March 28, 2022. As the pandemic laid waste to businesses around the world, some forward-thinking companies used the opportunity to create new and more diversified business strategies. SmartLynx Airlines, a subsidiary of Avia Solutions Group, took this time of disruption to diversify its business model and take in over 1,000 new personnel to service its expanding fleet.
Transforming its single-strategy business line to a triple-strategy model – passenger narrow-body, passenger long-haul, and cargo narrow-body/long-haul flights – the European ACMI, charter and cargo operator is approaching the traditional high season. With its biggest fleet to date, the airline actively engaged in a highlighted international cabin and flight crew onboarding process.
According to Zygimantas Surintas, the SmartLynx Airlines CEO “To ensure that we retain the capacity for such flexibility and growth, we have focused on securing the required personnel to serve our growing number of operational bases. Additionally, and as part of that process, we have already hired multiple Ukrainian pilots and cabin crew who have been left without employment because of the ongoing war in their country. This is just one more step in our mission to ensure SmartLynx Airlines continue to provide premier services to our customers.”
In February 2022, SmartLynx had signed an agreement with SMBC Aviation Capital for the lease of two Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, two of which will join the company’s fleet in the spring of this year. With such an increase in capability, the company is currently in the process of gathering over 1,000 additional flight and cabin crew members to service its expanding fleet of Airbus and Boeing aircraft.
As part of the sourcing process, SmartLynx Airlines has already conducted ‘open-door days’ for cabin crew in February and continues into March at locations across Europe. The events attracted record numbers of attendees where it was announced that SmartLynx was happy and willing to meet those with no previous flight experience as all of the necessary training courses will be provided directly by SmartLynx.
Surintas adds, “With such an expanding team of highly trained professionals, SmartLynx is always ready to take on and tackle the challenges of new opportunities when they present themselves. As one of the leading ACMI airlines in the world, our flexible approach is geared towards offering our clients immediate assistance and cooperation should any disruptive situations arise suddenly”.
SmartLynx is seen as an exceptional career choice for prospective cabin and flight crew seeking a career journey that offers greater prospects and flexibility as the company diversifies and expands its operations across its European bases in Greece, Portugal, Egypt, the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany, to name but a few. The company’s proactive personnel drive is sure to offer positive solutions to the long-term aspirations of many aviation and non-aviation personnel affected by the pandemic.
SmartLynx Airlines began 2021 with a fleet of 12 aircraft that grew to 36 units by the end of the year. Following on the back of such massive growth, the company is now focused on growing its fleet to 65 units by the end of 2022, including the addition of 8 cargo freighters.