SMARTLYNX AIRLINES
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PROFILE
SmartLynx Airlines continues to go from strength to strength as it plots a path across the skies. To meet growing demand from European and overseas markets, the company has recently announced a fleet expansion, including two Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft. CEO Zygimantas Surintas outlined to Andy Probert how the company is setting out for new horizons.
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martLynx Airlines is bucking the trend in a global airline industry that is struggling to find its feet, wrought mainly by the impact of Covid-19. An expanded fleet, new business wins, a new cargo division and line maintenance centre clearly indicate the airline continues to be a soaraway success in this highly competitive market. 30 years since it was founded, the Latvian headquartered airline, with subsidiaries in Estonia and Malta, specialises in offering full lease aircraft-crew-maintenance-insurance (ACMI) services. In 2019, its fleet stood at 24, with A320s and A321s covering mainly tourist flight operations in Europe, Asia,
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Inside Industry
and Africa. Since then, SmartLynx CEO Zygimantas Surintas and his team have remained laser-focused on advancing the business. “In 2021, the company decided on a very aggressive stance on growth,” confirmed Mr Surintas. “We began the year with just 12 airplanes, but grew the fleet to 36 by the end of 2021, and most were flying during that period. Our anticipation is to double our fleet strength, culminating with 65 leased planes by the end of 2022. “Our strategy is that we believe in the market, and we believed business would recover, particularly in Europe where it has responded extremely well.”
