SmartLynx Airlines explained

Airline:SmartLynx Airlines
Fleet Size:64
Destinations:82
Iata:6Y
Icao:ART
Callsign:SMART LYNX
Founded:1992 (as LatCharter)
Commenced:1993
Headquarters:Mazrūdas, Mārupes novads, Latvia
Key People:Edvinas Demenius (CEO)[1]
Parent:Avia Solutions Group
Subsidiaries:
  • SmartLynx Airlines LTD.
    • SmartLynx Airlines Malta
Bases:
Num Employees:400+

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.

History

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.

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 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

, SmartLynx Airlines fleet - including all subsidiaries - consists of the following aircraft:[34] [35]

SmartLynx Airlines fleet
AircraftIn servicePassengersNotes
Airbus A320-2002918012 operated by SmartLynx Airlines Ltd.
10 operated by SmartLynx Airlines Estonia
7 operated by SmartLynx Airlines Malta[36]
Airbus A321-2001222010 operated by SmartLynx Airlines Ltd.
2 operated by SmartLynx Airlines Malta
Airbus A321-200P2F11CargoOperated by SmartLynx Airlines Malta
Airbus A330-3006285-377Operated by SmartLynx Airlines Malta
Boeing 737 MAX 88189Operated by SmartLynx Airlines Malta
Total64

Accidents and incidents

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Dron. Alan. SmartLynx to focus expansion on North and Central America. Air Transport World. 11 May 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180512145331/http://atwonline.com/airports-routes/smartlynx-focus-expansion-north-and-central-america. 12 May 2018. dead.
  2. "About SmartLynx Airlines ." About SmartLynx Airlines. Retrieved on 24 January 2014. "Address Mazrūdas, Mārupes novads, LV-2167."
  3. Web site: How far we've come . 2023-02-16 . SmartLynx . en.
  4. Web site: 2022-02-05 . Top 10 ACMI dedicated airlines in the world - AeroTime . 2023-02-16 . en-US.
  5. Web site: Icelandair Group signs 3,5 billion ISK lease agreements with Israir Loftleidir.com . 2023-02-16 . www.loftleidir.com.
  6. Web site: Loftleidir Icelandic acquire 55% share in Latvian charter operator Latcharter . 2023-02-16 . loftleidir.com.
  7. Web site: 2016-03-04 . Latcharter Airlines . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304002328/http://annual2007.icelandairgroup.com/group-review/global-capacity-solutions/latcharter-airlines/ . 2016-03-04 . 2023-02-16 . icelandairgroup.com.
  8. Web site: 2007-09-29 . Air Malta News Update . 2023-02-16 . ch-aviation.com . en.
  9. Web site: 2012-02-18 . SBA Airlines News Update . 2023-02-16 . ch-aviation.com . en.
  10. Web site: 2012-07-13 . Finnair will use A320-200 wet-leased from SmartLynx in September/October . 2023-02-16 . ch-aviation.com . en.
  11. Web site: Latvia's SmartLynx wet-leasing A320s to Corendon and Condor . 2014-01-24 . ch-aviation.com .
  12. Web site: LatCharter now SmartLynx Aviation Week Network . 2023-02-16 . aviationweek.com.
  13. Web site: 2012-07-02 . SmartLynx Airlines separates from Icelandair Group. . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130910142523/http://smart-lynx.com/default.asp?news=258&Doc=2 . 2013-09-10 . 2023-02-16 . /smart-lynx.com.
  14. Web site: 2012-06-07 . SmartLynx establishes Estonian subsidiary for Tallinn charter flights . 2023-02-16 . ch-aviation . en.
  15. Web site: 2014-12-18 . Latvian Airline Goes Paperless in the Cockpit with Jeppesen EFB . 2023-02-16 . Avionics International . en.
  16. Web site: 2017-04-24 . Latvia's SmartLynx Airlines sold to Dutch investment firm . 2023-02-16 . ch-aviation.com . en.
  17. Web site: 2022-08-02 . Zygimantas Surintas Cargo Facts Symposium . 2023-02-16 . cargofactssymposium.com . en-US.
  18. Web site: 2019-04-25 . SmartLynx Gains AOC For Maltese Subsidiary . 2023-02-16 . aviationweek.com.
  19. Web site: Eestlaste seas populaarne tšarterlennufirma läks suure lennundusgrupi alla . 2023-02-16 . Ärileht . et.
  20. Web site: Varley . Len . 2022-11-09 . Latvia's SmartLynx Airlines Takes Delivery of Three A320 From GA Telesis . 2023-02-16 . AviationSource News . en-US.
  21. Web site: Harry . Rachelle . 2021-06-10 . SmartLynx Malta expands fleet and DHL partnership with its first freighter . 2023-02-16 . Air Cargo News . en.
  22. Web site: 2021-10-13 . SmartLynx sees fleet growth in 2021 . 2023-02-16 . Air Cargo News . en.
  23. Web site: 2021-10-19 . SmartLynx opens new line MRO . 2022-02-07 . Asian Aviation . en-GB.
  24. Web site: SmartLynx to operate A320s for Nigeria's Air Peace . 2023-02-16 . Flight Global . en.
  25. Web site: SmartLynx Airlines' expansion: a new competence and innovation centre is set to be opened in Vilnius . 2022-07-20 . SmartLynx . en.
  26. Web site: StackPath . 2022-07-20 . www.smartlynx.aero.
  27. News: 2022-02-09 . SmartLynx Airlines to expand its fleet by adding new aircraft type . en . ajot.com . 2023-02-16.
  28. Web site: SmartLynx Airlines to introduce first Airbus A330-300 freighters to its fleet . 2022-07-20 . SmartLynx . en.
  29. Web site: Jeffrey . Rebecca . 2022-03-10 . SmartLynx signs with ATSG for six A330-300 P2Fs . 2023-02-16 . Air Cargo News . en.
  30. News: 2022-06-19 . British airlines sidestep visa rules to hire European crews . en . thetimes.co.uk . 2023-02-16 . 0140-0460.
  31. Web site: Varley . Len . 2022-10-16 . Latvia's SmartLynx Airlines Adds 4 A321F Freighters to Fleet . 2023-02-16 . AviationSource News . en-US.
  32. Web site: 2022-10-13 . Aero Capital and SmartLynx partner for A321 freighter conversions . 2023-02-16 . Air Cargo News . en.
  33. Web site: 2020-01-16 . SmartLynx Airlines: What It Takes to Become an Airbus A320 Pilot? . 2023-02-16 . Aviation News - Aviation Voice . en-GB.
  34. Web site: SmartLynx Fleet Details and History. Planespotters.net. 18 December 2022.
  35. Web site: SmartLynx Fleet . 2023-07-11 . SmartLynx . en.
  36. Web site: SmartLynx Airlines - the Uber of aviation . 2023-02-16 . SmartLynx . en.
  37. Web site: Plane to make emergency landing in Tallinn landed with stopped engines . . 14 March 2018 . 30 March 2018.

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