023.[31] The four new aircraft were acquired through a freighter conversion programme in partnership with Aero Capital Solutions.[32]
In 2022, SmartLynx Airlines also celebrated its 30th anniversary.[20]
Training centre
SmartLynx Training Centre is an approved training organization (ATO) in the Baltic States, providing type rating courses for Airbus A320 family and Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft.[33]
Fleet
![](../I/SmartLynx_Airlines_Airbus_A320_Vanzura.jpg.webp)
![](../I/Frankfurt_Airport_SmartLynx_Airlines_Malta_Airbus_A330-343_9H-SMF_(DSC01163).jpg.webp)
As of August 2023, SmartLynx Airlines fleet - including all subsidiaries - consists of the following aircraft:[34][35]
Aircraft | In service | Passengers | Notes |
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Airbus A320-200 | 29 | 180 | 12 operated by SmartLynx Airlines Ltd. 10 operated by SmartLynx Airlines Estonia 7 operated by SmartLynx Airlines Malta[36] |
Airbus A321-200 | 12 | 220 | 10 operated by SmartLynx Airlines Ltd. 2 operated by SmartLynx Airlines Malta[36] |
Airbus A321-200P2F | 11 | Cargo | Operated by SmartLynx Airlines Malta[36] |
Airbus A330-300 | 6 | 285-377 | Operated by SmartLynx Airlines Malta[36] |
Boeing 737 MAX 8 | 8 | 189 | Operated by SmartLynx Airlines Malta[36] |
Total | 64 |
See also
References
- Dron, Alan (11 May 2018). "SmartLynx to focus expansion on North and Central America". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 12 May 2018.
- "About SmartLynx Airlines Archived 2014-02-02 at the Wayback Machine." About SmartLynx Airlines. Retrieved on 24 January 2014. "Address Mazrūdas, Mārupes novads, LV-2167."
- "How far we've come". SmartLynx. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
- "Top 10 ACMI dedicated airlines in the world - AeroTime". 2022-02-05. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
- "Icelandair Group signs 3,5 billion ISK lease agreements with Israir | Loftleidir.com". www.loftleidir.com. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
- "Loftleidir Icelandic acquire 55% share in Latvian charter operator Latcharter". loftleidir.com. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
- "Latcharter Airlines". icelandairgroup.com. 2016-03-04. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
- "Air Malta News Update". ch-aviation.com. 2007-09-29. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
- "SBA Airlines News Update". ch-aviation.com. 2012-02-18. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
- "Finnair will use A320-200 wet-leased from SmartLynx in September/October". ch-aviation.com. 2012-07-13. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
- "Latvia's SmartLynx wet-leasing A320s to Corendon and Condor". ch-aviation.com. Retrieved 2014-01-24.
- "LatCharter now SmartLynx | Aviation Week Network". aviationweek.com. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
- "SmartLynx Airlines separates from Icelandair Group". /smart-lynx.com. 2012-07-02. Archived from the original on 2013-09-10. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
- "SmartLynx establishes Estonian subsidiary for Tallinn charter flights". ch-aviation. 2012-06-07. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
- "Latvian Airline Goes Paperless in the Cockpit with Jeppesen EFB". Avionics International. 2014-12-18. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
- "Latvia's SmartLynx Airlines sold to Dutch investment firm". ch-aviation.com. 2017-04-24. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
- "Zygimantas Surintas | Cargo Facts Symposium". cargofactssymposium.com. 2022-08-02. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
- "SmartLynx Gains AOC For Maltese Subsidiary". aviationweek.com. 2019-04-25. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
- "Eestlaste seas populaarne tšarterlennufirma läks suure lennundusgrupi alla". Ärileht (in Estonian). Retrieved 2023-02-16.
- Varley, Len (2022-11-09). "Latvia's SmartLynx Airlines Takes Delivery of Three A320 From GA Telesis". AviationSource News. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
- Harry, Rachelle (2021-06-10). "SmartLynx Malta expands fleet and DHL partnership with its first freighter". Air Cargo News. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
- "SmartLynx sees fleet growth in 2021". Air Cargo News. 2021-10-13. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
- "SmartLynx opens new line MRO". Asian Aviation. 2021-10-19. Retrieved 2022-02-07.
- "SmartLynx to operate A320s for Nigeria's Air Peace". Flight Global. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
- "SmartLynx Airlines' expansion: a new competence and innovation centre is set to be opened in Vilnius". SmartLynx. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
- "StackPath". www.smartlynx.aero. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
- "SmartLynx Airlines to expand its fleet by adding new aircraft type". ajot.com. 2022-02-09. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
- "SmartLynx Airlines to introduce first Airbus A330-300 freighters to its fleet". SmartLynx. Retrieved 2022-07-20.
- Jeffrey, Rebecca (2022-03-10). "SmartLynx signs with ATSG for six A330-300 P2Fs". Air Cargo News. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
- "British airlines sidestep visa rules to hire European crews". thetimes.co.uk. 2022-06-19. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
- Varley, Len (2022-10-16). "Latvia's SmartLynx Airlines Adds 4 A321F Freighters to Fleet". AviationSource News. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
- "Aero Capital and SmartLynx partner for A321 freighter conversions". Air Cargo News. 2022-10-13. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
- "SmartLynx Airlines: What It Takes to Become an Airbus A320 Pilot?". Aviation News - Aviation Voice. 2020-01-16. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
- "SmartLynx Fleet Details and History". Planespotters.net. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
- "SmartLynx Fleet". SmartLynx. Retrieved 2023-07-11.
- "SmartLynx Airlines - the Uber of aviation". SmartLynx. Retrieved 2023-02-16.