SmartLynx Airlines

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 Airlines
IATA ICAO Callsign
6Y ART SMART LYNX
Founded1992 (as LatCharter)
Commenced operations1993
Operating basesRiga International Airport
SubsidiariesSmartLynx Airlines Estonia, SmartLynx Airlines Malta
Fleet size10
Parent companyAvia Solutions Group
HeadquartersMazrudas, Marupe, Latvia
Key peopleZygimantas Surintas (CEO)[1]
Websitesmartlynx.aero

History
Former LatCharter Airbus A320-200

The privately owned company started operations in 1993 with a leased Tupolev Tu-134B aircraft.[3]

In 2001 the Tupolev fleet was replaced with the larger Yakovlev Yak-42.

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.[4]

In 2007, the airline expanded its fleet by adding five more A320-200 and two B767-300 aircraft.[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 the company was renamed SmartLynx Airlines.[10]

In 2012 the airline was bought from Icelandair in a management buy-out[11] also forming a single aircraft subsidiary Smartlynx Airlines Estonia to serve Estonian tour operators.[12][13][14]

In 2016 the company was bought by a Netherlands-based investment fund.[15]

In 2019 the airline established a subsidiary in Malta (SmartLynx Malta) which currently operates 1 Airbus A320 aircraft.

In 2019 SmartLynx Airlines became a family member of Avia Solutions Group.

In 2020 the airline expanded into air cargo transportation.

In 2021 SmartLynx and DHL Express signed a partnership agreement. The partnership will include two of SmartLynx Malta A321-200 aircraft transporting freight and goods on behalf of the Deutsche Post subsidiary.

Training centre

SmartLynx Training Centre is an approved training organization (ATO) in the Baltic States, providing type rating courses for Airbus A320 series.

Fleet
SmartLynx Airlines Airbus A320-200

As of January 2020, SmartLynx Airlines fleet consists of the following aircraft:[16]

SmartLynx Airlines fleet
Aircraft In service Passengers
Airbus A320-200 15 180
Airbus A321-200 10 220
Airbus A321F 2
Airbus A330-300 5
Total 29

References
  1. 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.
  2. "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."
  3. "SmartLynx Airlines". www.smartlynx.aero.
  4. "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)
  5. "LatCharter Airlines". Icelandair Group. Retrieved 2014-01-24. `total of nine aircraft, including two 767-300 aircraft.' Cite web requires |website= (help)
  6. "Air Malta News Update". Ch-aviation. Retrieved 2014-01-24. Cite web requires |website= (help)
  7. "SBA Airlines News Update". Ch-aviation. Retrieved 2014-01-24. Cite web requires |website= (help)
  8. "Finnair will use A320-200 wet-leased from SmartLynx in September/October". Ch-aviation. Retrieved 2014-01-24. Cite web requires |website= (help)
  9. "Latvia's SmartLynx wet-leasing A320s to Corendon and Condor". Ch-aviation. Retrieved 2014-01-24. Cite web requires |website= (help)
  10. A Leap Forward – LatCharter Becomes SmartLynx Archived 2014-02-02 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on 24 January 2014."
  11. SmartLynx Airlines separates from Icelandair Group. Archived 2013-09-10 at the Wayback Machine
  12. SmartLynx Airlines Estonia. Archived 2014-02-02 at the Wayback Machine
  13. "SmartLynx establishes Estonian subsidiary for Tallinn charter flights". Ch-aviation. Retrieved 2014-01-24. Cite web requires |website= (help)
  14. "Aviation Photo Search". Airliners.net.
  15. "SmartLynx Airlines changes its logotype - News - Corporate - SmartLynx Airlines". www.smartlynx.aero.
  16. "Fleet - Corporate - SmartLynx Airlines". www.smartlynx.aero. Retrieved 13 August 2018.

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