As airlines across Europe grapple with staff shortages, lack of spare parts and overwhelming passenger demand, ACMI operator SmartLynx Airlines is stepping in to fill the gaps. We take a closer look at what SmartLynx has planned this summer and why you could find yourself on an all-white aircraft rather than the branded plane you were expencting.

SmartLynx tackles European aviation crisis

Latvian ACMI carrier (aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance) SmartLynx Airlines is providing services to several European airlines unable to keep up with travel demand this summer. In the face of rising passenger demand and staff shortages, many airlines have found themselves canceling flights, often at short notice.

Airlines can look to ACMI operators like SmartLynx as a short-to-medium-term solution during times of need. In the current climate, ACMI arrangements have become even more crucial as airlines struggle to deliver on their schedules.

SmartLynx Airlines CEO Žygimantas Surintas said,

"The aviation market has experienced great fluctuations in the past three years – from the best year in history in terms of passenger turnover to 2020, when this business almost ceased to exist. Currently, airlines around the world are seeing a huge increase in passenger numbers, struggling to meet the demand. Due to disruptions in supply chains, spare parts for aircraft repairs arrive late, there are labour shortages at both airlines and airports, and fuel prices have increased significantly."

Along with long-term clients like easyJet and Jet2.com, new customers have looked to SmartLynx in recent months, including Qatar Airways, Air Peace and Royal Air Maroc.

Many SmartLynx aircraft have an all-white livery, enabling them to enter service with new airlines on short notice.

Boom in demand

The European aviation industry has suffered from a variety of problems in the past few months, including union strikes, staff shortages, rising fuel costs and supply chain disruption. Simple Flying took a closer look at the cause of aviation chaos in Europe last month.

In such a volatile climate, airlines can lease an aircraft by itself (dry lease) or with a crew (wet lease), and also outsource maintenance duties to an ACMI provider like SmartLynx.

As CEO Surintas explained,

"Buying new aircraft means enormous investment, and for the purchase to be profitable, the plane needs to be up in the air all year round, carrying cargo or passengers. That is why airlines do not purchase additional aircraft for crisis situations, but rather lease aircraft from other airlines when necessary."

SmartLynx Airlines is one of the largest ACMI operators in Europe with a market share of around 30%. Interestingly, the airline has its highest market share in the UK (69%), driven by the country's post-Brexit recruitment problems.

Surintas added,

"At the moment, the biggest problems can be observed at the large airports in the Netherlands and Great Britain, where people have to wait in long queues as the airports are short-handed."

Discover more aviation news with Simple Flying.

Fleet expansion this summer

SmartLynx has responded to the growing demand for its service by expanding its fleet. The airline currently handles a fleet of around 44 aircraft, which up until recently was an all-Airbus fleet consisting of the Airbus A320, Airbus A321 and Airbus A330.

However, SmartLynx recently added the Boeing 737 MAX to its fleet and will boast up to 60 aircraft by the end of the summer.

Surintas said,

"We also had to downsize our fleet at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the aviation business practically came to a halt, but already at the end of 2020 we saw the crisis as an opportunity to increase our fleet with the help of more favorable conditions for the use of the aircraft. We can see that our business strategy has paid off and we can help other European airlines provide passenger transport services in these difficult circumstances – we are able to adapt to the changing economic and geopolitical conditions, to quickly respond to business needs."

ACMI services currently account for around 75% of SmartLynx's operations. The remainder is made up of charter flights (15%) and cargo operations (10%).

Have you flown on an all-white aircraft recently? Feel free to share your stories in the comments.