SmartLynx Airlines, previously LatCharter, is a charter airline based in Mārupe, Mārupe municipality, Latvia, operating flights on wet lease out, holiday charter flights, and ad hoc passenger charter flights across Europe, Africa and Asia. 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 2016 it reached 1.9 million, in 2017 – 2.5 million, and in 2018 - 3 million, which means 57.9% increase during last two years. The company is rapidly growing and in 2018 its consolidated turnover reached 172.2 million EUR which is a 31% increase compared to 2017, and 58.8% increase compared to 2016. In 2018, SmartLynx made 20.500 flights from 25 base airports in Europe, the Middle East and Asia, which represents 54.000 block hours.
History
The privately-owned company was established in 1992 by four professional pilots and one flight engineer as LatCharter and started operations in 1993 with a leased Tupolev Tu-134B aircraft. The Tupolev fleet was replaced with the larger Yakovlev Yak-42 in April 2001, and then Airbus A320-200 by December 2003. In July 2006Loftleiðir, the aircraft lease arm of Icelandair Group, acquired a majority 55% shareholding in the LatCharter stock, and eventually the whole company. The airline expanded its fleet by adding five more A320-200 and two B767-300 aircraft in 2007. 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, SBA Airlines, Finnair, Condor Flugdienst. In 2008, commemorating the airline's 15th anniversary, it was renamed SmartLynx Airlines, and new logo and livery were introduced. In 2012 the airline was bought from Icelandair in a management buy-out and is now a completely separate entity. In 2012 the airline also formed a subsidiary Smartlynx Airlines Estonia with one Airbus A320-200 to serve Estonian tour operators. In 2016 a Netherlands-based investment fund became the owner of the company. A new logo was introduced.
