SmartLynx Airlines
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| Founded | 1992 (as LatCharter) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commenced operations | 1993 | ||||||
| Operating bases | Riga International Airport | ||||||
| Subsidiaries | SmartLynx Airlines Estonia, SmartLynx Airlines Malta | ||||||
| Fleet size | 14 | ||||||
| Parent company | Avia Solutions Group | ||||||
| Headquarters | Mazrudas, Marupe, Latvia | ||||||
| Key people | Zygimantas Surintas (CEO)[1] | ||||||
| Website | smartlynx | ||||||
SmartLynx Airlines, previously LatCharter, is a charter airline based in Mārupe, Mārupe, Latvia,[2] operating flights on wet lease out (ACMI), holiday charter flights, and ad hoc passenger charter flights across Europe, Africa and Asia.[2] In 2017 SmartLynx Airlines celebrated its 25th anniversary.
SmartLynx flight crew members represent more than 17 nationalities, therefore speaking multiple languages. The average experience of captains is above 5300 block hours and first officers — above 1900 block hours.
Overall the number of passengers transported by SmartLynx is rapidly increasing with every year — in 2017 it reached 2.5 million, in 2018 - 3 million, and in 2019 3.6 million. The company is rapidly growing and in 2019 its consolidated turnover reached 215 million EUR (audited net turnover) which is a 25% increase compared to 2018.
In 2019, SmartLynx made 21.480 flights to more than 260 destinations in Europe, the Middle East and Asia, which represents 63.800 block hours (+18.15%, in 2018 – 54.000 block hours).
History
The privately owned company was established in 1992 by four professional pilots and one flight engineer as LatCharter (the name derived from Latvia) and started operations in 1993 with a leased Tupolev Tu-134B aircraft.[3] The Tupolev fleet was replaced with the larger Yakovlev Yak-42 in April 2001, and then Airbus A320-200 by December 2003.[3]
In July 2006 Loftleiðir, the aircraft lease arm of Icelandair Group, acquired a majority 55% shareholding in the LatCharter stock, and eventually the whole company.[4] The airline expanded its fleet by adding five more A320-200 and two B767-300 aircraft in 2007.[5] 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,[6] SBA Airlines,[7] Finnair,[8] Condor Flugdienst.[9]
In 2008, commemorating the airline's 15th anniversary, it was renamed SmartLynx Airlines, and a new logo and livery were introduced.[10]
In 2012 the airline was bought from Icelandair in a management buy-out and is now a completely separate entity.[11] In 2012 the airline also formed a subsidiary Smartlynx Airlines Estonia with one Airbus A320-200 to serve Estonian tour operators.[12][13][14]
In 2016 a Netherlands-based investment fund became the owner of the company. A new logo[15] was introduced.
In 2019 the airline established a subsidiary in Malta (SmartLynx Malta) which currently operates 1 Airbus A320 aircraft. The same year SmartLynx Airlines became a family member of Avia Solutions Group.
In 2020 the airline expanded its service portfolio and is supporting demand for air cargo transportation.
Training centre
SmartLynx Training Centre is an approved training organization (ATO) in the Baltic States, providing type rating courses for Airbus A320 series.
Fleet
As of January 2020[update], SmartLynx Airlines fleet consists of the following aircraft:[16]
| Aircraft | In service | Orders | Passengers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus A320-200 | 6 | — | 180 | 1 operated for SmartLynx Malta 3 operated for Smartlynx Airlines Estonia |
| Airbus A321-200 | 8 | — | 220 | |
| Total | 14 | — | ||
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.
- ^ a b "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."
- ^ a b "SmartLynx Airlines". www.smartlynx.aero. [verification needed]
- ^ "Loftleidir Icelandic acquires a minority stake in LatCharter Airlines". Alacra. Retrieved 2009-11-26. `Loftleidir Icelandic of Iceland (LI), a unit of FL Group, planned to acquire the remaining ... stake, which it did not already own, in LatCharter Airlines (LC), a Riga-based provider of charter flights services. Concurrently, LI acquired a…' Cite web requires |website= (help) [verification needed]
- ^ "LatCharter Airlines". Icelandair Group. Retrieved 2014-01-24. `total of nine aircraft, including two 767-300 aircraft.' Cite web requires |website= (help) [verification needed]
- ^ "Air Malta News Update". Ch-aviation. Retrieved 2014-01-24. Cite web requires |website= (help) [verification needed]
- ^ "SBA Airlines News Update". Ch-aviation. Retrieved 2014-01-24. Cite web requires |website= (help) [verification needed]
- ^ "Finnair will use A320-200 wet-leased from SmartLynx in September/October". Ch-aviation. Retrieved 2014-01-24. Cite web requires |website= (help) [verification needed]
- ^ "Latvia's SmartLynx wet-leasing A320s to Corendon and Condor". Ch-aviation. Retrieved 2014-01-24. Cite web requires |website= (help) [verification needed]
- ^ A Leap Forward – LatCharter Becomes SmartLynx Archived 2014-02-02 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on 24 January 2014." [verification needed]
- ^ SmartLynx Airlines separates from Icelandair Group. Archived 2013-09-10 at the Wayback Machine [verification needed]
- ^ SmartLynx Airlines Estonia. Archived 2014-02-02 at the Wayback Machine [verification needed]
- ^ "SmartLynx establishes Estonian subsidiary for Tallinn charter flights". Ch-aviation. Retrieved 2014-01-24. Cite web requires |website= (help) [verification needed]
- ^ "Aviation Photo Search". Airliners.net. [verification needed]
- ^ "SmartLynx Airlines changes its logotype - News - Corporate - SmartLynx Airlines". www.smartlynx.aero. [verification needed]
- ^ "Fleet - Corporate - SmartLynx Airlines". www.smartlynx.aero. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
External links
Media related to SmartLynx Airlines at Wikimedia Commons
