SmartLynx Airlines Limited, previously LatCharter, is a charter airline based in Mārupe, Latvia, operating flights on wet or ACMI lease basis (ACMI = Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, Insurance), holiday charter flights, and ad hoc passenger charter flights across Europe, Africa and Asia. In 2017 SmartLynx Airlines celebrated its 25th anniversary.
The privately owned company LatCharter started operations in 1993 with a leased Tupolev Tu-134B, which was replaced by a larger Yakovlev Yak-42 in 2001. The first Airbus A320-200 was introduced in 2003.
In 2006, Loftleiðir, the aircraft lease arm of Icelandair Group, acquired a majority of 55% shareholding in the LatCharter stock, and eventually the whole company.
The airline expanded its fleet in 2007 by adding five more Airbus A320-200s and two Boeing 767-300s, which 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 (Santa Bárbara Airlines), Finnair, Condor.
The company was renamed SmartLynx Airlines in 2008.
In 2012, the airline was bought from Icelandair in a management buy-out, also forming a single aircraft subsidiary Smartlynx Airlines Estonia to serve Estonian tour operators. In 2016, the company was bought by a Netherlands-based investment fund.
In 2019, the airline established a subsidiary in Malta (SmartLynx Malta) which currently operates 7 A320-200s, 4 A321-200s, and 6 A330-300s. SmartLynx Airlines also became member of the Avia Solutions Group. In 2020, the airline expanded into air cargo transportation. In 2021, SmartLynx and DHL signed a partnership agreement. The partnership will include two of SmartLynx Malta A321-200s transporting freight and goods on behalf of the Deutsche Post subsidiary.
Lease livery
Airbus A320-232, registration YL-LDD, built 2007, serial number 2303 Cointrin (GVA), Geneva, Switzerland, 6 April 2022
